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Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us

Last updated: November 2, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to HalalHQ. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

This policy applies to information we collect on our website, through mobile applications (when available), via email and other electronic messages, and through user interactions with our Service.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

  • • Account information (name, email, username)
  • • Content you create (reviews, photos, comments)
  • • Communications (feedback, support requests)

Information Collected Automatically

  • • Usage data (pages visited, search queries)
  • • Location data (with your permission)
  • • Device information and browser type
  • • Cookies for authentication and preferences

Mobile App Permissions

When using our mobile apps (iOS/Android), we may request the following permissions:

  • • Camera: To upload photos of restaurants and food
  • • Location: To find nearby halal restaurants and mosques
  • • Photo Library: To select and upload existing photos
  • • Push Notifications: To notify you of community updates (optional)
  • • Network: To sync data and provide offline functionality

You can manage these permissions in your device settings at any time. Denying permissions may limit certain app features.

3. How We Use Your Information

To Provide Our Service

  • • Manage your account
  • • Display restaurant listings
  • • Process searches and filters
  • • Enable reviews and ratings

To Improve Our Service

  • • Analyze usage patterns
  • • Test new features
  • • Fix bugs and issues
  • • Develop new functionality

To Communicate

  • • Service announcements
  • • Respond to inquiries
  • • Security alerts
  • • Newsletters (with consent)

For Safety & Security

  • • Detect and prevent fraud
  • • Monitor Terms violations
  • • Protect users
  • • Legal compliance

4. How We Share Your Information

We Never Sell Your Personal Data

We do not and will never sell your personal information to third parties.

Public Information

Your username, reviews, and photos you post are publicly visible.

Service Providers

We share data with trusted service providers (hosting, analytics) who are contractually obligated to protect your information.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law or to protect rights and safety.

5. Souq Marketplace and E-Commerce Data

Customer Order Information

When you make a purchase through our marketplace, we collect:

  • • Order details: Products purchased, quantities, prices
  • • Shipping information: Full name, delivery address, phone number, email
  • • Transaction data: Order number, payment status, order timestamps
  • • Delivery tracking: Tracking numbers, shipping carrier, delivery status

Purpose: To process and fulfill your orders, provide customer support, and send order status notifications.

Retention: Order data is retained for 7 years for accounting and legal compliance. Personal shipping information is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill orders and handle returns.

Seller/Business Account Information

For businesses operating on our marketplace, we collect:

  • • Business details: Business name, type, description, contact information
  • • Shopify store connection: Store domain, product catalog, inventory levels
  • • Order fulfillment data: Shipping confirmations, tracking information, cancellations
  • • Payout information: For processing marketplace commission payments

Purpose: To facilitate marketplace operations, sync inventory, forward orders, and process payments.

Shopify Integration

When sellers connect their Shopify stores to HalalHQ:

Data We Receive from Shopify:

  • • Product information (names, descriptions, prices, images, inventory)
  • • Order fulfillment status and tracking numbers
  • • Inventory level updates

Data We Send to Shopify:

  • • Customer orders placed on HalalHQ (including customer name, email, shipping address, phone number, order details)
  • • Inventory updates when orders are placed on HalalHQ

Purpose: To synchronize product availability, forward customer orders to sellers, and provide order tracking to customers.

Data Sharing: Customer order information is shared with the specific seller fulfilling the order via their Shopify store. This data sharing is necessary to complete the transaction and deliver products to customers.

Payment Processing

We use Stripe to process marketplace payments. We do not store your complete credit card information. Stripe's privacy policy governs their handling of payment data: https://stripe.com/privacy

We store:

  • • Payment method type (last 4 digits of card)
  • • Payment status (successful, failed, refunded)
  • • Transaction records for accounting purposes

Customer Data Protection

Customer order data is used ONLY for:

  • • Order fulfillment and delivery
  • • Customer service and support
  • • Sending order status notifications (confirmation, shipping, delivery)
  • • Legal compliance and dispute resolution

We DO NOT:

  • • Use customer shipping information for marketing without consent
  • • Share customer data with third parties except as necessary for order fulfillment
  • • Sell customer information to data brokers

6. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services for marketplace operations:

  • Shopify: E-commerce platform integration for seller stores
  • Stripe: Payment processing for marketplace transactions
  • Resend: Email delivery for order notifications

These services have access to data necessary to perform their functions and are bound by their own privacy policies and our data processing agreements.

7. Your Rights Regarding Marketplace Data

In addition to the rights outlined in section 9 below, marketplace customers have the right to:

Access

Request a copy of your order history and transaction data

Correction

Update shipping addresses and contact information

Deletion

Request deletion of account data (order records retained for legal compliance)

Data Portability

Export your order history in a machine-readable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at: [email protected]

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.

  • • Account data: Until account deletion + 30 days
  • • Reviews and content: Anonymized after account deletion
  • • Analytics data: 26 months
  • • Marketing data: Until consent withdrawal

9. Your Rights and Choices

Access & Portability

Download your personal data anytime

Correction

Update your information through settings

Deletion

Request account and data deletion

Marketing

Opt-out of marketing emails anytime

10. Data Security

We Take Security Seriously

  • • Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS)
  • • Secure password storage
  • • Regular security assessments
  • • Access controls and authentication

11. Children's Privacy

HalalHQ is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

12. Cookies and Analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience:

  • • Essential cookies: Required for authentication, security, and core functionality
  • • Functional cookies: To remember your preferences and settings
  • • Analytics cookies: To understand usage patterns and improve our service (Google Analytics)
  • • Marketing cookies: For advertising and remarketing purposes

How to Opt-Out of Analytics

You can opt-out of analytics tracking through several methods:

  • • Browser Settings: Disable cookies in your browser preferences (may affect site functionality)
  • • Do Not Track: Enable "Do Not Track" (DNT) in your browser settings
  • • Google Analytics Opt-out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
  • • Ad Preferences: Manage ad personalization through Google Ad Settings

Note: Opting out of analytics helps us respect your privacy, but may prevent us from improving features you use.

13. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers, including standard contractual clauses and your explicit consent.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Review this policy periodically for updates.

15. Contact Us

Privacy Officer

HalalHQ

Email: [email protected]

General Support: [email protected]

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

We aim to respond to all privacy requests within 30 days.

16. Complaints

If you're not satisfied with our response to your privacy concern, you may lodge a complaint with:

For Australian Residents:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
Phone: 1300 363 992
Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Related Policies

Terms of Service
Platform-wide terms and conditions
Marketplace Terms
Seller agreement and guidelines
Returns & Refunds
Buyer-friendly returns guide
Legal Hub
All legal policies and guidelines