Privacy Policy

Welcome to TouchMe ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

By accessing or using TouchMe, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

This policy complies with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable data protection laws.

We collect information in several ways:

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Email address, password, name, phone number, and date of birth when you register
• Profile Information: Photos, descriptions, location, services offered, rates, and other profile details (for providers)
• Verification Documents: Government-issued ID for age and identity verification (documents are not stored after verification)
• Communications: Messages sent through our platform, support requests, and feedback
• Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through our payment providers

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, clicks, search queries, and interaction patterns
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (precise location only with permission)
• Cookies: Small data files stored on your device (see Cookies section)

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Social login providers (Google, Facebook) if you choose to sign in with them
• Payment processors for transaction verification
• Identity verification services

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve our platform
• Account Management: To create and manage your account, process registrations
• Verification: To verify age and identity as required by law
• Communications: To send service updates, security alerts, and support messages
• Safety & Security: To detect fraud, abuse, and ensure platform safety
• Analytics: To understand usage patterns and improve user experience
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and law enforcement requests
• Marketing: To send promotional content (only with your consent, easily unsubscribed)

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in these circumstances:

4.1 With Other Users

Profile information you choose to make public is visible to other users. Messages are shared only with intended recipients.

4.2 With Service Providers

We work with trusted third parties who help us operate our platform:

• Cloud hosting providers (data storage)
• Payment processors (Stripe)
• Email service providers
• Analytics providers
• Identity verification services

These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, safety, and the safety of others.

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred. You will be notified of any such change.

We implement robust security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Secure Storage: Data stored on secure servers with access controls
• Password Protection: Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms
• Access Controls: Limited employee access on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Incident Response: Procedures to handle potential data breaches

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you of any breach affecting your data.

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic functionality (authentication, security)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our site
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (with consent)

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality. You can also opt out of analytics tracking.

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information we hold
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
• Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• Maintain security and prevent fraud

Retention Periods

• Active Accounts: Data retained while account is active
• Deleted Accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days; some retained for 7 years for legal/tax purposes
• Messages: Retained for 2 years after last activity
• Verification Documents: Deleted immediately after verification
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymised after 26 months

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Third Parties We Work With

• Stripe: Payment processing - Privacy Policy
• Google: Analytics and authentication - Privacy Policy
• Cloudflare: Security and CDN - Privacy Policy

We implement age verification at registration and display age warnings before accessing content. If you believe a minor has accessed our services, please contact us immediately.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification for material changes
• Displaying a prominent notice on our platform

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.