THR0TTLE Privacy Policy

Who we are

THR0TTLE ("we") is a South African motorcycle community app operated via throttle-group.com. This policy explains what personal information we process and why.

What we collect

• Account: name, email address, cell number, password (stored hashed by our auth provider).
• Profile: photo, area/suburb, bio, gender, age, bikes and bike photos (showroom sharing is optional).
• Location: your area and GPS position, used for nearby rides, ride tracking you start yourself, and the SOS safety feature. Exact coordinates and emergency-contact details are stored so that only your own account can read them.
• Content: messages, statuses, ride and event details, group chats, photos you post.
• Emergency contact: the name and number you choose for SOS alerts — used only for that feature.

Why (lawful basis)

To provide the service you signed up for (contract), with your consent collected at registration, and our legitimate interest in keeping the community safe (moderation).

Sharing

We do not sell personal information and we run no advertising or analytics trackers in the app or on this website. We use these service providers ("operators" under POPIA) strictly to run the service: Supabase (database, login and file storage — EU region), Firebase Cloud Messaging (push notifications), Resend (transactional email), BulkSMS (the SOS text message to your emergency contact), Google Places (address suggestions when you type a location — the text you type is sent to Google; your identity is not), and Cloudflare (website hosting). Content you post is visible to other members according to the app's privacy rules. The SOS SMS is sent by our server to the contact you chose; the WhatsApp fallback opens on your own phone.

Cookies

This website sets no advertising or analytics cookies. It stores only your login session in your browser so you stay signed in. The app stores your session in the device's secure keystore.

Retention & deletion

Statuses expire after 24 hours. Account data is kept while your account exists. You can permanently delete your account yourself in the app (Profile → Account & Security → Delete my account), which erases your profile, bikes, rides, messages, statuses and photos. You may also request access, correction or deletion at any time via privacy@throttle-group.com; deletion requests are honoured within 30 days.

Security

Data is encrypted in transit; access is controlled with row-level security; session tokens are stored in your device's encrypted keystore; the app auto-locks after inactivity.

Your POPIA rights

You may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (inforeg.org.za). Information Officer contact: privacy@throttle-group.com.