CafeTee (“CafeTee”, “we”, “us”, “our”) operates [https://cafetee.com] (the “Site”) and any related services, features, content, or applications (collectively, the “Service”).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal data when you use CafeTee.

What We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

Information you provide
  • Account information: email address, display name, password (stored in encrypted/hashed form), and any profile details you choose to add.
  • User content: reviews, ratings, comments, photos, cafe suggestions/edits, reports, and any information you submit through forms.
  • Claim/verification information (if you claim a listing): business contact details, evidence to confirm ownership/authorization (e.g., business email, documents you choose to submit), and communication history.
  • Support requests: information you share when contacting us.
Information collected automatically
  • Usage data: pages viewed, searches, clicks, referrals, time spent, and interactions with features.
  • Device & log data: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, language, and approximate location inferred from IP (e.g., city/area).
  • Cookies & similar technologies: used for essential site functions, preferences, analytics, and advertising
Information from third parties
  • Analytics/advertising partners: may provide aggregated or pseudonymous data about performance of ads or site usage.
  • Social login providers (if enabled): basic profile info according to your settings with that provider.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal data to:

  • Provide and operate the Service (accounts, searching, posting, displaying listings).
  • Maintain listing quality (review moderation, spam prevention, abuse detection).
  • Process listing claims and communicate with claimants or owners.
  • Improve and personalize the Service (recommendations, content relevance, user experience).
  • Communicate with you (updates, support replies, important notices).
  • Measure performance (analytics, troubleshooting, security monitoring).
  • Show advertising (if enabled), and measure ad effectiveness.
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

Legal Bases (for jurisdictions that require it)

Depending on where you live, we process personal data under one or more legal bases:

  • Consent (e.g., marketing emails, some cookies, optional features).
  • Contract (to provide the Service you request, such as account features).
  • Legitimate interests (e.g., keeping the platform safe, improving Service, preventing fraud).
  • Legal obligation (e.g., responding to valid legal requests).

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information in the traditional sense. We may share information in these cases:

Public content you choose to post

Reviews, ratings, photos, and certain profile elements (like display name) may be publicly visible.

With service providers (processors)

We use vendors to run the Site and features (e.g., hosting, email delivery, analytics, security, customer support tools). They only receive data necessary to perform services for us and are expected to protect it.

With cafe owners (limited context)

If you contact a cafe through a form or inquiry feature (if enabled), we may share the information you submit with that cafe/owner to respond to you.

For legal and safety reasons

We may disclose information if required by law, to respond to lawful requests, protect rights/safety, investigate fraud or abuse, or enforce our policies.

Business transfers

If we’re involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Listings, Claims, and “Verified/Claimed/Last Confirmed” Labels

CafeTee may display labels such as Verified, Claimed, or Last Confirmed on listings. These labels:

  • indicate a platform status (e.g., ownership claim or recency of confirmation),
  • and are not an endorsement of the business. Reviews reflect users’ opinions.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

  • Essential cookies: login/session, security, core site functions.
  • Preference cookies: your settings (where applicable).
  • Analytics cookies: understanding traffic and usage patterns.
  • Advertising cookies: showing relevant ads and measuring performance (if ads are enabled).

You can control cookies via your browser settings. Some features may not work correctly if you disable essential cookies.

Advertising (Google AdSense or similar)

If we display ads (e.g., Google AdSense), ad partners may use cookies or similar technologies to:

  • serve ads,
  • limit repetitive ads,
  • measure ad effectiveness,
  • and personalize ads (depending on your settings/region and consent rules).

Where required, we will request cookie consent before non-essential cookies are used.

Email and Marketing

If you subscribe to updates, we may send newsletters or product announcements.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails, or contact us.

We may still send non-marketing messages (e.g., account security, important service notices).

Data Retention

We keep personal data only as long as needed for:

  • providing the Service,
  • legitimate business purposes (security, preventing fraud),
  • and legal compliance.

Public content (like reviews) may remain visible even if you close your account, but we can anonymize it where appropriate and feasible, unless law or platform integrity requires retention.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect data. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

International Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries other than where you live (e.g., where hosting/analytics providers operate). Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

  • request access to your personal data,
  • request correction of inaccurate data,
  • request deletion (where applicable),
  • withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent),
  • object to certain processing,
  • request data portability (in some regions).

To exercise rights, contact us (see Section 14). We may verify your identity before responding.

Children’s Privacy

CafeTee is not intended for children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided data, contact us so we can take appropriate action.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the “Effective date” at the top, and may provide additional notice if changes are significant.