Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to InterPool ("we", "our", or "us"). InterPool is a carpooling and ride-sharing application developed to help individuals share rides sustainably within trusted institutional communities. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Android mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").

By using InterPool, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information to operate and improve the Service:

• Account Information: Your name, email address, gender, profile photo (optional), and phone number when you register.
• Institution Data: The name of your college, organization, or employer that you choose to link to your profile for trust verification.
• Vehicle Information: If you offer rides, we collect vehicle model, registration number, and seating capacity.
• Location Data: Your device's GPS location is used during ride creation (source and destination), active rides, and when you use the SOS alert feature. We request location permission only when necessary.
• Ride Data: Details of rides you create or join, including routes, timestamps, seat prices, and ride status transitions.
• Payment & Ledger Data: Debt records, settlement logs, and balance history stored within the app's ledger system. We do not process actual financial transactions.
• Chat Messages: Messages sent within in-app ride chat rooms for coordination purposes.
• Device Information: Device type, OS version, and app version for debugging and performance optimization.
• Push Notification Tokens: Device tokens used to deliver ride alerts via OneSignal.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account and user profile.
• Match you with compatible rides based on your route and institution.
• Facilitate ride scheduling, acceptance, and completion workflows.
• Automatically calculate and update the payment ledger after each completed ride.
• Send push notifications for ride events (requests, acceptances, reminders, chat messages).
• Calculate CO₂ savings and financial savings for the gamification league system.
• Broadcast GPS coordinates during an SOS alert event.
• Improve, debug, and maintain the reliability and performance of our Service.
• Respond to your support enquiries.

4. Data Storage & Security

All user data is stored securely in Google Firebase (Firestore and Firebase Authentication), a cloud platform operated by Google LLC with industry-standard security. Firebase enforces encrypted data transmission (TLS) and access control via security rules.

We implement security rules to ensure that users can only access data they are authorized to view. Chat messages and ride data are scoped per ride and accessible only to the offerer and accepted passengers of that ride.

While we take reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

5. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share limited data in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your name, profile photo, institution, vehicle details, and ride information are visible to other users on the platform for the purpose of ride matching and trust-building.
• Service Providers: We use Google Firebase for database and authentication, and OneSignal for push notifications. These providers have their own privacy policies.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal processes.
• Safety Emergencies: During an SOS event, your GPS coordinates may be shared with emergency contacts you have designated in the app.

6. Location Data

InterPool requests foreground location access to enable route-based ride search and creation. Your location is used in real time only when you are actively using the app for ride-related actions. We do not track your location in the background beyond what is necessary for active ride monitoring. You may revoke location permission at any time through your device settings, though this may affect core app functionality.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account and ride data for as long as your account is active. Completed ride records and ledger entries are retained for audit and reference purposes. Chat messages are retained per ride lifecycle. You may request deletion of your account and associated data by emailing support@interpool.co.in. We will process deletion requests within 30 days.

8. Children's Privacy

InterPool is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with their personal information, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to remove such information.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• The right to access the personal data we hold about you.
• The right to correct inaccurate data.
• The right to request deletion of your data ("Right to be Forgotten").
• The right to withdraw consent for data processing at any time.
• The right to lodge a complaint with a relevant data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at support@interpool.co.in.

10. Third-Party Services

Our app integrates with the following third-party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, Firestore database, and cloud functions. Firebase Privacy
• OneSignal: Push notification delivery. OneSignal Privacy
• Google Maps / Geocoding API: Route calculation and distance measurement.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, via in-app notification. Your continued use of InterPool after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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

Email: support@interpool.co.in

Website: interpool.co.in