Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how the operator of GoLocial (“we”, “us”, “our”) handles personal information collected in connection with the GoLocial website, applications and related services (the “Platform”). This Policy applies to all users, visitors and anyone who otherwise interacts with the Platform.

We aim to handle personal information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service.

We collect the information that you provide, that is generated by your use of the Platform, and that we receive from third parties. This may include:

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, password (stored in hashed form), profile photo, date of birth and similar details you choose to provide.
• Listing and content information: listings you create, messages you send, images, reviews, ratings, comments and other User Content.
• Usage information: pages and listings viewed, clicks, searches, interactions, time spent, referrers, device identifiers, IP address, browser type, operating system, crash data and approximate location derived from your IP address.
• Location information: suburb or area you choose to display, and if you grant permission, more precise device location.
• Communications: correspondence with us (including support requests), and messages exchanged with other users via the Platform.
• Third-party information: information we receive from identity, authentication, analytics, advertising, payment, anti-fraud, mapping and social platforms that you link to or that we use to provide the Platform.
• Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 8 below.

You may choose not to provide certain information, but some features will not be available or may not function properly without it.

Sensitive information: we do not seek sensitive information (as defined in the Privacy Act) unless it is reasonably necessary for a specific purpose and where required by law, only with your consent. Please do not send us sensitive information unsolicited.

We use personal information for purposes that include:

• providing, operating, maintaining and improving the Platform;
• creating and managing your account, authenticating you and keeping the Platform secure;
• displaying your listings, profile, messages and other User Content on the Platform;
• personalising the experience, recommending nearby listings and sending relevant content;
• sending you transactional, administrative, security and service-related communications;
• subject to your preferences and applicable law, sending marketing, promotional and newsletter messages (you may opt out at any time);
• conducting analytics, research, troubleshooting, debugging, measuring engagement, testing features and developing new ones;
• preventing, detecting and investigating fraud, abuse, spam, security incidents and violations of our Terms or applicable law;
• complying with legal obligations, responding to lawful requests from authorities and enforcing our legal rights.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share or disclose information in the following circumstances:

• With other users: your profile, listings, reviews, ratings, public comments and any information you choose to publish will be visible to other users and the general public. Messages you send to another user are visible to that user.
• With service providers: hosting, cloud infrastructure, authentication, email delivery, analytics, crash reporting, advertising, customer support, payment, mapping, content moderation, anti-fraud, SMS, and similar vendors engaged by us, who are authorised to use information only for the purposes we specify.
• With third-party platforms you connect: for example, if you sign in using a social or identity provider, we exchange information with that provider as permitted by you.
• For legal reasons: where we believe disclosure is required by law, court order, subpoena or lawful request from a government or regulatory body; to enforce our Terms; to protect the rights, property or safety of GoLocial, our users, or others; or to prevent fraud, abuse or security issues.
• Business transfers: in connection with any merger, acquisition, financing, sale of assets, restructure, insolvency or similar transaction, information may be transferred to the successor or acquirer.
• With your consent: for any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection or for which you otherwise consent.

GoLocial uses service providers and infrastructure located in Australia and overseas, including (without limitation) the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions where our vendors operate. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and consent to your information being disclosed to and stored in countries that may not have the same privacy protections as Australia. Where we are required by law to take steps to ensure overseas recipients handle personal information consistently with the APPs, we will take reasonable steps to do so; however, you release us from any obligation under APP 8.1 to the maximum extent permitted.

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including industry-standard encryption, access controls and secure development practices.

However, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we cannot and do not guarantee the absolute security of any information, and we are not liable for any unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss or misuse of information transmitted to, from or through the Platform. You provide personal information at your own risk.

You are responsible for keeping your account credentials confidential and for all activity under your account.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes it was collected, to comply with our legal, tax, accounting and reporting obligations, to resolve disputes, to enforce our agreements and for the legitimate operation of the Platform. When no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify the information, except where we are required or permitted by law to retain it.

We and our service providers use cookies, local storage, pixels, SDKs and similar technologies to recognise you, remember preferences, measure engagement, analyse usage, deliver relevant content and protect the Platform. These technologies may collect information such as your IP address, device identifiers, browser type and interactions with the Platform.

The Platform may use third-party analytics and advertising services (for example, Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, or similar). These providers may use the information for their own purposes in accordance with their own privacy policies. You may be able to control tracking through your browser settings, device controls or industry opt-out pages. Disabling cookies may affect the operation of the Platform.

The Platform may link to, or display content from, third-party websites, advertisers, partners and services. We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties. Their privacy policies apply to any information you provide to them. You access third-party services at your own risk.

Subject to applicable law, you may:

• access and update much of your account information directly in your profile settings;
• request access to or correction of personal information we hold about you (we may charge a reasonable fee where permitted, and may need to verify your identity first);
• opt out of marketing communications by using the unsubscribe link in the message or by updating your preferences;
• control device-level permissions (such as location, notifications and camera) through your operating system;
• request deletion of your account, subject to our need to retain certain information as described in Section 7.

We may decline access or correction requests where permitted or required by law (for example, where the request is frivolous, unlawful, or where providing access would reveal the personal information of another person).

Information that you voluntarily post publicly on the Platform (including in listings, profile fields, reviews, comments and images) may be viewed, copied, stored and used by other users and third parties, and may appear in search engine results. You are solely responsible for the personal information you choose to publish.

Do not publish information about other people without their consent. Do not disclose sensitive personal, financial or identification information in listings, messages or reviews. We are not responsible for the use of information you choose to make public.

The Platform is not directed to, or intended for use by, individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from persons under 18. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take reasonable steps to delete that information.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Platform and all related services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis with no warranties of any kind relating to privacy or data protection. We do not warrant that the Platform, any communications, or any security measures will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from unauthorised access or harmful components.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we (including our officers, employees, contractors, agents and affiliates) exclude all liability for any loss or damage (including indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive or exemplary loss, and loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill or opportunity) arising out of or in connection with the collection, use, disclosure, storage, loss, theft, corruption, alteration, or unauthorised access of any personal information, any data breach, any act or omission of a third party, or any reliance on this Policy or any information on the Platform, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), statute or otherwise.

Nothing in this Policy excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy conferred by the Australian Consumer Law or the Privacy Act that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. Where our liability cannot be excluded but can be limited, our liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. Our total aggregate liability for all claims relating to this Policy is further limited as set out in our Terms of Service.

You release us, and our officers, employees, contractors, agents and affiliates, from all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses arising out of or in connection with any information you publish through the Platform, any messages you send, or any dispute with another user or third party regarding personal information.

You agree to indemnify us and the persons above against any claim, loss, damage, cost or expense (including reasonable legal costs on a full-indemnity basis) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your breach of this Policy, our Terms, or any law; (b) any personal information you publish or transmit through the Platform; or (c) your infringement of any third-party privacy or other right.

We may update this Policy from time to time. Changes will be effective when the updated Policy is posted on the Platform and the “last updated” date is revised. Your continued use of the Platform after the updated Policy is posted constitutes your acceptance of the changes. You should review this Policy periodically.

If you have a question or complaint about this Policy, or you believe your privacy has been breached, you may contact us using the contact options made available on the Platform. We will acknowledge your complaint within a reasonable time and aim to resolve it promptly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.