Privacy Policy

Last updated: Sep. 16th, 2025

Welcome to Privacy at ArroundU

We built ArroundU to bring people closer, but never at the cost of your privacy.

That's why we want to be super clear about what we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, who we share it with, and how long we keep it.

This Privacy Policy ("Policy") is our way of telling you, in plain language, how your data lives inside ArroundU. No legal maze, no small print. Just the facts, explained in a way that makes sense.

Your use of ArroundU is also subject to our Terms & Conditions. Please read those too — together they form the rules of using ArroundU.

If you ever have a question, drop us a note at support@arroundu.com. We'll get back to you as fast as we can.

Who can use ArroundU

• ArroundU is not for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect or store data from anyone under 13, and if we discover such data, we will delete it immediately.
• If you are 13–17, your parent or guardian should know you're using ArroundU and may request review or deletion of your data.
• If you're 18+, welcome aboard.

Who we are

ArroundU is run by ArroundU Inc., based in New York, USA.

When we say "data," we mean anything that identifies you directly (like your username, email, or photo) or indirectly (like your device ID or location radius).

As the "controller" of your data, we are responsible for keeping it safe, using it only in the ways we explain here, and respecting your rights.

What data we collect

We collect three types of data:

1. Data you provide us

• Account info: Username, email, password.
• Profile info: Profile picture and bio (optional).
• Messages & media: Text, images, videos, scheduled messages you send.
• Contacts: If you choose to sync them, to invite people you may know.
• Support info: Data you send us when you reach out (emails, screenshots, issue details).

2. Data from your activity

• Nearby presence: If you're within ~1 km (0.6 miles) of another user. We never share your exact address or a live map — just "you're close."
• Search: If you type in someone's name to look them up.
• Interactions: Who you follow, who follows you, who you block.
• Device info: Things like crash logs, app version, phone model, OS, IP address.

3. Data from others

• Other users: When someone follows, blocks, or interacts with you.
• Partners: App stores, analytics, or notification providers.
• Authorities: Only if legally required.

Why we collect your data

We use your data to:

• Power the app (accounts, nearby list, search, following, chatting).
• Show who's nearby without exposing your exact location.
• Let you look up people by name.
• Keep ArroundU safe and respectful (blocking system).
• Improve the app by fixing bugs and tracking performance.
• Talk to you when you need help.
• Comply with laws and protect users if something goes wrong.

We never sell your data.

Who can access your data

• Other users: Your profile (username, photo, bio, stories, followers/following).
• Our team: Limited access, only when needed to keep the app running or solve problems.
• Service providers: Hosting, analytics, and notifications.
• Legal authorities: If the law requires it.
• If ArroundU is acquired: Data may transfer to the new company, but this same Privacy Policy will still apply.

How long we keep your data

We keep your data as long as you're using ArroundU.

• For now, you cannot delete your account, but you can:
- Block others.
- Stop sharing your nearby status.
- Edit or remove profile details.
• If you go inactive for a very long time, we may deactivate your account.

Our legal bases

Depending on your location, we process your data based on:

• Contract: To provide the services you signed up for.
• Legitimate interest: To improve features, prevent abuse, and keep ArroundU secure.
• Consent: When you give permissions (like contacts or location). You can turn them off in your phone settings anytime.
• Legal obligation: When the law requires us to keep or share something.

Your rights

You may have the right to:

• Access: Ask us what data we hold about you.
• Correct: Update info that's wrong or outdated.
• Visibility: Control if you appear in "nearby" or not.
• Block: Stop people from contacting you.
• Parents: If you're under 18, your parent/guardian can request review or deletion of your data.

Email support@arroundu.com to use these rights.

Cookie & Tracking Policy

Like most apps and websites, ArroundU may use cookies and similar technologies to make things work smoothly and to understand how people use our app.

• What we use → basic cookies, device IDs, and analytics tools.
• Why we use them → to keep you logged in, improve performance, and see what features people like.
• No creepy tracking → we don't sell your browsing data or follow you across random websites.
• Your choice → you can disable cookies in your browser or phone settings, but some features may not work properly.

Accessibility

We want ArroundU to be open and usable by as many people as possible.

• If you face accessibility issues (for example: vision, hearing, mobility, or other challenges), please let us know at support@arroundu.com.
• We're always working to improve and will do our best to address concerns quickly.

International transfers & Disputes

ArroundU is based in the United States. All of our main servers and operations are located in the U.S. However, if we work with trusted service providers outside the U.S., your data may be processed in other countries. Whenever this happens, we apply the same safeguards described in this Policy, including encryption, secure servers, and compliance with GDPR (Europe), UK privacy laws, and similar protections worldwide.

Disputes about this Policy follow the same dispute resolution process set out in our Terms & Conditions.

Changes to this Policy

As ArroundU grows, this Privacy Policy will grow too. We'll update it if we launch new features, if laws change, or if we improve how we explain things.

• If the changes are minor (like fixing wording), we may just update this page.
• If the changes are big (like how we handle your data), we'll let you know clearly in the app or by email before they take effect.

The "last updated" date at the bottom will always show you the latest version.

Data Summary Table

Data type	Why we collect it	Legal basis	How long we keep it
Account info (username, email, password)	To create and manage your account	Contract	While your account is active (and for a short period after, if required by law for fraud prevention or disputes)
Profile info (photo, bio)	To personalize your profile	Consent	Until you update or remove it
Messages & media	To enable chats and scheduled messages	Contract	Until you delete them or while your account remains active/inactive before deactivation
Contacts (if synced)	To suggest people you may know	Consent	Until you turn syncing off
Nearby presence	To show if you're within ~1 km (0.6 miles)	Consent	Only while feature is active or location permissions are enabled
Search data	To let you find people by name	Contract	While your account is active (and for a short period after, if required by law for fraud prevention or disputes)
Interactions (follows, blocks)	To power features and safety	Legitimate interest	While your account is active (and for a short period after, if required by law for fraud prevention or disputes)
Device info (IP, OS, crashes)	To secure, fix, and improve the app	Legitimate interest	Retained for a limited period needed for security/bug fixes, then anonymized or deleted
Support data	To respond to your help requests	Legitimate interest	Until the issue is resolved
Data from others	To operate services or comply with law	Legal obligation / Legitimate interest	As required by law or while account is active

Contact us

• For privacy/legal: support@arroundu.com
• For casual/community: hey@arroundu.com

Our Promise

We're not some big tech company trying to harvest your data for profit. We're building ArroundU to help real people make real connections.

Your privacy isn't a product we sell. It's a promise we keep.

Thanks for trusting us with your data. We don't take that lightly. ✨