Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to matie, the comprehensive travel app designed to enhance your overseas travel experience. AVAI INTERACTIVE PTE. LTD. ("we", "us", "our", or "the Company") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains in detail how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your information when you download, install, or use our matie mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Services").

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the App, including visitors and registered users. By accessing or using the Services, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information from you through various channels to provide and improve our Services. The information we collect can be categorized as follows:

2.1 Personal Information

Personal Information refers to any information that can be used to identify, contact, or locate an individual, either alone or in combination with other information. We may collect the following types of Personal Information:

2.1.1 Account Registration and Profile Information

• Basic Identification Information: Name, gender, phone number, date of birth
• Account Credentials: Username, password (encrypted), security questions and answers
• Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, travel interests, preferred destinations, travel style, language preferences
• Social Media Information: If you choose to register or log in using a social media account (e.g., Google, Apple, X), we may collect information from your social media profile, such as your name, profile picture, with your permission

2.1.2 Travel-Related Information

• Travel Notes: Content, dates, and locations of travel notes you create and save
• Destination Information: Travel destinations you browse or save, guides and recommendations you access
• Translation History: Languages you translate between, translation content you save
• Language Learning Progress: Foreign language learning activities, progress, and preferences

2.1.4 Location Information

• Real-Time Location Data: Your precise geographic location when you enable location services, which we use to provide location-based features such as nearby attractions and local recommendations
• Location History: Historical location data to track your travel routes, provide personalized recommendations, and improve our location-based services

2.1.5 Communication Information

• Messages and Chats: Communications between you and other users, customer support inquiries, feedback, and suggestions
• Email and Notification History: Emails, push notifications, SMS messages we send to you and your responses

2.1.6 Device and Usage Information

• Device Identifiers: Unique device identifiers (UDID), International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), Media Access Control (MAC) address, Android ID, Advertising ID
• Device Characteristics: Device model, operating system version, screen resolution, battery level, storage capacity
• App Usage Data: Features you use, time spent on the App, frequency of use, pages viewed, buttons clicked, search queries, and other interaction data

2.2 Non-Personal Information

Non-Personal Information refers to information that cannot be used to identify a specific individual, either alone or in combination with other information. This may include:

• Aggregated data about user behavior and trends
• Anonymous usage statistics
• Device type, operating system, and browser information (in aggregate form)
• IP address (anonymized or in aggregate form)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (as described in Section 3.2)

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information through various methods, including:

3.1 Direct Collection from You

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Create an account or register for the Services
• Update your profile information
• Create or manage travel notes
• Use translation services
• Access foreign language learning resources
• Browse travel guides and recommendations
• Contact customer support
• Participate in surveys, contests, or promotions
• Provide feedback or suggestions

3.2 Automatic Collection

When you access or use the Services, we may automatically collect certain information through various technologies, including:

3.2.1 Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies to collect information about your interaction with the Services. These technologies help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Track your usage patterns and improve the Services
• Deliver personalized content and advertisements
• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings, but disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Services.

3.2.2 Analytics Tools

We use third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics) to collect information about how users interact with the Services. These tools collect data such as:

• Pages viewed and time spent on each page
• Links clicked
• App crashes and errors
• User demographics and interests

3.3 Collection from Third Parties

We may collect information about you from third parties, including:

• Social Media Platforms: If you connect your social media account to the App, we may receive information from the social media platform in accordance with your privacy settings
• Publicly Available Sources: We may collect information from publicly available sources to enhance and verify your profile information

4. How We Use Your Information

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

4.1 To Provide and Maintain the Services

• Create and manage your account
• Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
• Deliver travel itineraries and updates
• Facilitate communication between users
• Provide location-based services and recommendations

4.2 To Improve and Enhance the Services

• Analyze user behavior and preferences to improve the user experience
• Develop new features and functionality
• Fix bugs and technical issues
• Optimize the performance and reliability of the Services

4.3 To Personalize Your Experience

• Provide tailored travel recommendations based on your interests and preferences
• Customize the content and features you see in the App
• Offer personalized promotions and discounts

4.4 To Communicate with You

• Send account-related notifications (e.g., password resets)
• Provide important updates about the Services (e.g., changes to terms and conditions, new features)
• Send marketing communications about products, services, promotions, and events that may interest you
• Conduct surveys and gather feedback to improve the Services

4.5 To Ensure Security and Prevent Fraud

• Verify your identity
• Detect and prevent fraudulent activities
• Protect against unauthorized access to your account
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements

4.7 For Research and Analytics

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Conduct market research and surveys
• Develop and improve our products and services

4.8 For Legal Purposes

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests and process subpoenas
• Defend against legal claims and disputes
• Protect our rights, property, and safety, as well as the rights, property, and safety of our users and others

5. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with third parties in the following circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Services, including:

• Hosting and cloud storage providers
• Customer support and helpdesk services
• Analytics and marketing service providers
• Communication and messaging service providers

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and only use it to perform the services we request of them.

5.2 Business Partners

We may share your information with business partners to offer joint products or services, or to provide you with special offers and promotions. These partners are required to comply with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

5.3 Legal and Regulatory Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests from public authorities (e.g., a court, regulatory body, law enforcement agency). We may also disclose your information to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of our users or others.

5.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, consolidation, sale of assets, bankruptcy, or other corporate restructuring, we may transfer your information to the new entity. We will notify you of any such transfer and ensure that the new entity complies with this Privacy Policy.

5.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties for other purposes with your explicit consent.

5.6 Anonymous and Aggregated Data

We may share anonymous or aggregated data with third parties for research, marketing, or other purposes. This data does not contain any Personal Information and cannot be used to identify you.

6. Data Retention

We retain your Personal Information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. The criteria we use to determine retention periods include:

• The duration of your relationship with us (e.g., while you have an active account)
• The fulfillment of the purposes for which we collected the information
• Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• Resolution of disputes and enforcement of our agreements
• Protection against fraud and security threats

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

7. Data Security

We take the security of your Personal Information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

7.1 Technical Security Measures

• Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption protocols (e.g., SSL/TLS) to protect data transmitted between your device and our servers. We also encrypt sensitive data at rest.
• Access Controls: We implement strict access controls to limit who can access your information, including role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication.
• Secure Storage: We store your information on secure servers with firewalls and other security protections.
• Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential security risks.
• Data Breach Response: We have a data breach response plan in place to promptly respond to and mitigate the impact of any security breach.

7.2 Organizational Security Measures

• Employee training on data privacy and security
• Confidentiality agreements with employees and contractors
• Regular security awareness programs
• Compliance with industry best practices and standards

While we take reasonable measures 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 measures to protect your information.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have certain rights regarding your Personal Information. We respect these rights and will take reasonable steps to help you exercise them.

8.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access the Personal Information we hold about you and to request that we correct any inaccuracies or update any outdated information. To exercise this right, you can:

• Update your profile information through the App's settings
• Contact us at support@matie.cc with your request

8.2 Deletion

You have the right to request that we delete your Personal Information, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., if we need to retain the information for legal purposes). To request deletion of your account and associated information, please contact us at support@matie.cc.

8.3 Data Portability

You have the right to receive a copy of your Personal Information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, and to request that we transfer this information to another data controller, where technically feasible. To exercise this right, please contact us at support@matie.cc.

8.4 Opt-Out of Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our marketing emails
• Adjusting your notification preferences in the App's settings
• Contacting us at support@matie.cc with your request

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you non-marketing communications, such as account-related notifications and service updates.

8.5 Withdraw Consent

If you have given us consent to process your Personal Information for a specific purpose, you may withdraw that consent at any time. To withdraw consent, please contact us at support@matie.cc. Please note that withdrawing consent may affect your ability to use certain features of the Services.

8.6 Complaint to a Supervisory Authority

If you believe that we have not processed your Personal Information in accordance with applicable laws, you may have the right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority in your jurisdiction.

9. Children's Privacy

The Services are not intended for use by children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Information from a child under 16, we will take immediate steps to delete that information from our systems. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided Personal Information to us, please contact us at support@matie.cc.

10. International Data Transfers

As a global company, we may transfer your information to countries other than the country in which you reside, including to China, where our headquarters are located. These countries may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

When we transfer your information to other countries, we take appropriate measures to ensure that your information is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws. These measures may include:

• Entering into standard contractual clauses (SCCs) with our service providers
• Transferring data to countries that have been recognized as providing adequate protection for personal data
• Implementing other legally recognized data transfer mechanisms

11. Third-Party Links and Services

The Services may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not owned or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to these third-party services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party services.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use through the App to understand how they collect, use, and protect your information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or business operations. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on our website and within the App
• Sending you an email notification
• Displaying a notification within the App

The updated Privacy Policy will be effective as of the date indicated at the top of the policy. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of the updated Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

13. Contact Us

14. Additional Information for Users in Specific Jurisdictions

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights and protections under applicable privacy laws. We will comply with the privacy laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

Thank you for using matie! We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing you with a secure and enjoyable travel experience.