Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 6, 2026

1. Introduction

Tara Rides ("we," "our," or "us") is a ride-sharing and trip coordination app. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application ("App").

2. Information We Collect

Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your email address, display name, and (optionally) phone number. For guest users, no personal information is required.

Location Data: To provide real-time location sharing and navigation, we collect your device's precise GPS location while you are in an active ride session. This data is shared with other members of the same ride. You are only tracked while actively participating in a ride.

Ride Data: We store ride details including destinations, routes, timestamps, and member participation for ride coordination and history purposes.

Chat Messages: Messages sent within ride chats and direct conversations are stored to enable communication between users.

Friend Connections: When you add friends, we store your friend list and friend request data to enable the social features.

Device Information: We collect FCM tokens for push notifications. No persistent device identifiers are collected beyond what Firebase services require.

3. How We Use Your Information

• Core Functionality: Location data is used exclusively to show your position to other ride members and provide navigation routing.
• Communication: Chat messages and friend requests facilitate in-app communication.
• Notifications: FCM tokens are used to send ride invitations, chat notifications, and friend request alerts.
• Account Management: Email and display name are used for authentication and user identification.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. Your data is shared only:

• With other ride members: your real-time location and profile name are visible to members of rides you join.
• With service providers: Firebase (Google) processes authentication, database storage, and push notifications on our behalf. See Firebase Privacy Policy.
• With Google Maps services: for place search, directions, and map display. See Google Privacy Policy.

5. Data Storage and Security

All data is stored on Firebase (Google Cloud) infrastructure with encryption in transit and at rest. We retain ride data indefinitely for ride history purposes. Chat messages are retained for the life of the ride room. You may request deletion of your account data by contacting us.

6. Your Control

• Location: Location sharing is active only during an active ride session. You can stop sharing at any time by leaving the ride.
• Account Deletion: You can delete your account through the app's profile settings or by contacting us.
• Permissions: You can revoke location permission through your device settings at any time.

7. Data Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data:

• Email a deletion request to faithforge.labs@gmail.com with subject "Account Deletion — Tara Rides" and include your username.
• You can also sign out through the app's Profile settings at any time.

When you request deletion, we will:

• Delete your Firebase Authentication account
• Remove your username, phone number, profile photo, and all personal info from our database
• Remove you from all active rides and private rooms
• Delete your friend connections and friend requests

We process deletion requests within 30 days. Anonymized ride history and messages in active group chats may be retained longer.

To contact us about your data: faithforge.labs@gmail.com

8. Children's Privacy

9. Changes to This Policy

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: faithforge.labs@gmail.com