1. Introduction
Welcome to CookConnects ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how CookConnects Inc. collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your information when you visit our Progressive Web App (PWA) at app.cookconnects.ca or use our services.
We comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada and other applicable privacy laws.
By accessing or using CookConnects, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide our community marketplace services, verify home cooks, and facilitate meal sharing.
A. Information You Provide to Us
- Account Registration: When you sign up via Email or Google, we collect your name, email address, and profile picture.
- Home Cook Verification (Sensitive Data): If you apply to become a Home Cook, we collect:
- Government-Issued ID: To verify your identity. This is stored securely and is never shared publicly.
- Food Safety Certificates: To ensure compliance with our safety standards.
- Kitchen Photos/Videos: To verify your workspace.
- Profile Information: Bio, cuisine types, "My Story," and kitchen name (Publicly visible).
- Location Data: Your address (entered manually or via GPS) to suggest local meals. For Home Cooks, your approximate location is shown to users, but your exact pickup address is only revealed to customers with a confirmed order.
- Communications: Messages sent between Cooks and Food Lovers via our in-app chat system.
B. Information Collected Automatically
- Usage Data: We use Google Analytics for Firebase to collect data on how you interact with our app (e.g., pages visited, time spent, buttons clicked).
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, and device model.
- Cookies: We use local storage and cookies to maintain your login session and preferences (e.g., your "Cart" or "Saved Location").
3. How We Use Your Information
- Service Delivery: To create accounts, process orders, and facilitate food pickup.
- Safety & Verification: To vet Home Cooks through our "Food Premises Safety Quiz" and document review process, ensuring a safe marketplace.
- Transactions: To process payments and calculate platform fees (note: financial data is processed by our third-party payment provider, Stripe; we do not store full credit card numbers).
- Communication: To send order updates (e.g., "Order Ready," "15-second cancellation" alerts) and facilitate chat between users.
- Improvement: To analyze usage trends and improve our app functionality.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in the following circumstances:
Between Users:
- Cooks to Food Lovers: Public profile info, reviews, and ratings.
- Food Lovers to Cooks: Name and order details are shared when an order is placed.
Service Providers:
We share data with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our app:
- Google Cloud / Firebase: For hosting, database storage, and authentication.
- Google Maps API: To provide location services and address autocomplete.
- Payment Processors: To handle secure payments.
Legal Requirements:
If required by Canadian law or to protect the rights and safety of CookConnects, our users, or others.
5. Data Storage and Security
Storage: Your data is stored on secure servers provided by Google Firebase. We implement strict Security Rules to ensure that sensitive documents (like Government IDs) are accessible only by you and our authorized Admin verification team.
Security Measures: We use SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Rights
Under Canadian privacy laws, you have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information (e.g., updating your menu or profile).
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data, subject to legal retention requirements (e.g., tax records).
To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@cookconnects.ca.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law.
- Unverified Documents: If a cook fails verification, sensitive documents may be deleted after a specific period.
- Transaction History: Retained for financial reporting and tax compliance.
8. Third-Party Links
Our app may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Google Maps). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at:
CookConnects Inc.
Email: contact@cookconnects.ca
Address: 100 King Street West, Suite 6000, 1 First Canadian Place, Ontario, M5X 1E2, Canada