Our Approach to Privacy
At TheKnow (operated by Makeshft Inc.), we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how we use it. We believe in being transparent—no hidden practices or confusing legal jargon.
What Information We Collect
Information You Give Us
- Account information: Your name, email address, and password
- Taste profile: Your dining preferences, cuisine likes/dislikes, favorite restaurants
- Ratings & reviews: Your restaurant ratings and any written reviews
- Preferences: Dining frequency, budget preferences, adventurousness level
Information We Collect Automatically
- Usage data: How you interact with TheKnow (pages viewed, features used, time spent)
- Device information: Device type, browser, operating system
- Analytics: We use Google Analytics and similar tools to understand how people use our app
- Location data: Only when you search for restaurants (we don't track your location continuously)
How We Use Your Information
We use your data to make TheKnow work for you:
- Personalized recommendations: Match you with restaurants you'll actually love
- Taste matching: Connect you with "taste allies" who share your preferences
- Algorithm training: Improve our recommendation engine using aggregated rating data
- Service improvement: Understand how people use TheKnow and make it better
- Communication: Send you updates, newsletters, and important service notifications
- Safety & security: Prevent fraud, abuse, and keep the platform secure
Who We Share Your Data With
We don't sell your personal data. Period. We only share data with:
Service Providers
- Supabase: Database and authentication (stores your account and profile data)
- Google Places API: Restaurant information and search
- Google Analytics: Usage analytics to improve our service
- Vercel: Hosting and infrastructure
- Other analytics and monitoring tools as needed (we'll update this list)
Other Users
Your public profile (name, taste personality) and ratings may be visible to other users, especially your "taste allies." You can control some visibility settings in your account.
Affiliate Partners
If you book a restaurant through an affiliate link, the booking platform receives information necessary to complete your reservation. We may earn a commission from these bookings.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, to protect our rights, or to prevent harm.
Your Privacy Rights
You have control over your data:
- Access: View all the data we have about you
- Export: Download your data in a portable format
- Correction: Update or correct your information
- Deletion: Delete your account and data (30-day grace period, then permanent deletion)
- Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails (you'll still get important service updates)
- Data portability: Take your data to another service if you want
To exercise these rights, contact us at ballio@makeshft.com.
Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and understand how you use TheKnow. You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not work properly if you disable them.
Data Security
We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS)
- Secure authentication and password hashing
- Regular security audits
- Limited access to personal data
No system is 100% secure, but we're committed to protecting your information.
Children's Privacy
TheKnow is not for children under 16. We don't knowingly collect data from children. If we discover we've collected data from someone under 16, we'll delete it.
International Users
TheKnow is currently available globally. Your data may be processed and stored in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. By using TheKnow, you consent to this transfer.
Data Retention
We keep your data as long as your account is active. If you delete your account:
- 30-day grace period where you can recover your account
- After 30 days, permanent deletion of your personal data
- We may retain anonymized, aggregated data for analytics and algorithm improvement
Marketing Communications
We may send you:
- Service updates: Important information about TheKnow (you can't opt out of these)
- Newsletters & tips: Restaurant recommendations, feature announcements (you can opt out)
- Personalized recommendations: Based on your taste profile (you can opt out)
Unsubscribe links are in every marketing email.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy as TheKnow evolves. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or through the app. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when we last made changes.
Contact Us
Questions about privacy? Want to exercise your data rights? Email us at ballio@makeshft.com.
We're here to help and we'll respond as quickly as we can.