Privacy Policy
Effective Date: April 08, 2026
Last Updated: April 08, 2026
1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE
This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how Upendoland LLC (“Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and discloses personal information through our mobile application, Balmm, and any associated services (collectively, the “Services”).
Balmm is a niche social networking platform designed for expats and global citizens. Our mission is to facilitate meaningful cultural connections and community support. Unlike general-interest platforms, Balmm is built on the principles of Privacy-by-Design and Data Minimization, ensuring that your data is used only to enhance your community experience.
By downloading, accessing, or using Balmm, you agree to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect information categorized as “Voluntarily Provided” and “Automatically Collected.”
A. Voluntarily Provided Information
- Account Credentials: Name, email address, phone number, and password.
- Cultural Profile: To facilitate community matching, we collect data regarding your home country, native languages, and current interests.
- User Content: Photos, videos, and bio descriptions you choose to upload.
- Identity Verification: We may collect government-issued ID data (processed via secure third-party partners) to provide “Verified Member” badges.
B. Automatically Collected Information
- Device Data: IP address, device model, operating system version, and unique device identifiers (UUID).
- Usage Logs: App launch times, feature interactions, and performance diagnostics.
C. Geolocation Data (The “Manual Check-in” Protocol)
To satisfy international privacy standards (GDPR/CCPA) and Apple Guideline 5.1.2(i):
- No Background Tracking: Balmm does not track your location in the background or continuously.
- Manual Check-in Only: Precise geolocation is only accessed when you proactively tap the “Check-in” button on the map.
- Two-Hour Expiry (TTL): Once a check-in is performed, your location pin is visible to other community members for a maximum of 120 minutes. After this window, the data is automatically purged from the active discovery index.
3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We process your personal information under the following legal bases:
- Contractual Necessity: To provide the community matching services you requested.
- Consent: For the processing of precise geolocation during a “Check-in.”
- Legitimate Interests: For security, fraud prevention (e.g., blocking malicious users), and app performance optimization.
4. DATA SHARING AND THIRD-PARTY INTEGRATIONS
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only in these limited scenarios:
- Community Visibility: Other users can see your profile and temporary check-in location on the map for 2 hours.
- Service Providers: We use Google Maps Platform for map rendering. Your coordinates are shared with Google subject to their Privacy Policy.
- Legal Compliance: We may disclose data to comply with valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders).
5. USER CONTROLS AND SAFETY TOOLS
Safety is a core pillar of the Balmm community.
- Block and Report: Every user has the right to block other members immediately. Blocking a user removes your visibility from their map and prevents all future communication.
- Data Access & Portability: You may request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format (JSON) through the app settings.
- Account Deletion: You may delete your account at any time. Upon deletion, all personal data, including historical logs, will be permanently erased from our active servers within 30 days.
6. DATA RETENTION POLICY
- Active Profile Data: Retained as long as the account is active.
- Check-in Location Data: Retained for 2 hours per session.
- Diagnostic Logs: Retained for 90 days for troubleshooting purposes.
7. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
As a global network, your data may be processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where Upendoland LLC operates. We utilize Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to ensure your data receives the same level of protection regardless of where it is stored.
8. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
Balmm is strictly for individuals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. Due to the social nature of the app and mature community themes, the app is rated 17+ in the App Store.
9. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Significant changes will be notified via in-app “Just-in-Time” banners.
10. CONTACT US
For privacy-related inquiries or to exercise your rights:
Data Protection Officer: dataprotectionofficer@upendolandllc.com
Address: Upendoland LLC, 501 Silverside Rd, Suite 105-1307, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA.
