Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 20, 2024

Last Updated: February 13, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Wibely ("we," "our," or "us"), operated by WIBELY PTY LIMITED. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application Wibely (the "App") and our website www.wibely.com.

By using our App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not use our App.

We reserve the right to change this policy at any given time, of which you will be promptly updated. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we advise you to frequently visit this page.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

Full name
Email address
Username
Password (encrypted)
Profile photo (optional)
Bio (optional)
Website/social links (optional)

Social Features:

Posts and reviews you create
Comments and likes
Following/follower relationships
Content you save or mark as watched/read/listened/played
Your favorite entertainment items

Direct Messaging & Chat:

Message content (text messages you send and receive in direct and group conversations)
Shared entertainment content references ("Wibes")
Message reactions and emoji responses
Reply references to previous messages
Captions added to shared content

Group Messaging:

Group names, descriptions, and avatars you create or upload
Group membership data (who is in each group, join/leave timestamps)
Group admin role assignments and changes
System event logs (member additions, removals, admin promotions, group setting changes)

2.2 Information from Third-Party Sign-In Services

When you sign in using Google or Apple:

Basic profile information (name, email)
Profile picture
Authentication tokens
No passwords are shared with us from these services

2.3 Information Collected Automatically

Device Information:

Device type and model
Operating system version
App version
Unique device identifiers (for app functionality only)
IP address (for security purposes)

Usage Information:

Features you use and how you interact with them
Content you view, save, or interact with
Time spent in the app
Crash reports and performance data

Real-Time Communication Data:

Online/offline presence status
Last seen timestamps
Typing indicators (temporary, not permanently stored)
Message delivery and read status
Conversation archive preferences

2.4 Biometric Data

We support Face ID/Touch ID for convenient login
Biometric data is stored securely on your device only
We only receive confirmation of successful authentication

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide Services: Create and manage your account, enable social features
Personalize Experience: Show relevant content and recommendations
Communication: Send notifications about app features and social interactions
Security: Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse. We may use automated systems to detect and prevent abuse, including matching device identifiers to enforce account restrictions
Improvements: Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
Messaging Services: Enable direct communication between users, deliver messages and push notifications

4. Direct Messaging & Chat Services

4.1 How Messaging Works

Our direct messaging feature ("Wibe Messaging") allows you to communicate privately with other Wibely users. When you use this feature:

Messages are transmitted and stored using secure cloud infrastructure
Messages are stored on secure cloud servers and are NOT end-to-end encrypted. While we use encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest, Wibely has technical capability to access message content for safety, moderation, and legal compliance purposes
Your online status, last seen time, and typing indicators are visible to users you are communicating with (unless you disable visibility in settings)
Read receipts indicate when your messages have been viewed

4.2 Privacy by Design - No Media Uploads

Wibe Messaging is designed with your privacy in mind. Unlike traditional messaging apps:

No Photo/Video Uploads: Wibe Messaging does not support uploading images, videos, or files from your device
Limited Device Storage Access: We do not access your photo library or file storage for sending messages. Device storage is only accessed when you voluntarily choose to set a profile photo or group avatar
Content Sharing via Wibes: Instead of media uploads, you share content by sending "Wibes" - curated references to movies, music, books, games, and other entertainment that you're passionate about
Reduced Privacy Risk: This design eliminates the risk of accidentally sharing sensitive personal photos or documents through chat

This approach keeps conversations focused on shared interests while protecting your personal media from unintended exposure.

4.3 Message Data Retention

Active Conversations: Messages are retained while the conversation remains active for both parties
Deleted Messages: When you delete a message "for yourself," it is hidden from your view but may still be visible to other participants. When you delete "for everyone" (within allowed timeframe), the message content is removed for all participants
Deleted Conversations: Deleting a conversation removes it from your chat list but does not delete the messages for the other participant
Account Deletion: When you delete your account, your profile information is anonymized to "Deleted User" in existing conversations. The other party retains access to the conversation history but will see your messages attributed to "Deleted User" and will not be able to send you new messages
Reported Messages: Messages that have been reported for violations may be retained longer for investigation purposes

4.4 Push Notifications for Messages

We send push notifications to inform you of new messages when you are offline
Notification content may include sender name and a preview of the message
We use rate limiting to prevent notification spam
You can disable message notifications in your device settings

4.5 User Controls for Messaging

You have control over your messaging experience:

Block Users: Prevent specific users from messaging you
Delete Messages: Remove messages for yourself or for everyone
Delete Conversations: Remove entire conversations from your chat list
Online Visibility: Control whether other users can see your online status and last seen time
Report Messages: Report inappropriate, harassing, or illegal message content

4.6 Content Filtering

We may apply automated content filtering to messages to help reduce profanity and offensive language. These measures are provided on a best-effort basis and are not guaranteed to catch all inappropriate content
Message length limits are enforced automatically

4.7 Important Disclaimers for Messaging

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

No Guaranteed Privacy from Recipients: Once you send a message, the recipient can screenshot, copy, or share your message with others. We have no control over what recipients do with messages they receive
No Message or Notification Delivery Guarantee: While we strive to deliver all messages and notifications promptly, we cannot guarantee delivery due to technical issues, network problems, or recipient device status
User Responsibility: You are solely responsible for the content of messages you send. Do not share sensitive personal information, passwords, financial details, or illegal content through messaging
Recipient Actions: We are not responsible for how recipients use, store, or share the messages you send them
Service Interruptions: Messaging features may experience downtime for maintenance or technical issues

4.8 Group Messaging

In addition to direct messaging, Wibely offers group messaging ("Group Wibes") that allows communication between multiple users. All provisions in Sections 4.1 through 4.7 apply to group messaging. The following additional provisions apply specifically to group conversations:

4.9 Group Data We Collect

When you create or participate in a group, we collect and store:

Group Metadata: Group name (max 50 characters), group description (max 500 characters), group avatar image
Membership Data: List of current and past group members, join and leave timestamps, who added whom
Admin Data: List of group administrators, admin promotion and demotion history, group creator identity
Group Messages: All text messages, shared content ("Wibes"), reactions, and replies within the group
System Event Logs: Records of all group actions including member additions/removals, admin changes, group name/avatar changes, and group deletion
Per-User Group Preferences: Mute status, archive status, unread message count, last read timestamp

4.10 Data Visible to Group Members

When you join or are added to a group, the following information becomes visible to ALL other group members:

Information Shared:

Your profile name, username, and profile photo
Your online/offline status and last seen time (subject to your privacy settings)
Your typing indicators when you are composing a message in the group
Read receipts showing when you have read group messages
Messages you send in the group
System messages about your actions (joining, leaving, being promoted to admin)

Information NOT Shared with Group Members:

Your email address
Your device information or IP address
Your account creation date
Your activity in other groups or direct conversations
Your blocked users list
Other private profile fields

4.11 Group Avatar Storage

Group avatars are uploaded by group admins and stored on secure cloud infrastructure cloud infrastructure
Group avatars are visible to all group members and may appear in push notifications and message previews
Group avatars are retained while the group exists and deleted within a reasonable timeframe after group dissolution
Only group admins can change the group avatar

4.12 Group Data Retention

Active Groups: All group data (messages, metadata, member lists) is retained while the group remains active
Deleted Groups: When a group is deleted by an admin or dissolved, all group data is permanently removed for all members
Left/Removed Members: When you leave or are removed from a group, your access to the group is revoked. Messages you sent prior to leaving may still be visible to remaining members
Late Joiners: Members added to an existing group can only see messages sent after they joined — prior message history is not visible to new members
Group Backups: Group messages may persist in backups for up to 90 days after deletion
Reported Group Content: Messages reported for violations are retained for investigation and may be retained longer for legal purposes
Account Deletion: When you delete your Wibely account, your profile is anonymized to "Deleted User" in all group conversations. Your messages remain visible but are attributed to "Deleted User." If you were the sole admin, the longest-standing member is automatically promoted. Your membership is removed from all groups.

4.13 Group-Specific User Controls

You have the following controls over your group messaging experience:

Leave Group: Exit any group at any time
Mute Group: Silence notifications from a specific group without leaving
Archive Group: Hide a group from your main chat list
Report Messages: Report individual messages within a group
Delete Messages: Remove your own messages for yourself or for everyone
Block Users: Block individual users (applies across the platform, not group-specific)
Admin Controls (if admin): Add/remove members, promote/demote admins, change group settings, delete group

4.14 Group Messaging and Online Safety

Group messaging is subject to the same content moderation and filtering rules as direct messaging
We reserve the right to dissolve groups, remove members, and take other action to maintain a safe environment

5. AI-Powered Features

5.1 AI Chat Assistant

Wibely includes an AI-powered chat assistant ("Wibely AI") to help you discover entertainment, get recommendations, and enhance your experience. When you use this feature:

Your messages to the AI assistant are processed by third-party AI service providers
Conversation context may be temporarily retained to provide coherent responses within a session
We instruct our AI providers not to use your conversations for model training, subject to their respective policies
AI responses are generated automatically and may not always be accurate

5.2 Data Sent to AI Services

When using AI features, we may send:

Your message/query to the AI
Relevant context (e.g., entertainment item you're asking about)
No personal profile information is shared with AI providers unless you include it in your message

5.3 AI Limitations

AI responses are for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional advice
AI may generate inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information
We are not responsible for actions you take based on AI recommendations
AI features may be unavailable due to third-party service outages

5.4 Third-Party AI Providers

We use third-party AI service providers to power AI features within the App. These providers may change as we improve our services.

These providers have their own privacy policies governing data processing. We encourage you to review them.

6. User-Generated Content and Conduct

6.1 Your Responsibility for Content

When you post reviews, comments, or other content, you are responsible for:

Accuracy: Ensuring your content is truthful and not misleading
Legality: Not posting illegal, defamatory, or harmful content
Respect: Not posting hate speech, harassment, or discriminatory content
Privacy: Not sharing others' personal information without consent
Intellectual Property: Not posting copyrighted content without permission

6.2 Public Nature of Content

Please be aware:

Reviews and posts may be publicly visible
Other users can screenshot or share your content
Once posted, content may be cached or archived by third parties
Think carefully before posting personal information

6.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

Remove content that violates our Terms of Service
Suspend or terminate accounts for repeated violations
Report illegal content to appropriate authorities
Respond to valid legal requests for user information

6.4 Messaging Conduct

When using direct or group messaging features, you must NOT:

Send unsolicited commercial messages (spam)
Harass, threaten, or bully other users
Send sexually explicit or pornographic content
Share malware, phishing links, or malicious content
Impersonate other users or entities
Use messaging to circumvent blocks or bans
Share illegal content or coordinate illegal activities
Repeatedly contact users who have blocked you (through new accounts)
Share personal information of others without consent (doxxing), which is a criminal offence under Australian law
Create or participate in groups for the purpose of coordinating harassment or sharing prohibited content
Abuse group admin powers to discriminate against or harass group members

Violation of these rules may result in message deletion, group removal, conversation restrictions, group dissolution, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination.

7. Information Sharing and Disclosure

7.1 We DO NOT Sell Your Personal Information

We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

7.2 Limited Sharing Scenarios

We may share your information only in these situations:

With Your Consent:

When you explicitly agree to share information
When you make your profile public

Service Providers:

Cloud storage providers for data hosting
Analytics services to understand app usage
Push notification services

Legal Requirements:

To comply with legal obligations
To protect rights, privacy, safety, or property
To enforce our Terms of Service

Business Transfers:

In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)

Message Recipients:

When you send a direct message, the recipient receives your message content, your profile information (name, username, profile photo), and delivery/read status
When you send a group message, ALL group members receive your message content and can see your profile information
This sharing is inherent to the messaging feature and cannot be disabled while using messaging

Group Members:

When you join or are added to a group, your profile name, username, and profile photo become visible to all group members
Group membership lists (who is in the group) are visible to all group members
Admin status within groups is visible to all group members

8. Data Security and Storage

We implement industry-standard security measures:

Encryption: All sensitive data is encrypted in transit and at rest
Secure Authentication: Industry-standard password protection and secure token storage
Access Controls: Limited access to personal information
Regular Updates: Security patches and vulnerability assessments
Rate Limiting: Protection against brute force attacks

8.1 Data Storage Location

Information collected from you will be stored on secure cloud infrastructure, which is a broadly adopted cloud platform, for such period as required to complete the transaction entered into with you or such period as mandated under applicable laws.

Messaging Data Storage:

Direct messages, group messages, and conversations are stored on secure cloud infrastructure
Group metadata (names, descriptions, member lists, admin lists) is stored on secure cloud infrastructure
Group avatars are stored on secure cloud infrastructure cloud infrastructure
Real-time presence and typing indicators are stored on secure cloud infrastructure
Message reports (including group message reports) are stored in our secure database for review
Push notification tokens are stored to enable message delivery notifications

8.2 Security Disclaimer

While we take reasonable measures to guard against misuse of personal data submitted by you, we cannot guarantee that someone will not overcome our security measures. Your use of our App constitutes your acceptance of this risk, and by using our services, you waive any right to seek legal relief from us due to any security breach, except where required by law.

9. Your Rights and Choices

9.1 Access and Control

You have the right to:

Access: View your personal information in your profile
Update: Edit your profile and preferences
Delete: Delete your account and associated data
Export: Request a copy of your data in a portable format (via email request to info@wibely.com)
Block: Block other users from interacting with you. When you block a user with the "block future accounts" option, we store device identifiers to prevent the blocked user from contacting you from new accounts
Messaging Controls: Delete messages, block users from messaging you
Group Controls: Leave groups, mute group notifications, report group messages, and (if admin) manage group membership and settings

9.2 Privacy Settings

Control your privacy through:

Public/Private account settings
Content visibility preferences
Notification preferences
Follow request management
Online visibility settings (show/hide online status and last seen)

9.3 Communication Preferences

Manage push notifications in app settings
Control social notifications (likes, comments, follows)
Opt-out of promotional communications
Control message notification sounds and vibration

10. Data Retention

Active Accounts: We retain your data while your account is active
Deleted Accounts: Data is permanently deleted within a reasonable timeframe after account deletion
Cached Data: Temporary data is automatically cleared
Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer if required by law
Security Logs: Security logs (such as login history and IP address records) may be retained for a limited period for fraud detection and abuse prevention purposes, even after account deletion
Messages: Direct and group messages are retained until deleted by users. Deleted messages may remain in backups for up to 90 days
Group Data: Group metadata (name, description, avatar, member list) is retained while the group is active. When a group is dissolved, all group data is permanently deleted within a reasonable timeframe
Group Avatars: Stored while the group exists and deleted within a reasonable timeframe after group dissolution
Reported Messages: Messages reported for violations (in both direct and group conversations) are retained until the report is resolved, and may be retained longer for legal purposes
Presence Data: Online status and typing indicators are temporary and automatically cleared when you go offline

11. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own
We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers
By using our App, you consent to these transfers

12. Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for children under 16
We do not knowingly collect information from children below the minimum age
If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at info@wibely.com
Children under 16 are not permitted to use our messaging features, including both direct and group messaging
If we discover that a child below the minimum age has created an account, been added to a group, or used messaging features, we will terminate the account and delete all associated data
Group administrators must not knowingly add users below the minimum age to groups
We are committed to complying with the Australian Children's Online Privacy Code and will update our practices as required

13. Third-Party Services

Our App uses data from third-party providers:

Entertainment Data: Third-party entertainment data providers for movies, TV shows, music, books, and games
Authentication: Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In
Analytics: Analytics services to understand app usage
Cloud Infrastructure: secure cloud infrastructure
Messaging Infrastructure: Third-party cloud services
AI Services: Third-party AI service providers

These services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.

14. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights:

Right to know what personal information is collected (including direct message content, group message content, group membership data, and group metadata)
Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
Right to say no to the sale of personal information
Right to access personal information
Right to equal service and price
Right to request deletion of personal information (including group messaging data)

How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@wibely.com. We will process your request manually within 45 days as required by law. Please include "CCPA Request" in your email subject line and provide sufficient information to verify your identity.

15. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights:

Legal Basis for Processing:

Consent: For optional features and marketing
Contract: To provide our services
Legitimate Interests: For security and improvements
Legal Obligations: To comply with laws

Your Rights:

Access your personal data
Rectify inaccurate data
Request erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Restrict processing
Data portability
Object to processing
Withdraw consent at any time

How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@wibely.com. We will process your request manually within 30 days as required by GDPR. Please include "GDPR Request" in your email subject line and provide sufficient information to verify your identity. For data portability requests, we will provide your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format (such as JSON or CSV) upon request.

16. Data Protection and Online Safety

For privacy concerns or to exercise your rights, contact us at:

Email: info@wibely.com

EU residents may also contact their local data protection authority.

Australian Online Safety: Australian users may report online safety concerns (including issues related to group messaging) to the eSafety Commissioner at www.esafety.gov.au. We cooperate with the eSafety Commissioner as required by the Australian Online Safety Act.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will indicate changes by:

Posting the new Privacy Policy in the App and on our website
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Email: info@wibely.com

Website: https://www.wibely.com

Appendix: Permissions We Request

iOS Permissions:

Camera: To take profile photos (optional)
Photo Library: To select profile photos (optional)
Face ID/Touch ID: For secure login (optional)
Notifications: For app updates and social interactions (optional)
Location: To tag posts with your location (optional) - We only access location when you choose to add it to a post
Microphone: For music recognition features (optional) - Only accessed when you use the music recognition feature

Android Permissions:

Camera: To take profile photos (optional)
Storage: To select profile photos (optional)
Biometric: For secure login (optional)
Notifications: For app updates and social interactions (optional)
Location: To tag posts with your location (optional) - We only access location when you choose to add it to a post
Microphone: For music recognition features (optional) - Only accessed when you use the music recognition feature

All permissions are optional and you can use the core features of the app without granting them.

Location Data and Your Privacy

Your Responsibility for Location Sharing

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ:

Voluntary Disclosure: When you add a location to a post, you are voluntarily choosing to share your location information. This is entirely your decision.
Public Visibility: Location data attached to posts may be visible to other users depending on your privacy settings. If your account is public, anyone can see where you posted from.
Permanent Record: Once you post content with location data, that information becomes part of your post. Even if you later remove or edit the location, others may have already seen or saved this information.
Personal Safety: You are solely responsible for considering the safety implications of sharing your location. We strongly advise against sharing precise locations of your home, workplace, or places you frequent regularly.
No Liability: Wibely is not responsible for any consequences arising from your decision to share location information, including but not limited to: personal safety concerns, privacy breaches, stalking, harassment, or any other harm that may result from others knowing your location.

Third-Party Location Services

We use third-party services to provide location features:

Location Search Providers: We use third-party geocoding services to search for and display place names and addresses. Your search queries are sent to these providers' servers.
Device Location Services: We use your device's built-in GPS and location services to determine your current location when you request it.

These third-party services have their own privacy policies and data handling practices. We encourage you to review them.

What We Store

When you add a location to a post, we store:

Location name (e.g., "Central Park")
Address (if available)
Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude)

This data is stored on our servers and associated with your post.

Disclaimers and Limitations

Disclaimer of Liability

Third-Party Content: We are not responsible for user-generated content. Users are solely responsible for their posts and reviews
External Links: We are not responsible for content on external websites linked from our app
Data Accuracy: Entertainment data is provided by third parties. We do not guarantee its accuracy
Service Availability: We do not guarantee uninterrupted service availability

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
We are not liable for loss of data, profits, or reputation
Our total liability is limited to the amount you've paid us (if any)

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims arising from:

Your use of the app
Your violation of this policy or our Terms of Service
Your user-generated content
Your violation of any rights of another party