Forkyt Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 25th, 2026
Last Updated: July 4th, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how FORKYT, INC. ("Forkyt," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects your information when you use the Forkyt mobile application, website, and related services (the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
Controller / Contact: FORKYT, INC., 345 Harrison Ave, Apt 486, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Email: info@forkyt.com.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide
Account information: name, username, email address, and password or login credentials.
Phone number: if you sign in by phone, we collect your mobile number and send a one-time verification code by SMS.
Profile information: profile photo, bio, and preferences (e.g., cuisines, dietary preferences).
User content: restaurant rankings, reviews, ratings, lists, comments, photos, "been here" activity, and other content you post.
Communications: messages you send us and survey or promotion responses.

1.2 Information from Third-Party Sign-In
If you sign in with Apple (and, where offered, Google or other providers), we receive basic profile information such as name, email (or a relay email), and a unique identifier, as permitted by that provider and your settings.

1.3 Contacts (Optional)
If you choose to find friends from your contacts, we access your device address book with your permission solely to identify and suggest people who already use Forkyt. We do not retain the contact details of people who are not Forkyt users beyond what is needed to perform the match, and we do not use your contacts for advertising. You can decline or revoke this permission at any time in your device settings.

1.4 Information Collected Automatically
Device & technical data: device model, operating system, app version, language, and unique device or advertising identifiers (e.g., IDFA).
Usage data: features used, screens viewed, searches, taps, saves, and interactions, and log data including IP address and timestamps.
Approximate & precise location: see Section 1.5.
Cookies & similar technologies: on our website and via mobile SDKs (see Section 6).

1.5 Location Data
With your permission, we collect precise geolocation from your device to show nearby restaurants and relevant recommendations. We may also infer approximate location from your IP address. Precise geolocation is treated as "sensitive" personal information under certain laws. You can control or revoke location permissions at any time in your device settings; some features may not work without it.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide, operate, and maintain the Service and your account;

Improve the Service
Generate personalized restaurant recommendations and rankings, including through algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (see Section 3);
Enable social features such as friends, the friend graph, sharing, and visibility settings;
Send communications, including SMS verification codes, service messages, and — where permitted — marketing emails you can opt out of;
Analyze usage and improve and develop the Service and our models;
Maintain safety and security, prevent fraud and abuse, and moderate content; and
Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

Legal Bases (EEA/UK users)

Purpose Legal basis
Providing the Service and your account Performance of a contract
Precise location, contacts access, marketing, certain analytics/advertising Consent (which you may withdraw)
Improving and securing the Service, analytics, fraud prevention Legitimate interests

Legal and regulatory compliance Legal obligation

3. AI, Recommendations, and Automated Processing

Forkyt is an AI-powered service. We use algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to predict your taste, rank and recommend restaurants, surface "trending" places, and classify the "vibe" or sentiment of reviews. To do this:

We process your account data, preferences, content, and activity (such as saves, visits, and views) to build and refine a recommendation profile
We may use trusted third-party AI providers (including Google) to help process and classify content such as review text. Where feasible, we limit and de-identify the information shared for these purposes
We use this information to operate, develop, and improve our recommendation and classification models.

These recommendations are informational only and are not solely-automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects. Where required, you may have rights regarding profiling (see Section 11).

4. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as described here:

Service providers / sub-processors that help us run the Service, including Google / Firebase (hosting, authentication, database, cloud functions), Google Maps/Places, third-party AI processing providers, analytics and crash-reporting providers, and SMS/email providers. These parties may process data only on our instructions.
Other users, according to your visibility settings (see Section 8).
Legal, safety, and rights — to comply with law, respond to lawful requests, or protect the rights, safety, and property of Forkyt, our users, or others.
Business transfers — in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets.

5. Advertising, Analytics, and Tracking

We use analytics and crash-reporting tools (such as Firebase/Google Analytics) to understand and improve the Service. We may also use advertising and measurement technologies and advertising identifiers. On iOS, we will request your permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt before tracking you across other companies' apps or websites; you can decline or change this in your device settings.

Some advertising-related data uses may be considered "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising under California law. You can opt out as described in Section 11, including via a Global Privacy Control signal where supported.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies (including those provided through Wix), and our app uses SDKs and local storage. These support functionality, analytics, and, where applicable, advertising. You can manage cookies through your browser settings and mobile tracking choices through your device settings.

7. International Users

We are based in the United States and process information there. If you access the Service from outside the United States, you understand your information will be processed in the U.S., and, where required, we apply appropriate safeguards (see Section 11.3).

8. Your Content and Visibility

Your profile, rankings, reviews, and activity may be visible to other users depending on your settings:

Public profiles: your content is visible to other users, except lists you mark as private.
Private accounts: you remain discoverable through suggestions, but your content tabs are locked and inaccessible to users you have not approved.

You can edit or delete your content. After deletion, copies may persist temporarily in backups, and de-identified or aggregated information may be retained.

9. Data Retention

We keep personal information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Service, then delete or de-identify it within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify your personal information within [30–90] days, subject to backups and legal holds.

10. Security

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information, including a written information security program consistent with Massachusetts law. No system is completely secure. If a breach affecting your personal information occurs, we will notify you and authorities as required by applicable law (including Massachusetts G.L. c. 93H).

11. Your Privacy Rights

11.1 Everyone

You may access and update your information, opt out of marketing communications, and delete your account from within the app. To make other requests, contact info@forkyt.com.

11.2 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

In the past 12 months we may have collected the following categories: identifiers (name, email, phone, device/advertising IDs); account and profile information; commercial/usage information; internet or app activity; precise geolocation (sensitive); user content; contacts (if permitted); and inferences (e.g., taste profile). Sources include you, your device, and third-party sign-in providers. We collect this for the business purposes described above and disclose it to the categories of recipients in Section 4.

You have the right to: know/access, delete, and correct your personal information; opt out of "sale" or "sharing" of personal information; limit the use of sensitive personal information; and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell personal information. To exercise rights, email info@forkyt.com or use in-app controls; we will verify your request and you may use an authorized agent. We honor Global Privacy Control signals where supported. [If referral/giveaway rewards are offered, add a financial-incentive notice here.]

11.3 EEA/UK Residents (GDPR/UK GDPR)

Where these laws apply, you have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and port your personal data; to object to processing; and to withdraw consent at any time. You may also lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Our legal bases are described in Section 2. Personal data is processed in the United States; where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses. [An EU/UK representative will be appointed if and when the Service is offered to EEA/UK users.]

12. Children's Privacy

Forkyt is not intended for anyone under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn we have collected such information, we will delete it.

13. Third-Party Links and Services

The Service may link to third-party websites or services that we do not control and are not responsible for. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the "Last Updated" date and, for material changes, provide additional notice. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

15. Contact Us

FORKYT, INC.

Boston, MA 02118, USA

Email: info@forkyt.com