Effective Date: May 18, 2025
Your privacy is important to biq. This Privacy Policy explains what information biq collects from users of our app and related services, how we use and share that information, and the choices you have regarding your data. This Policy is part of biq's Terms of Service; by using the biq Service, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use the app or Service. biq (referred to as "biq", "we", "us", or "our") operates globally, but we are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with applicable laws, including, where relevant, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other data protection laws. biq acts as the "data controller" for the personal information we collect (meaning we determine how and why that data is processed). If you have any questions about this Policy or our data practices, please contact us as outlined in the "Contact Us" section below.
We collect several types of information from and about users of the biq Service. This includes information that you provide directly, information collected automatically when you use the app, and information from device features like location sensors. Account Information: When you create or update a biq account, we collect personal information such as your name or nickname and email address. This information is necessary to set up your profile, communicate with you, and personalize your experience. Location Data: A core feature of biq is verifying your real-world presence. With your permission, we collect precise location data from your mobile device to confirm your proximity to certain places or BLE beacons. This may involve GPS coordinates, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal information, device sensor data, and timestamps. We collect location data only while you are actively using location-based features. You can control the app's access to location services through your device settings; however, note that disabling location access will prevent you from using biq's core features. Device and Usage Information: We automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with the Service. This may include device identifiers and hardware information, log and usage data, IP address and other device signals, and Bluetooth data relevant to the Service's functioning. Cookies and Similar Technologies: If biq has a web interface or if you visit our website, we may use cookies or similar tracking technologies to collect website usage data. Communications: If you contact us directly, we will collect the information you provide in your correspondence. We do not collect any sensitive personal information such as government ID numbers, payment card details, or biometric data.
Providing and Improving the Service: We use your personal information to operate biq and deliver core features. For example, we use your account info to recognize you as a user, and your location data to verify your presence at a given place. Account Management and Communication: Your email address and name are used to create and manage your account, and to communicate with you about service-related matters. Location-Based Features: We use your location data to verify your IRL presence and grant corresponding rewards (badges/points). Analytics and Product Development: We analyze usage and device data (in aggregated and anonymized forms wherever possible) to understand how our users interact with biq. Safety and Security: We may use your information to monitor for and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, cheating, and other misuse of the Service. Legal Compliance: Where necessary, we will use and disclose personal information to comply with our legal obligations.
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions that require a legal justification for processing personal data, biq relies on the following legal bases: Consent: We ask for your consent to access precise location data via your device's permissions. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Performance of a Contract: We process some personal data because it is necessary to provide our Service under our contract with you (the Terms of Service). Legitimate Interests: We process personal data as needed for legitimate interests such as maintaining security, improving user experience, performing analytics, and communicating about product updates. Legal Obligation: In some circumstances, we must process personal data to comply with a legal obligation.
biq does not sell your personal data to third parties. Service Providers and Partners: We may share your information with trusted third-party companies that perform services on our behalf, such as cloud hosting, email delivery, analytics, and customer support. Decentralized Network Verification: biq operates as part of a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). Certain data points necessary for verification may be broadcast within the network, but this data is minimized and anonymized to protect your privacy. Aggregate or De-Identified Data: We may aggregate or de-identify information and share that anonymized data with partners or the public. Legal Requirements and Safety: We may disclose your information if required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of biq, our users, or others. Business Transfers: In case of a merger, acquisition, or sale, your information may be transferred as part of such a transaction. We will never rent or sell your personal information to third-party advertisers without your explicit consent.
biq retains your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. Account Data: We keep your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will initiate the process of deleting or anonymizing your personal data. Location Data: Precise location records are kept only as long as needed for the Service. We do not continuously track your location in the background. Usage Data: Log files and usage data are generally retained for a short period for analysis and security. Once we have no ongoing legitimate business need or legal requirement to retain your personal information, we will delete it or anonymize it.
We take reasonable and appropriate security measures to protect personal information. These include: Encryption: We use encryption technology (SSL/TLS) to protect data during transmission and at rest. Access Controls: We limit access to personal data to authorized personnel subject to strict confidentiality obligations. Security Testing: We regularly monitor our systems for vulnerabilities and conduct security reviews. Anonymization/Pseudonymization: Where feasible, we use techniques to minimize the risk to your privacy. Incident Response: We have procedures in place to respond promptly to data breaches and will notify you and relevant authorities as required by law. No security measure is 100% secure. We urge you to keep your account credentials confidential and use strong passwords.
The information we collect may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries outside of your home country. We take steps to ensure that your personal information is given adequate protection wherever it is processed. For EEA/UK users, we will transfer data only in accordance with applicable data protection law, for example by implementing Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or relying on another lawful transfer mechanism.
You have certain rights regarding your personal information: Access: Request access to the personal data we hold about you. Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information. Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data. Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on it. Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests. Restriction: Ask us to suspend processing in certain scenarios. Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format. California residents have additional rights under the CCPA, including the right to know, request deletion, opt-out of sale, and non-discrimination. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at connect@biq.me.
biq is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly. For minors aged 13 to 17, we expect such users to only use biq with parental permission and under supervision, where required by law.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top. If we make significant changes, we will notify you via email or in-app notification. Your continued use of biq after any update will constitute your acceptance of the changes.
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us. Email: connect@biq.me You may also find support contact options within the biq app under "Settings" or "Help" if available. Thank you for reading our Privacy Policy. By keeping you informed of our data practices, we hope to ensure you feel confident using biq and participating in our community, knowing that your personal information is respected and protected.