Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Rudder ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform. By using Rudder, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

Rudder is a classifieds and lead generation platform designed for university alumni in Texas to share opportunities including jobs, housing, services, and other listings.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide when using our platform:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, and profile details
• Listing Content: Titles, descriptions, prices, locations, contact information, and other details you include in your listings
• Lead Submissions: Information you provide when submitting leads, including contact details and messages
• Communications: Messages you send through our platform or to our support team
• Payment Information: If we offer paid services in the future, we may collect billing information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use Rudder, we automatically collect certain information:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent on the platform, and interaction patterns
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (we do not collect precise GPS location)
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to track activity and improve user experience

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services if you choose to connect your account with them (e.g., social media login providers).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Platform Operation: To provide, maintain, and improve our services
• Account Management: To create and manage your account, authenticate users, and provide customer support
• Listings and Leads: To display your listings, facilitate lead submissions, and connect users
• Communication: To send you notifications, updates, and respond to your inquiries
• Personalization: To customize your experience and show relevant content
• Analytics: To understand how users interact with our platform and improve functionality
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• Marketing: To send promotional materials (you can opt out at any time)

4. How We Share Your Information

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

4.1 Public Information

Information you include in listings (title, description, price, location, contact information) is publicly visible to all users of the platform. Be mindful of what information you choose to share.

4.2 With Other Users

When you submit a lead or contact another user, your contact information and message will be shared with that user to facilitate communication.

4.3 Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who help us operate the platform, including:

• Hosting and infrastructure providers
• Analytics services
• Email delivery services
• Customer support tools
• Payment processors (if applicable)

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Prevent fraud or abuse
• Respond to emergencies

4.5 Business Transfers

If Rudder is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

5. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required to retain it for legal or operational purposes. Deleted listings may be retained in backups for a limited period.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format
• Object: Object to certain processing of your information

To exercise these rights, please contact us at hello@rudder.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Authenticate your account
• Analyze platform usage and performance
• Provide personalized content

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.

8. Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS)
• Secure password storage (hashing and salting)
• Regular security audits
• Access controls and authentication

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

10. Children's Privacy

Rudder is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Right to request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@rudder.com with "California Privacy Rights" in the subject line.

12. International Users

Rudder is operated in the United States and primarily serves users in Texas. If you access the platform from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using Rudder, you consent to this transfer.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our platform with a new "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of Rudder after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: hello@rudder.com
Address: Rudder, Inc., Austin, Texas