Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account, post listings, or contact sellers, we collect:

• Account Information: Email address, password (hashed), username, optional phone number
• Listing Content: Titles, descriptions, prices, photos, categories, location (city/region only)
• Messages: Content of messages sent through our platform messaging system
• Profile Data: Optional bio, profile photo, preferences

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use Marty, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, search queries, clicks, time spent, referral sources
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (city/region level, not GPS)
• Cookies & Tracking: Session tokens, preferences, analytics data (see Section 5)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive data from:

• Azure AI Services: Content moderation results (does not include raw user data)
• Payment Processors: Transaction verification (if we add payment features in the future)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide Services: Create accounts, display listings, facilitate messaging, manage searches
• Safety & Security: Detect scams/fraud using AI analysis, moderate harmful content, enforce Terms of Service
• Communication: Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets, safety alerts), respond to support requests
• Improve Platform: Analyse usage patterns, fix bugs, develop new features, conduct A/B testing
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, respond to legal requests, protect our rights

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible to all users:

• Listing titles, descriptions, prices, photos, categories, city/region
• Username (on listings and messages)
• Account creation date (approximate)

3.2 Private Information

We NEVER publicly display or sell:

• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Private messages (except to participants in the conversation)
• IP addresses or precise location data

3.3 Service Providers

We share data with trusted third-party vendors who help us operate Marty:

• Microsoft Azure: Hosting, database, AI moderation, blob storage (see Azure Privacy Policy)
• Email Service: Transactional email delivery (account verification, password resets)
• All vendors are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for our services.

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to:

• Comply with legal processes (subpoenas, warrants)
• Protect against fraud, abuse, or illegal activity
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the safety of users or the public

3.5 Business Transfers

If Marty is acquired, merged, or sells assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity. You will be notified via email and/or a prominent notice on our site.

4. Data Retention

We retain your information as follows:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active
• Deleted Accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days; some data (flagged content, moderation logs) retained for legal/safety purposes up to 7 years
• Deleted Listings: Removed from public view immediately; backups purged within 90 days
• Messages: Retained until both parties delete their accounts

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Essential Cookies: Authentication tokens, session management (required for the platform to function)
• Analytics Cookies: Usage statistics, feature adoption, error tracking (aggregated, anonymized)
• Preference Cookies: Save your language, theme, and display settings

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may limit functionality. We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete information in your account settings
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities (e.g., direct marketing)
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for optional data processing (does not affect prior processing)

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@Marty.example.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security practices:

• Passwords hashed with bcrypt (never stored in plaintext)
• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Azure SQL with encryption at rest
• Role-based access controls for internal systems
• Regular security audits and penetration testing

However, no system is 100% secure. If you suspect unauthorized access to your account, change your password immediately and contact us.

8. Children's Privacy

Marty is not intended for users under 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with data, contact us immediately and we will delete it.

Certain categories (e.g., personals/dating) require users to be 18+ and verify their age.

9. International Data Transfers

Marty is hosted on Microsoft Azure servers in the United States. If you access our platform from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other countries where Azure operates.

By using Marty, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

10. Third-Party Links

Listings and messages may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites. Please review their privacy policies before sharing personal information.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you via:

• Email to your registered address
• Prominent notice on the homepage

The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when changes were made. Continued use of Marty after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us: