PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: January 2025

FoodZela ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our food delivery platform and services. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data.

1. INTRODUCTION

This Privacy Policy describes:
- What information we collect about you
- How we use and share your information
- Your rights regarding your personal information
- How we protect your information
- How to contact us about privacy concerns

By using FoodZela's services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect information that you provide directly to us, information we obtain automatically when you use our services, and information from third parties.

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you create an account, place an order, or interact with our services, we may collect:
- Name and contact information (full name, email address, phone number)
- Delivery address and location data (street address, city, state, zip code, GPS coordinates)
- Payment information (credit/debit card details, billing address, payment method preferences)
- Account credentials (username, password, security questions)
- Profile information (profile picture, dietary preferences, favorite restaurants)
- Communication preferences (notification settings, marketing preferences)
- Customer service communications (records of conversations, feedback, complaints)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our platform, we automatically collect:
- Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
- IP address and location data
- Browser type and version
- Usage data (pages visited, time spent, features used, search queries)
- Order history and preferences
- App usage statistics (if using mobile app)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 8 for details)

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:
- Restaurants (order confirmations, delivery status)
- Delivery partners (delivery updates, location tracking)
- Payment processors (transaction confirmations, payment status)
- Social media platforms (if you connect your account)
- Marketing partners (with your consent)
- Public databases and business partners

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

3.1 Service Provision
- Process and fulfill your orders
- Coordinate with restaurants and delivery partners
- Process payments and manage billing
- Send order confirmations and delivery updates
- Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
- Manage your account and preferences

3.2 Communication
- Send transactional messages (order updates, delivery notifications)
- Respond to your questions and requests
- Send important service announcements
- Provide customer support via phone, email, or chat

3.3 Marketing and Promotions (With Your Consent)
- Send promotional offers, discounts, and special deals
- Notify you about new restaurants and menu items
- Send newsletters and marketing communications
- Personalize marketing content based on your preferences
- Conduct surveys and gather feedback

3.4 Service Improvement
- Analyze usage patterns and trends
- Improve our platform, services, and user experience
- Develop new features and functionality
- Conduct research and analytics
- Test and optimize our services

3.5 Security and Fraud Prevention
- Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and illegal activities
- Verify your identity and authenticate accounts
- Protect the security and integrity of our platform
- Enforce our Terms and Conditions
- Comply with legal obligations

3.6 Legal Compliance
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations
- Respond to legal requests and court orders
- Protect our rights and property
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

4. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE

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

4.1 Service Providers
We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:
- Payment processors for transaction processing
- Delivery partners for order fulfillment
- Restaurants to prepare and package your orders
- Cloud storage and hosting providers
- Analytics and data processing services
- Customer support services
- Marketing and advertising partners (with your consent)

4.2 Business Partners
We may share information with:
- Restaurants in our network (order details, delivery address, contact information)
- Delivery partners (delivery address, contact information, special instructions)
- Business partners for joint promotions or services (with your consent)

4.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:
- Court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes
- Government requests or regulatory requirements
- Law enforcement investigations
- Protection of rights, property, or safety
- Prevention of illegal activities or harm

4.4 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity as part of the transaction.

4.5 With Your Consent
We may share your information with third parties when you explicitly consent to such sharing.

5. DATA SECURITY

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

5.1 Security Measures
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers
- Access controls and authentication mechanisms
- Regular security assessments and updates
- Employee training on data protection
- Secure data storage and backup systems

5.2 Limitations
While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we continuously work to improve our security practices.

5.3 Your Role
You play an important role in protecting your information:
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Do not share your account credentials
- Log out when using shared devices
- Report suspicious activity immediately
- Keep your contact information up to date

6. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services to you
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
- Maintain business records as required by law

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable laws.

7. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability
- Request access to your personal information
- Receive a copy of your data in a portable format
- Understand how we use your information

7.2 Correction and Updates
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Update your account information and preferences
- Modify your communication preferences

7.3 Deletion
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Close your account (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Remove information no longer necessary for our services

7.4 Objection and Restriction
- Object to certain processing of your information
- Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
- Opt-out of marketing communications

7.5 Withdrawal of Consent
- Withdraw consent for processing where consent is the legal basis
- Opt-out of specific data uses
- Unsubscribe from marketing emails

7.6 How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:
- Email: privacy@foodzela.com
- Phone: [Your Phone Number]
- Address: [Your Business Address]

We will respond to your request within 30 days (or as required by applicable law). We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

8.1 What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Analyze how you use our services
- Provide personalized content and advertisements
- Improve our services and user experience

8.2 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and choices
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
- Advertising Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements

8.3 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through:
- Your browser settings (most browsers allow you to refuse or accept cookies)
- Our cookie preference center (if available)
- Third-party opt-out tools for advertising cookies

Note: Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our services.

9. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

11. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information is collected, used, and shared
- Right to delete personal information (with certain exceptions)
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

12. EUROPEAN PRIVACY RIGHTS (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
- Right to withdraw consent
- Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

13. DO NOT TRACK SIGNALS

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that signals websites not to track your browsing. Our website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals. We continue to monitor developments in this area.

14. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

15. SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURES

If you connect your social media account to FoodZela or use social media features on our platform:
- We may access information from your social media profile (with your permission)
- Your use of social media features is subject to the social media platform's privacy policy
- You can disconnect your social media account at any time through your account settings

16. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

16.1 Opt-In
We will only send you marketing communications if you have opted in or given your consent. You can opt-in during account registration or through your account settings.

16.2 Opt-Out
You can opt-out of marketing communications at any time by:
- Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in marketing emails
- Updating your preferences in your account settings
- Contacting us directly at support@foodzela.com

16.3 Transactional Communications
You cannot opt-out of transactional communications (order confirmations, delivery updates, account notifications) as these are necessary for service delivery.

17. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:
- Changes in our practices
- Legal or regulatory requirements
- Improvements to our services
- Feedback from users

We will notify you of material changes by:
- Posting the updated Privacy Policy on our platform
- Sending an email notification (if you have an account)
- Displaying a prominent notice on our website
- Updating the "Last Updated" date

Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

18. DATA BREACH NOTIFICATION

In the event of a data breach that may affect your personal information, we will:
- Investigate the breach immediately
- Notify affected users as required by law
- Report to relevant authorities if necessary
- Take steps to mitigate the impact and prevent future breaches

19. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Privacy Officer
FoodZela
Email: privacy@foodzela.com
Support Email: support@foodzela.com
Phone: [Your Phone Number]
Address: [Your Business Address]

We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible, typically within 30 days.

20. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

If you are located in the EEA and have questions about our data processing activities, you may contact our Data Protection Officer at:

Email: support@foodzela.com
Address: Saudi ARABIA .ABHA 

21. CONSENT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By using FoodZela's services, you acknowledge that:
- You have read and understood this Privacy Policy
- You consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described
- You understand your rights regarding your personal information
- You agree to our data practices as outlined in this policy

If you do not agree with any part of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our services.

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Thank you for trusting FoodZela with your information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing you with a safe and secure experience.