Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 25, 2026

1. Overview

HUBS ("we", "our", or "us") is a real-time group location sharing platform. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights with respect to that information. By using the HUBS app or website (joinhubs.app), you agree to the practices described here.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account we collect your email address, display name, and authentication provider (email/password, Google, or Apple). This is required to identify you across sessions and devices.

Location Data

HUBS collects your GPS location only when you explicitly join or create a session. Joining a session is your opt-in to location sharing — your location is shared in real time solely with other participants in that session and is not broadcast to any other users. Location sharing stops automatically when you leave the session.

With your permission, HUBS may continue collecting location in the background while an active session you joined is running, even if the app is not in the foreground. You may revoke this permission in your device settings at any time.

We do not sell your location data. Location data is transmitted to other session participants and stored temporarily on our servers to support reconnecting riders who briefly lose connectivity. It is not retained after a session ends.

Profile Information

You may optionally set a profile picture and choose a marker color. This information is visible to other users in sessions you join and to friends on the platform.

Messages

In-session chat messages and direct messages are stored on our servers. Messages are visible to participants of the relevant session or conversation.

Usage and Diagnostic Data

We collect crash reports and error logs through Sentry to diagnose and fix issues. This data may include device type, OS version, and the state of the app at the time of a crash. It does not include message content or your precise location history.

Push Notification Tokens

If you grant notification permission, we store a push token on our servers to deliver session invites and other notifications. You can revoke this at any time in your device settings.

Waitlist

If you sign up on joinhubs.app, we collect your email address and optionally your name to notify you when HUBS launches. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send you.

Content Reports and Blocks

When you report or block another user, we record the report (including the reported content and the identities of both parties) so we can review it and take appropriate action. This data is retained for safety and moderation purposes even after account deletion.

3. How We Use Your Information

  • To provide and operate the HUBS service
  • To share your real-time location with session participants you choose to ride with
  • To authenticate your identity and secure your account
  • To send push notifications relevant to your sessions and activity
  • To diagnose crashes and improve app stability
  • To process subscription payments
  • To communicate product updates to waitlist subscribers
  • To review and act on content reports and enforce our community standards

4. Third-Party Services

We rely on the following third-party services to operate HUBS:

Firebase (Google)Authentication and identity management
MongoDB AtlasDatabase storage for profiles, sessions, and messages
RedisTemporary storage of real-time location data during sessions
RevenueCatSubscription and in-app purchase management
SentryCrash reporting and error monitoring
Expo / RailwayApp infrastructure and hosting
ResendTransactional email delivery

Each third party has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Session location data is stored temporarily in Redis during an active session and is not persisted long-term after the session ends. Messages and session history are retained until you delete your account. Content reports are retained for safety purposes even after account deletion. You may request account deletion by contacting us at the address below.

6. Content Moderation and User Safety

HUBS provides mechanisms for users to protect themselves from objectionable content and abusive behavior:

Blocking Users

You may block any other user at any time. When you block a user, they are immediately removed from your feed and can no longer interact with you through HUBS. Blocking a user also notifies our moderation team so we can review the account for potential violations of our community standards.

Reporting Content

You may flag any message or content you find objectionable. Reports are sent directly to our moderation team. We review all reports and commit to taking action — including removing violating content and suspending or permanently removing offending accounts — within 24 hours of receiving a report.

Data Handling for Blocked Users

When you block a user, their content is hidden from your view immediately. Report data associated with blocked users is retained by us for safety review purposes in accordance with Section 5.

7. Children's Privacy

HUBS is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your account and associated data
  • Withdraw consent for location sharing by leaving a session or revoking app permissions
  • Block other users and report objectionable content at any time
  • Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected].

9. Security

We use industry-standard practices to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and access controls on our servers. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via the app or email. Continued use of HUBS after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions or concerns? Reach us at [email protected]