Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Open Bazaar (“we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your data when you use the Open Bazaar platform. By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Account information: Name, email address, and profile photo provided during registration or via Google OAuth.
• Listing content: Titles, descriptions, photos, prices, and contact details you include in advertisements.
• Messages: Communications sent through our in-app messaging system.
• Usage data: Pages viewed, search queries, clicks, and device/browser information collected via analytics tools (e.g. Google Analytics).
• Location data: City-level location you select to personalise your experience. We do not collect precise GPS coordinates without explicit permission.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account.
• To publish and display your listings to other users.
• To facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.
• To send transactional emails (listing confirmations, messages).
• To detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse.
• To improve the Platform through analytics and user feedback.
• To comply with legal obligations.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We may share it with:

• Service providers: Cloud hosting (Microsoft Azure), email delivery (Resend), image storage, and analytics providers — under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Other users: Information you include in a public listing (e.g., phone number you choose to display) is visible to all users.
• Law enforcement: When required by applicable law or a valid legal order.

5. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain your session, remember your city preference, and collect anonymous analytics data. You can control cookie settings in your browser; disabling cookies may affect some Platform functionality. We use Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Listings are retained for 90 days after expiry or deletion. You can request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by emailing privacy@open-bazaar.com.

7. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, secure cloud infrastructure, and access controls to protect your data. No system is 100% secure; we encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your account.

8. Children's Privacy

Open Bazaar is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that a minor has provided personal information, we will delete it promptly.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@open-bazaar.com. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on the Platform or by email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy-related enquiries, contact us at privacy@open-bazaar.com or via our contact page.