DUCKTEM Privacy Policy
DUCKTEM ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our university campus community platform (collectively, the "Service"). DUCKTEM is designed exclusively for students to buy, sell, and provide services within the campus community. By accessing or using DUCKTEM, you agree to the terms outlined below.
1. Information We Collect
a. Personal Information You Provide
When you register or use DUCKTEM, we may collect:
- Your affiliated university email address
- Items you list, save, and requests
- Meal buddy posts and coupon information
- Sublease and housing information (if provided)
- Optional language preferences — collected only to improve roommate communication compatibility. This information is never shared, used for marketing, or linked to ethnicity or nationality.
b. Automatically Collected Information
We may collect certain data automatically:
- IP address
- Usage data (pages visited, time spent)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
- Device information (e.g., device type, operating system, app version)
- Push notification tokens (e.g., Firebase Cloud Messaging or similar services)
c. Optional User-Generated Content
DUCKTEM allows users to share optional descriptive text fields (e.g., “Short introduction” or lifestyle notes) as part of roommate, sublease, or profile preferences.
These fields are entirely optional and should not include personally identifiable information such as your full name, home address, phone number, or external contact details.
We do not require or encourage users to include such information, and any text provided will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
DUCKTEM may automatically screen for patterns resembling contact information to help protect user privacy.
d. Device Permissions and Media Access
To provide core features of the Service, DUCKTEM may request access to certain device functionalities:
- Camera: Used to scan QR codes for coupon verification within the app
- Photo Library / Storage: Used to upload images when creating listings, profiles, or other content
These permissions are only accessed when you actively choose to use these features and are never used in the background without your knowledge.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Verify you are an affiliated university student
- Facilitate university item listings and communications
- Connect students for housing opportunities and subleases
- Provide customer support for campus marketplace needs
- Improve and personalize the DUCKTEM experience for university students
- Prevent fraud and enforce community standards within the campus marketplace
- Send updates or important notices (e.g., policy changes, new features)
- Send push notifications related to messages, activity updates, coupon usage, or important service announcements
- Display promotional content such as local business coupons within the platform
DUCKTEM does not use third-party advertising SDKs for personalized advertising and does not share personal data with advertisers for targeting purposes.
3. Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited information with:
- Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who help operate DUCKTEM, such as cloud hosting providers, analytics services, and messaging infrastructure (e.g., push notification services). These providers only access data necessary to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to protect your information
- University Admins: Only when needed to verify enrollment or handle serious misconduct
- Legal Compliance: When required by law, court order, or to protect rights, safety, or property
- Platform Integrity: To investigate fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms
4. Cookies and Tracking
We may use cookies or similar technologies to:
- Remember your login and session data
- Analyze traffic and usage patterns
- Customize your experience
- Maintain security and prevent fraudulent activity
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
5. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.
a. California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect and how we use it
- Request access to or deletion of your personal data
- Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, if applicable
- Receive non-discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights
b. European Economic Area Residents (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the right to:
- Access, correct, or delete your personal data
- Restrict or object to certain processing activities
- Request data portability
- Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [email protected]
6. Data Retention and Deletion
You may request to delete your DUCKTEM account and associated personal information at any time. Upon such request, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, unless we are legally required or permitted to retain certain information.
We may retain limited user data, such as transaction records, anonymized logs, or hashed identifiers, for a reasonable period in order to:
- Comply with applicable laws or regulations
- Prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activity
- Respond to legal claims, investigations, or disputes
- Protect the safety and integrity of the platform
Any retained data will be limited to what is necessary for these purposes and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Once the retention period expires or the reason for retention no longer applies, the data will be permanently deleted or fully anonymized.
7. International Data Transfers
We may transfer personal information, including data collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies, to service providers located in the United States or other countries.
Where required by applicable law, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other lawful transfer mechanisms in accordance with GDPR Articles 44–46 to protect personal data transferred outside of the European Economic Area.
8. Security of Your Information
We take data protection seriously and use industry-standard practices to safeguard your information:
- Encrypted transmission (HTTPS)
- Secure password hashing and storage
- Internal access controls
- Regular monitoring for unauthorized access or suspicious activity
Despite our efforts, no online service is 100% secure. Please take precautions with your own login credentials.
9. Age Restrictions and Child Privacy
DUCKTEM is intended for students who are actively enrolled in a university or college.
DUCKTEM is not intended for children under the age of thirteen (13), and we do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13.
If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information.
By accessing or using DUCKTEM, you represent and warrant that you meet the applicable age requirements to use the Service.
10. Advertising and Promotions
DUCKTEM may display promotional offers, coupons, or featured listings from local businesses near campus.
These promotions are not based on third-party tracking or behavioral advertising. We do not sell or share your personal data with advertisers.
Promotional content is shown based on general relevance (such as your campus affiliation) rather than individual profiling.
11. Policy Updates
We may revise this Privacy Policy occasionally. If we make material changes, we’ll notify you via the app or your registered email. Please check back regularly to stay informed.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact: