Privacy Policy | SearchByNear

1. Who We Are

SearchByNear operates the website searchbynear.me — a global local directory platform where anyone can list or find businesses, professionals, government offices and services. We are committed to protecting your privacy.

2. Information We Collect

Account information: Name, email address, phone number and password when you register.
Profile information: Business name, contact details, location, photos and description when you create a profile.
Verification documents: NID, passport, trade licence or other documents submitted for KYC/business verification (stored securely, accessed only by admin reviewers).
Usage data: Pages visited, search queries, device type, IP address, browser type and referring URLs.
Cookies: Session cookies, preference cookies and analytics cookies. See our Cookie Policy.

3. How We Use Your Information

To provide and operate the directory service
To verify identities and business credentials
To send OTP codes and verification emails
To improve search results and platform features
To detect and prevent fraud and abuse
To comply with legal obligations
To display relevant advertisements (Google AdSense)

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share information only:

With service providers (hosting, SMS, email delivery) under strict data agreements
With Google AdSense for ad personalisation (you can opt out via Google Ad Settings)
When required by law, court order or government authority
Public profile information is visible to all visitors — phone, email and location you add to a profile are publicly accessible

5. Data Retention

Account data is retained as long as your account is active. Verification documents are deleted after review or within 90 days. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

6. Your Rights (GDPR / Global)

Depending on your location, you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Correct inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data (right to be forgotten)
Withdraw consent at any time
Object to processing for marketing purposes
Data portability

To exercise these rights, email: privacy@searchbynear.me

7. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, JWT authentication, hashed passwords (bcrypt), and access controls. However, no system is 100% secure.

8. Children's Privacy

SearchByNear is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us immediately.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes via email or a notice on the website. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

10. Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests: privacy@searchbynear.me
Or visit: searchbynear.me/contact