Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Device Fingerprint

We use browser fingerprinting technology to create an anonymous identifier for your device. This helps us:

• Prevent duplicate votes and contributions
• Enable you to edit your own listings
• Track your badges and achievements
• Provide personalized notifications

Note: This fingerprint is anonymous and cannot be used to identify you personally.

Location Data

When you add locations to our map, we collect:

• Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of tea shop locations
• Your approximate location (if you grant permission) to improve map experience

User-Generated Content

We store the information you provide about tea shops, including:

• Shop names, ratings, and reviews
• Photos you upload
• Operating hours and other details
• Your comments and notes

Usage Data

We collect basic usage statistics to improve our service:

• Pages visited and features used
• Error logs and performance data
• General geographic regions (country/city level)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide and maintain our tea shop mapping service
• Allow you to add, edit, and manage tea shop listings
• Prevent spam and abuse
• Award badges and track achievements
• Send you relevant notifications about your contributions
• Improve our service and user experience
• Respond to your support requests

3. Data Storage and Security

We take data security seriously:

• All data is stored securely on our servers
• Photos are stored with unique identifiers to prevent unauthorized access
• We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data
• Access to data is restricted to authorized personnel only

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or share your personal data with third parties.

Public information (like tea shop listings, ratings, and photos) is visible to all users of TeaSutta, as this is the core functionality of our community-driven platform.

5. Cookies and Tracking

TeaSutta uses:

• Local Storage: To remember your preferences (like dark mode)
• Session Data: To maintain your session while using the app
• Fingerprinting: For anonymous user identification (not for tracking across other websites)

We do not use traditional cookies or third-party tracking scripts.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your contributed data
• Request deletion of your contributions
• Correct inaccurate information
• Object to processing of your data

To exercise these rights, please contact us through our Contact Us page.

7. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide our service. You can request deletion of your contributions at any time. Some data may be retained for legitimate business purposes, such as preventing abuse.

8. Children's Privacy

TeaSutta is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through our Contact Us page.