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Privacy Policy – Roods

Privacy Policy

At Roods.io (“Roods”), we believe in transforming cities into interactive museums through the power of storytelling, technology, and location-based experiences. To bring these experiences to life, we may need access to certain information—like your location—so we can guide you to nearby stories and tailor the journey just for you. Your privacy is important to us, and we’re committed to handling your data transparently and responsibly.

All personal data is processed in line with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”). For the purposes of GDPR, Roods is the data controller. Below, we’ll explain what data we collect, why we collect it, and how you can manage your information.

Company Information

Business name: Roods.io

Roods.io is operated by an innovative team based in the Netherlands. We specialize in transforming cities into immersive cultural experiences through our mobile application, content services, and digital storytelling platforms.

This Privacy Policy applies to the data we collect when you use:

  • The Roods mobile application ("App"), which delivers location-based stories and interactive routes.
  • Our website at www.roods.io ("Website"), where we showcase our mission, features, and partner opportunities.
  • Our partner environments and content management tools, used by collaborators to create or manage storytelling content.

Information We Collect

At Roods, we only collect personal data when there’s a meaningful reason—such as delivering personalized stories, enhancing your journey, or improving our services.

We offer two main experiences:

  • Exploring stories as an app user
  • Contributing or managing content as a partner

Depending on your interaction with us, different types of data may be collected.

1. Data from Website Visitors

When you browse our Website, we may collect technical information such as:

  • Your browser type and operating system
  • IP address (which may infer general location)
  • Device type
  • Access times and language settings
  • Pages visited and interaction patterns (e.g., clicks, scrolls)

This information is gathered via tools like Google Analytics to help us:

  • Understand user behavior on our Website
  • Suggest relevant content or updates
  • Improve the overall performance and security of our digital platforms

2. Data Collected via the Roods App

You can explore stories within the Roods mobile app without creating an account. However, certain features may allow or require you to create a profile, in which case we may collect your name, email address, and optional details like birthdate or gender to personalize your experience.

When using the app, we may automatically collect:

  • Device details (e.g., model, OS, IP address)
  • App interaction data (routes taken, stories listened to, actions within the app)
  • Location data (with your consent), to trigger nearby stories, display maps, and personalize content
  • Content you choose to share (e.g., photos, comments)

We use this information to deliver meaningful and context-aware experiences. With your consent, your location helps us match you with nearby stories and tailor content based on movement patterns.

Roods may aggregate anonymized usage and location data to understand user trends or for reporting to content partners. However, this data does not allow partners to identify individual users.

If you make a purchase within the app (e.g., premium routes), payment is processed by the respective app store (Apple, Google, etc.). Roods only receives confirmation of purchase—not your payment details—and uses this info to support partner compensation models.

3. Data Collected from Content Contributors (CMS)

If you're contributing content through our Content Management System (CMS), you'll need to create an account with your name, email address, and potentially other relevant details.

Once logged in as a content partner, any content you upload (e.g., text, audio, images, metadata) may be made public via the Roods app and platform. If your content includes personal information (yours or others’), you are responsible for ensuring you have appropriate consent before uploading.

Roods collects usage data from the CMS environment, including:

  • Login times and IP address
  • Browser and OS information
  • Interactions within the CMS

We use this data to support content delivery, improve platform performance, manage partner communication, and ensure a secure publishing environment.

Your CMS account is protected by a password. You are responsible for keeping this password confidential and secure. Roods does not take responsibility for unauthorized access resulting from password misuse.

4. Communication & Marketing

Roods may use your email address to occasionally send general updates about our services—such as announcements, app features, or partner content—unless you choose to opt out. These communications are not tailored to individuals and relate only to Roods' own offerings, including our Website, App, and CMS.

If you'd prefer not to receive these updates, you can unsubscribe using the link provided in every email or notify us directly at info@roods.io, and we will promptly remove you from future communications.

Additionally, with your consent, we may use your data to offer you personalized26 personalized content—such as story suggestions, routes, or promotions that align with your interests, location, or preferences. This may include insights drawn from your in-app activity, website behavior, or previous interactions, and may also involve data collected via cookies or social platforms (if you’ve granted permission).

This type of personalized experience is only enabled when you provide explicit consent, which you can withdraw at any time.

How We Use Your Information

Roods processes your personal data based on several lawful grounds, as outlined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We use this information to deliver meaningful, secure, and personalized experiences. Specifically, we may use your data to:

  • Provide, maintain, and enhance our services, including delivering location-based stories (which requires location data).
  • Comply with legal obligations or respond to valid legal requests and claims.
  • Support our legitimate interests, such as service development, user engagement, and platform analytics.
  • Develop new features and improve existing ones through ongoing research and testing.
  • Send you helpful notifications, such as app updates, technical alerts, or support-related messages—sometimes tailored to your location.
  • Offer user support, respond to inquiries, and resolve any issues you report.
  • Share relevant news, promotions, or opportunities related to Roods and our services (unless you've opted out).
  • Monitor usage trends using tools like Google Analytics, to better understand how people engage with our platforms.
  • Personalize your experience, offering content, stories, or features that align with your interests and behavior (with consent).
  • Ensure platform safety, including fraud detection, abuse prevention, and system security.

Process your data with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.

How We Share Your Information

At Roods, we do not sell your personal information—ever. However, we may share your data in limited and carefully considered situations, always with your privacy and security in mind:

  • Team members and contractors: We may share your information with trusted employees, subsidiaries, or independent contractors who help us operate our app, website, or CMS. These individuals are bound by confidentiality and are required to follow this Privacy Policy.
  • Third-party service providers: We work with analytics tools like Google Analytics to better understand how users interact with our services. In some cases, we may share encrypted or anonymized data with partners to help them analyze trends or improve experience quality.
  • Legal obligations or rights protection: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law (e.g., through a subpoena or court order), or if necessary to protect Roods' legal rights or the safety of our users.
  • Business transitions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, we may need to share user data as part of the transaction. If that happens, we will notify you in advance and explain your options.
  • Aggregated or anonymized data: We may share statistical data about usage—for example, how many users are active in a particular city—but this data cannot be used to identify individuals.
  • With your explicit consent: In certain cases, we may share your information with third parties at your request or with your approval.

Whenever we work with external service providers who process personal data on our behalf, we sign Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) to ensure full GDPR compliance. If any data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to countries without equivalent data protection laws, we use Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission to safeguard your privacy.

Your Choices & Data Control

You are always in control of your personal data when using Roods.

Stop Data Collection:

If you no longer wish to share any data with us, you can stop all collection at any time by:

  • Uninstalling the Roods app from your device, or
  • Deleting your CMS account if you're a content contributor.

You can use your device’s standard uninstall process or remove your CMS account through your profile settings.

Managing & Deleting Your Data:

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary—typically for the duration of your use of the Roods App or CMS, plus a short period afterward for administrative or legal purposes.

If you’d like to delete your personal data, just reach out to us at info@roods.io. Please note: In some cases, we may be required by law to retain certain records for a specified period.

Your Data Rights

As an EU-based service, Roods complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal data, among other rights. You may also withdraw consent or file a complaint with your local data authority at any time.

For a full overview of your GDPR rights and how we support them, please see our GDPR Compliance Notice or contact us at info@roods.io.

Security Measures

We take the protection of your personal data seriously. Roods implements appropriate technical and organizational safeguards—such as encryption, secure servers, firewalls, and access controls—to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or misuse of your information. Only authorized team members and contractors with a legitimate need can access your data, and all access is logged and monitored.

Children’s Privacy

Roods is not intended for children under the age of 16. If you are under 16, please obtain permission from your parent or legal guardian before using our services. If we become aware that we’ve collected data from a minor without verified consent, we will delete that data. Parents or guardians can contact us at info@roods.io to request removal.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our services. If we make material changes, we’ll notify you through the app or on our website. The most current version will always be available at www.roods.io/privacy-policy, and we encourage you to review it regularly.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, feel free to reach out to us:

Email: info@roods.io

Effective Date: 30 March 2025

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