Privacy Policy

GDPR Compliant • Last updated: June 18, 2025

Your Privacy Rights (GDPR)

As a user in the European Union, you have specific rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
Right to Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
Right to Object: Opt-out of certain data processing activities

Contact support@thebookshare.com to exercise these rights.

What Data We Collect

Personal Information:

Name and email address (for account creation)
Profile information you choose to share
Location data (only for book pickup/drop-off coordination)
Payment information (processed by secure third-party providers)

Usage Data:

Books you list, search for, or interact with
Messages sent through our platform
App usage patterns and preferences
Device information and IP address

Why We Collect Data

We collect and process your data for the following legitimate purposes:

Service Provision: Enable book lending and borrowing connections
Authentication: Verify user identity and prevent fraud
Communication: Facilitate messaging between lenders and borrowers
Safety & Moderation: Review content and prevent misuse
Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to enhance the platform
Legal Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements and resolve disputes

Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with:

Other Users: Profile info and book listings (as you choose to share)
Service Providers: Secure payment processors, email services, hosting
Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect user safety
Business Transfers: In case of company acquisition (with user notice)

Note: We ensure all third-party providers meet GDPR compliance standards.

Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

Essential Cookies: Authentication, security, basic functionality
Preference Cookies: Remember your language and currency settings
Analytics Cookies: Understand how users interact with our platform

You can manage cookie preferences in your browser settings or through our cookie banner.

Data Retention

Active Accounts: Data retained while account is active
Inactive Accounts: Deleted after 3 years of inactivity
Messages: Retained for 2 years for safety and dispute resolution
Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer for compliance

You can request account deletion at any time by contacting support@thebookshare.com

Contact & Data Rights

For privacy-related inquiries, data access requests, or to exercise your GDPR rights:

support@thebookshare.com

If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

This privacy policy is designed to be transparent about our data practices and your rights. We are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining GDPR compliance.