Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Closer (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use the Service, including our website (becloser.co), the Closer mobile application (available on iOS and Android), and all related services, real-world events, and communications (collectively, the “Service”).

By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• City or location (city-level only, manually entered)
• Payment information (processed securely via Stripe — we do not store card numbers)
• Profile photo (if uploaded via the app)
• Identity verification data — a government-issued photo ID image and a self-portrait (selfie) used for a biometric facial-similarity check. This is collected and processed by our third-party verification provider, Persona; Closer receives only the verification result and limited details (such as your verified name and date of birth) and does not store your ID images.

2.2 Usage Information

• Pages visited on our website and screens viewed in the app
• Event registrations, attendance, and ticket purchases
• App session data, feature interactions, and crash reports
• Device type, operating system, and app version
• IP address (used for security/fraud detection and ad targeting via Meta Pixel and Google Analytics on our website)

2.3 Mobile-Specific Information

When you use the Closer mobile app, we may also collect:

• Push notification device tokens (APNs on iOS, FCM on Android)
• Photo library access (if you upload a profile photo)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide, operate, and improve the Service
• Process event ticket purchases and annual Trust & Safety verification fee billing
• Verify your identity (via Persona) to confirm membership eligibility and keep our events trusted and safe
• Send transactional communications including booking confirmations, reminders, and receipts
• Send push notifications for event reminders, ticket confirmations, message alerts, and service updates
• Send SMS messages related to your bookings and membership (see Section 5)
• Understand how members use the Service and improve the member experience
• Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory requirements

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We work with the following third-party services that may process your personal data on our behalf. We share only the minimum data necessary for each service to function.

5. SMS Communications

If you provide your mobile phone number and opt in, you may receive SMS messages from Closer including event confirmations, reminders, and important service updates. Message frequency may vary. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

6. Push Notifications

We use push notifications to send you event reminders, ticket confirmations, message alerts, and other service-related updates. You can disable push notifications at any time in your device's Settings app, or within the Closer app under Profile > Notifications.

7. Tracking Technologies (Website)

On our website (becloser.co), we use tracking technologies including cookies, pixels, and analytics tools to understand how users interact with the Service and to deliver relevant advertising. The Closer mobile app does not currently use cross-app tracking or advertising identifiers.

7.1 Cookies (Website)

Our website uses the following categories of cookies:

• Essential cookies — required for the website to function (login sessions, checkout)
• Analytics cookies — Google Analytics (GA4) to understand usage patterns
• Advertising cookies — Meta Pixel and Google Ads to measure campaign performance

You can manage cookies via your browser settings (see our Cookie Policy for category-by-category opt-out links).

8. Mobile App Permissions

9. Account Deletion

You may delete your Closer account at any time by navigating to Profile > Account > Delete Account within the mobile app, or by visiting becloser.co/delete-account. Upon deletion, your profile, event history, and personal data will be removed from our active systems within 30 days. We retain transaction records and billing information for up to 7 years as required by applicable tax and financial regulations. Membership data required for legal compliance purposes may be retained for the minimum period required by law.

10. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account remains active. After account deletion, we retain transaction records and legal compliance documentation for up to 7 years as required by applicable tax and financial regulations. All other personal data is purged from our active systems within 30 days of account deletion.

11. Cross-Border Data Transfers

Closer operates globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where our infrastructure providers (including Supabase and Vercel) are based. We use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission to ensure that transfers from the EU and UK are subject to appropriate safeguards.

12. Minimum Age

Closer is a real-world social club intended for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a user under 18, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have collected data from a minor, please contact us at privacy@becloser.co.

13. Your Privacy Rights

13.1 GDPR Rights (EU and UK Users, including London)

If you are located in the EU or UK, you have the following rights:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification (correct inaccurate data)
• Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
• Right to data portability
• Right to restriction of processing
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent at any time

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

13.2 CCPA/CPRA Rights (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights:

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights
• Right to correct inaccurate personal information
• Right to limit use of sensitive personal information

13.3 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at privacy@becloser.co. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.

14. How We Share Information

We may share your information with:

• Service providers listed in Section 4 who help us operate the Service
• Legal or regulatory authorities if required by law

We do not sell your personal information.

15. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

16. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. For material changes, we will provide notice via email or in-app notification.

17. Contact Us

Email: privacy@becloser.co

This document is not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for jurisdiction-specific guidance.