Privacy Policy

CloseOnes ("we," "our," or "the app") is a social connection app designed to help people stay meaningfully close to the ones who matter most. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your information. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a user.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide

• Phone number — used to create your account and verify your identity. Stored securely in Firebase.
• Name — your display name shown to people in your circles.
• Email address — optional, used only for account recovery.
• Circle names and members — the names of your circles and the phone numbers of people you invite.
• Check-ins and mood data — when you check in, your mood and a brief note are shared with your circle members only.

Information collected automatically

• Push notification token — used to send you check-in notifications. Stored in Firebase.
• App usage data — anonymous crash reports and diagnostics to improve app stability.

Information we do NOT collect

• Your location
• Your contacts list
• Photos or media
• Browsing history
• Financial information
• Any data from children under 13

2. How We Use Your Information

• Phone number — to verify your identity and allow others to find and add you to circles
• Name and profile data — to display your identity to your circle members
• Check-in data — to share your check-ins with the specific circle members you choose
• Push notification token — to send you notifications when someone in your circle checks in
• Email address — only for account recovery if requested

3. Third-Party Services

Firebase (Google)

CloseOnes uses Firebase, a platform by Google, to store user accounts, circle data, and push notification tokens. Firebase is hosted in the United States and complies with GDPR and CCPA. Please review Google's privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy.

Twilio

We use Twilio to send SMS verification codes when you sign up or log in. Twilio receives your phone number temporarily to deliver the verification code. We do not store your number with Twilio beyond this purpose. Please review Twilio's privacy policy at twilio.com/legal/privacy.

Expo / React Native

CloseOnes is built using Expo. Expo may collect anonymous crash reports and diagnostic data to help improve app stability. Please review Expo's privacy policy at expo.dev/privacy.

Apple Push Notification Service (APNs)

We use Apple's push notification service to deliver notifications to your device. Apple receives your device token but does not have access to the content of your notifications. Please review Apple's privacy policy at apple.com/legal/privacy.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes. Your data is only shared in the following limited circumstances:

• With members of your circles — only the data you choose to share (check-ins, mood)
• With service providers (Firebase, Twilio) strictly to operate the app
• When required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users

5. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

CloseOnes is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, please contact us immediately at maribelsaent@gmail.com and we will delete the account promptly.

6. Data Security

Your data is stored securely in Firebase using industry-standard encryption. We use phone number verification to ensure only you can access your account. We do not store passwords. While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no system is 100% secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention and Deletion

Your account data is retained as long as your account is active. You can delete your account at any time from within the app settings. When you delete your account:

• Your profile, circles, and check-in history are permanently deleted
• Your phone number is removed from our database
• Members of your circles will no longer see you

Some anonymized, non-identifiable data may be retained for analytics purposes.

8. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate information (editable in your profile settings)
• Delete your account and all associated data
• Opt out of push notifications at any time in your device settings

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at maribelsaent@gmail.com.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion of your data, and opt out of the sale of your data. We do not sell personal information. To submit a request, contact us at maribelsaent@gmail.com.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of CloseOnes after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please reach out:

CloseOnes — CircleRootTech LLC
Salt Lake City, Utah
maribelsaent@gmail.com
circleroottech.com

We will respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.