Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Pickseat.

This Privacy Policy explains how Pickseat collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information when you use our mobile application, website, and related services (collectively, the "Services").

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with transparency and care. This policy describes:

• What information we collect
• How we use your information
• Who we share your information with
• Your rights regarding your information
• How we protect your information

2. Company Information

For the purposes of data protection law, the Data Controller is:

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us using the details above.

3. Scope of this Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Passengers - Individuals using Pickseat to discover transportation
• Drivers - Individuals providing transportation services
• Vehicle operators - Companies or individuals operating vehicles
• Advertisers - Businesses advertising on our platform
• Website visitors - Anyone visiting our website
• Customer support interactions - Communications with our support team
• Mobile application users - Users of our mobile app

This policy does not apply to the practices of third parties that we do not own or control, or to individuals that we do not employ or manage.

4. Information We Collect

4.1 Information You Provide

We may collect the following information that you directly provide to us:

• Full name - For identification and personalization
• Username - For account identification
• Email address - For communication and account recovery
• Mobile phone number - For verification and communication
• Profile photograph - For personalization and identification
• Password (encrypted) - For account security
• Vehicle information - For drivers to list their vehicles
• Driver license information - For verification of drivers
• Government-issued identification - Where required for verification
• Emergency contact information - For safety purposes
• Customer support communications - To assist with inquiries

4.2 Account Information

When you create an account, we may collect:

• Account preferences - Your settings and preferences
• Login credentials - Your username and encrypted password
• Authentication information - Two-factor authentication data
• Device registration information - Devices registered to your account

4.3 Location Information

Because Pickseat provides real-time transport discovery and route visibility, we collect location information. This is a core functionality of our Services.

Passenger location may be used to:

• Show nearby vehicles and transportation options
• Display stations and routes relevant to your location
• Improve route recommendations based on your preferences
• Estimate arrival times for transportation

Driver location may be used to:

• Display live vehicle positions to passengers
• Enable passenger discovery of nearby vehicles
• Support route management and optimization
• Improve transportation efficiency
• Prevent fraud and misuse of the platform

4.4 Device Information

We may collect the following device information:

• Device type - Smartphone, tablet, or other device
• Device model - Specific make and model
• Operating system version - iOS, Android, or other
• Mobile network information - Carrier and network type
• Language preferences - Your preferred language
• IP address - For network communication and geolocation
• Unique device identifiers - For device identification
• App version - Which version of our app you're using

4.5 Usage Information

We may collect information about how you use our Services:

• App interactions - How you navigate and interact with the app
• Features used - Which features you access most frequently
• Routes viewed - Transportation routes you view
• Search history - Your search queries and preferences
• Session duration - How long you use the app
• Advertising interactions - Ads you view and interact with
• Performance data - How the app performs on your device
• Crash reports - Technical issues and crashes

4.6 Payment Information

Where payments are supported, we may collect:

• Payment transaction references - Unique transaction identifiers
• Payment status information - Whether payments were successful
• Billing details - Billing address and related information

4.7 Advertising Information

We may collect information regarding:

• Advertisements viewed - Which ads are shown to you
• Advertisement engagement - How you interact with ads
• Advertisement preferences - Your ad interests and preferences
• Content interactions - How you engage with sponsored content

5. How We Use Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

Service Delivery

• Provide transportation-related services
• Enable real-time vehicle discovery
• Display nearby routes and stations
• Facilitate account management

Verification & Security

• Verify users and drivers
• Prevent fraud and unauthorized activity
• Detect abuse and security incidents
• Protect platform integrity

Service Improvement

• Improve service reliability and performance
• Monitor platform performance
• Conduct analytics and research
• Enhance user experience

Communication

• Respond to support requests
• Send important service notifications
• Provide updates about your account

Legal & Compliance

• Comply with legal obligations
• Process transactions
• Deliver advertisements (where consented)
• Improve safety and security

6. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable, we process information based on the following legal bases:

• User consent - Where you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities (e.g., location data, marketing)
• Contractual necessity - Where processing is necessary for the performance of our contract with you (e.g., providing transport services)
• Legitimate business interests - Where we have a legitimate interest that is not overridden by your rights (e.g., improving services, fraud prevention)
• Legal compliance obligations - Where we are required by law to process certain information
• Protection of users and public safety - Where processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of users or the public

7. Real-Time Location Services

Pickseat's core functionality relies on location services. By enabling location permissions, users authorize Pickseat to:

• Determine proximity to stations and stops
• Display available vehicles in your area
• Track active routes for visibility
• Improve transportation visibility for all users

You may withdraw your consent to location collection at any time by changing your device settings. However, note that without location permissions, many of our core features may not function properly.

8. Advertising Services

Pickseat may display advertisements within the application.

Advertisements may be:

• Contextual - Based on the content you're viewing
• Location-based - Based on your geographical location
• Interest-based, where permitted - Based on your preferences and usage patterns (with your consent where required)

Advertising partners may collect certain information subject to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review their privacy practices.

9. Analytics and Performance Monitoring

We may use analytics tools to:

• Understand user behaviour and preferences
• Improve features and functionality
• Measure performance and effectiveness
• Diagnose technical issues and errors
• Enhance user experience

Analytics providers may include third-party service providers such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or similar tools. These providers process data on our behalf and are subject to confidentiality obligations.

10. Sharing Information

We may share information with the following categories of recipients:

Service Providers

Including providers of:

• Cloud hosting - For data storage and infrastructure
• Authentication services - For secure login and verification
• Mapping services - For location and route functionality
• Analytics services - For understanding usage patterns
• Customer support systems - For managing support tickets
• Payment processing services - For handling transactions

Transportation Partners

Where necessary to provide transportation services, we may share information with transportation partners, vehicle operators, and drivers.

Legal Authorities

Where required by law, court order, subpoena, or lawful government request, we may share information with legal authorities.

Business Transfers

In connection with:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Asset sales and divestitures
• Corporate restructuring
• Bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings

11. Third-Party Services

Pickseat may integrate with third-party providers including:

• Mapping providers (e.g., Google Maps, Mapbox)
• Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel)
• Advertising networks (e.g., Google AdMob)
• Authentication services (e.g., Firebase Auth)
• Payment providers (e.g., Stripe, Paystack)

These providers operate under their own privacy policies.

12. Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide our Services to you
• Meet legal and regulatory obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• Protect platform integrity and security
• Prevent fraud and abuse

Retention periods may vary based on the type of information and legal requirements. For example:

• Account data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after closure
• Transaction data: Retained for legal and accounting purposes (typically 7 years)
• Location data: Retained for as long as necessary to provide services and for analytics
• Support tickets: Retained for 2-3 years for customer service purposes

13. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards including:

• Encryption - Data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Access controls - Only authorized personnel can access data
• Secure authentication - Strong password requirements and 2FA options
• Network security protections - Firewalls and intrusion detection
• Monitoring and auditing - Regular security assessments
• Employee training - Staff are trained on data protection

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by applicable law.

14. User Rights

Subject to applicable law, users may have the following rights:

• Access - Request access to your personal information
• Correction - Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion - Request deletion of your information
• Restriction - Request restriction of processing
• Objection - Object to processing of your information
• Withdraw consent - Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Data portability - Request transfer of your data

To exercise these rights, submit a request to: makosagroups@gmail.com

15. Account Deletion

Users may request deletion of their account by:

• Using available in-app deletion tools (if supported)
• Contacting support at makosagroups@gmail.com

When you request account deletion, we will remove your personal information from our active systems and make reasonable efforts to remove it from backups, subject to legal retention requirements.

16. Children's Privacy

Pickseat is not intended for individuals under the age of 18 or the minimum age required under applicable law.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child, we will take reasonable steps to remove the information.

17. International Data Transfers

Information may be processed and stored in countries outside the user's country of residence, including the United States and other jurisdictions.

Where required, we implement safeguards designed to protect transferred information, such as:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs)
• Adequacy decisions where applicable

By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your data to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

18. Fraud Prevention and Safety

We may use information to:

• Detect and prevent fraudulent activity
• Investigate suspicious or unusual activity
• Protect passengers, drivers, and other users
• Enforce platform rules and policies
• Promote transportation safety
• Prevent unauthorized access to accounts

We may use automated systems to analyze patterns and identify potential fraudulent behavior. In some cases, we may share information with law enforcement when necessary.

19. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website and related services may use:

• Cookies - Small text files stored on your device
• Pixels - Tiny images used for tracking
• SDKs - Software development kits used in mobile apps
• Similar technologies - Local storage, session storage, etc.

These technologies help us:

• Improve functionality and performance
• Measure and analyze usage
• Personalize experiences
• Support advertising and marketing

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices.

Material changes may be communicated through:

• In-app notifications
• Email notifications (for registered users)
• Website announcements

21. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, concerns, or requests, please contact us:

We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

22. Consent

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.