Privacy Policy

Fuvahmulah Map ("we", "us", or "our") operates FuvahmulahMap.com (the "Platform"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our Platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Username — your chosen display name
• Email address — used for account identification
• Password — stored in a securely hashed format (we never store plaintext passwords)
• Profile avatar — if you choose to upload one

1.2 User-Contributed Content

When you contribute to the Platform, we collect:

• Place information — names, descriptions, addresses, categories, contact details, opening hours, and other metadata you submit about places
• Geographic coordinates — latitude and longitude data for places you add or edit
• Images — photos, menu images, and product images you upload
• Research project data — custom map layers, drawings, and annotations created in research mode

1.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you use the Platform, we may automatically collect:

• Usage data — pages visited, features used, search queries, and interactions with the map
• Device information — browser type, operating system, and screen resolution
• IP address — for security and analytics purposes
• Location data — if you grant permission, your device's location may be used to show your position on the map or enable nearby search features

1.4 Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with the Platform. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit, which pages they view, and what other sites they visited prior to coming to our Platform. We use this information solely to improve the Platform. Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit, not your name or other identifying information. For more information about how Google collects and processes data, please visit Google's Privacy Policy.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the Platform — display map data, enable search, and deliver core features
• Manage your account — authenticate your identity, manage roles and permissions
• Process contributions — review, moderate, and publish place submissions
• Improve the Platform — analyze usage patterns to enhance features and user experience
• Ensure security — detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
• Communicate with you — respond to inquiries and provide support
• Display community features — show contributor activity on leaderboards and statistics pages

3. How We Store and Protect Your Data

3.1 Data Storage

Your data is stored on secure infrastructure provided by Cloudflare. Our database is hosted on PostgreSQL servers with encryption at rest and in transit. Images are stored via Cloudflare Images.

3.2 Security Measures

• Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms before storage
• Authentication uses secure JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
• All data transmission is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS
• Role-based access controls limit data access to authorized users

3.3 Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Contributions to the map database (place data, images) are retained as part of the community map even if your account is deleted, as they form part of the collective community resource. You may request deletion of your account and personal data at any time (see Section 6).

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible on the Platform:

• Your username and avatar (on contributions, leaderboards, and community features)
• Place data and images you contribute (after moderation approval)
• Your contribution statistics

4.2 Service Providers

We use the following third-party services to operate the Platform:

• Cloudflare — hosting, CDN, image storage, and security (see Cloudflare's Privacy Policy)
• Google Analytics — usage analytics (see Google's Privacy Policy)

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid legal requests by public authorities in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Maldives.

5. Cookies and Local Storage

The Platform uses:

• Authentication tokens — stored in your browser to keep you logged in
• Local storage — to save your map preferences (selected layers, filters, and view settings)
• Google Analytics cookies — to collect anonymous usage statistics

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features, such as remaining logged in.

6. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — you can view your account information and contributions through the Platform
• Correction — you can update your profile information and edit your contributions
• Deletion — you can request deletion of your account and personal data by contacting us
• Data portability — researchers with appropriate access can export their project data

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 9.

7. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:

• Email: hello@fuvahmulahmap.com
• Website: fuvahmulahmap.com