Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MapleMarket, operated by MapleMarket Inc. ("MapleMarket," "we," "us," or "our"), is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our users. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard your personal information when you use the MapleMarket website, mobile applications, and all related services (collectively, the "Platform").

We handle your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), and applicable provincial privacy legislation. By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password. You may also provide a phone number, city, province, and profile picture
• Listing Content: When you post a listing, we collect the title, description, price, category, condition, images, and any other details you include
• Messages: When you use our messaging system, we collect the content of your messages, metadata (timestamps, sender, recipient), and any attachments
• Support Communications: When you contact our support team, we collect the information you provide in your request, including your email address and the content of your inquiry
• Payment Information: If you purchase premium features or promoted listings, we collect payment details. Payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors, and we do not store complete credit card numbers on our servers

Information Collected Automatically

• Device and Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, unique device identifiers, and language preferences
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, search queries, listings viewed, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring and exit URLs, and date and time of access
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on your IP address. If you use location-based features (such as "Near Me" search), we may collect more precise location data with your explicit consent
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies as described in our Cookie Policy

Information from Third Parties

• Social Login: If you sign in using a third-party service (such as Google), we may receive your name, email address, and profile picture from that service
• Analytics Providers: We may receive aggregated and anonymized data from analytics services that help us understand Platform usage

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes, all of which we consider necessary for providing and improving our services:

• Service Delivery: To create and manage your account, display your listings, facilitate communication between buyers and sellers, and provide core Platform functionality
• Personalization: To customize your experience, show relevant listings, remember your preferences, and provide location-based search results
• Communication: To send you important service-related messages, including account verification, listing status updates, messages from other users, security alerts, and customer support responses
• Safety and Security: To detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, and other harmful or unauthorized activities on the Platform
• Platform Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, conduct research, test new features, and improve Platform functionality, performance, and user experience
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable Canadian laws, regulations, legal processes, or government requests, and to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims
• Enforcement: To enforce our Terms of Service, Prohibited Items Policy, and other Platform policies

4. Consent and Legal Basis

Under PIPEDA, we collect, use, and disclose your personal information based on the following consent principles:

• Express Consent: For sensitive information, such as precise location data or marketing communications, we obtain your express, opt-in consent before collecting or using such information
• Implied Consent: By creating an account and using the Platform, you impliedly consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Policy for purposes that are reasonably connected to the services you have requested
• Without Consent: In limited circumstances, as permitted by PIPEDA, we may collect, use, or disclose information without consent — for example, when required by law, for fraud prevention, or in emergencies threatening life, health, or security

You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, by contacting us at privacy@maplemarketapp.com. Please note that withdrawing consent may limit our ability to provide certain services to you.

5. Electronic Communications and CASL Compliance

In accordance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), we distinguish between service-related and marketing communications:

Service-Related Communications (No Opt-Out Required)

These are messages necessary for operating your account and providing the services you requested. They include account verification emails, password reset notifications, security alerts, transaction-related messages, listing status updates, messages forwarded from other users, and customer support responses.

Marketing and Promotional Communications (Opt-In/Opt-Out)

We will only send you marketing or promotional emails with your express consent. These may include newsletters, special offers, feature announcements, and personalized recommendations. Every marketing email includes a clear and easy-to-use unsubscribe mechanism. You may opt out at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in any marketing email, updating your notification preferences in your account settings, or contacting us at privacy@maplemarketapp.com. We will process your unsubscribe request within ten (10) business days, as required by CASL.

6. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: When you post a listing, certain information (such as your display name, city, and listing details) is visible to other users. When you send a message, the recipient can see the content of your message and your display name
• Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Platform, including hosting providers, email delivery services, analytics providers, payment processors, and customer support tools. These providers are bound by contractual confidentiality obligations and may only use your information to perform services on our behalf
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information when required by law, regulation, court order, subpoena, or other legal process, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of MapleMarket, our users, or the public
• Law Enforcement: We may share information with law enforcement agencies when we believe a user has engaged in illegal activity, or when we receive a valid legal request for information
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control through the Platform or by email
• With Your Consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your express consent

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Our general retention guidelines are as follows:

• Account Data: Retained for the duration of your account plus thirty (30) days following account deletion to allow for account recovery and to resolve any pending issues
• Listing Data: Active listings are retained for the listing duration. Expired or deleted listings and associated images are retained for twelve (12) months for audit and dispute resolution purposes
• Messages: Retained for twelve (12) months after the last activity in a conversation thread
• Transaction and Financial Records: Retained for seven (7) years as required by Canadian tax law and financial regulations
• Usage and Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for analytical purposes
• Legal Hold: If information is subject to a legal hold, regulatory investigation, or pending dispute, it will be retained until the matter is resolved regardless of our standard retention periods

When personal information is no longer required, we will securely destroy, erase, or anonymize it in accordance with our data management practices.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure access controls, regular security assessments, and employee training on data protection practices.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for any activity that occurs under your account. If you believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately at support@maplemarketapp.com.

9. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be stored and processed in Canada or in other countries where our service providers maintain facilities. Some of these countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in Canada. When we transfer personal information outside of Canada, we take reasonable steps to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection, including through contractual safeguards with our service providers.

By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer and processing of your personal information in jurisdictions outside of Canada as described in this Policy.

10. Your Rights Under PIPEDA

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Right of Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will respond to your request within thirty (30) days, as required by law. In certain limited circumstances, we may not be able to provide access — for example, if the information contains references to other individuals, is subject to legal privilege, or cannot be disclosed for security reasons
• Right to Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you. You can update most of your account information directly through your profile settings
• Right to Deletion: You may request the deletion of your account and personal information. We will process such requests subject to our retention obligations under applicable law
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. We will inform you of the implications of withdrawal
• Right to Complain: If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal information, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@maplemarketapp.com. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

11. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will take prompt steps to delete such information. If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@maplemarketapp.com.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this page and notify you through the Platform or by email. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact — Privacy Officer

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

MapleMarket Inc.
Attention: Privacy Officer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Email: privacy@maplemarketapp.com

You may also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-282-1376.