BantuNet Privacy Policy

Information BantuNet may collect

Depending on how you use BantuNet, we may collect the following categories of information:

• Phone number linked to your account.
• Name and profile information.
• Location information used to find nearby hosts and support hotspot verification.
• Payment information needed to process purchases, wallet activity, refunds, and payouts.
• Purchase history, package usage, wallet records, and support history.
• Device and network information, including device identifiers, app version, IP address, connection details, and network diagnostics.
• Hotspot information submitted by hosts, including location, connection details, package details, and operational status.
• Crash logs, performance information, diagnostics, and error reports.
• Photos for verification where applicable, such as host, hotspot, or identity-related review.
• Contacts only if users choose to use contact-based gifting or a similar contact-based feature.

How BantuNet uses information

BantuNet uses information to operate, secure, improve, and support the platform.

• Create and manage accounts.
• Show nearby verified hosts and available Wi-Fi packages.
• Process package purchases, wallet records, refunds, and host payouts.
• Verify hosts, hotspots, locations, and eligibility.
• Prevent fraud, misuse, unauthorized access, unsafe activity, and policy violations.
• Provide customer support and respond to account, payment, privacy, and deletion requests.
• Improve app reliability, performance, diagnostics, and user experience.
• Send service messages related to accounts, purchases, verification, security, and support.

Location and hotspot information

Location is important to BantuNet because the platform helps customers find nearby verified hosts. Host hotspot information may be used to review availability, show access options, support customers, and maintain platform safety.

Payments and wallet records

BantuNet may use payment and wallet information to process purchases, record package activity, handle refunds or adjustments, calculate host earnings, manage payouts, provide receipts, prevent fraud, and comply with legal, tax, accounting, or regulatory requirements.

Contact-based gifting

BantuNet only accesses contacts if a user chooses to use contact-based gifting or a similar contact feature. Contacts are used to help the user select a recipient and are not required for normal account use.

Third-party services

BantuNet may use trusted third-party services to provide infrastructure, payments, communications, maps, diagnostics, app services, and platform functionality.

• Supabase for backend infrastructure, authentication, database, storage, and related services.
• Flutterwave for payment processing and related payment services.
• Twilio for phone number verification, messaging, and communication services.
• Google Maps for maps, location, geocoding, and place-related features.
• Expo for app development, updates, diagnostics, and related mobile services.
• Google Play services for Android platform functionality, app distribution, diagnostics, and related services.

How information may be shared

BantuNet may share information with service providers, payment processors, communications providers, hosting and infrastructure partners, analytics or diagnostics providers, legal and compliance advisors, law enforcement where required, and parties involved in a business transfer. We do not sell personal information as a standalone product.

Security

BantuNet uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect information. Data is encrypted in transit where supported. No digital service can guarantee absolute security, but BantuNet works to reduce risk through access controls, monitoring, platform review, and secure service providers.

Data retention

BantuNet keeps information for as long as needed to provide services, support users and hosts, maintain wallet and purchase records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, prevent fraud, and improve safety. Some records may be retained after account deletion when required or allowed for legal, tax, accounting, fraud prevention, security, or compliance reasons.

User rights and choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, update, export, restrict, object to, or delete certain personal information. You may also manage app permissions, including location and contacts, through your device settings.

Account deletion requests

Users may request deletion of their BantuNet account and associated data by emailing support@bantunet.org. Some transaction records may be retained for legal, tax, fraud prevention, security, or compliance reasons.

Children's privacy

BantuNet is not intended for children who are not old enough to use digital services under applicable law. If you believe a child has provided information to BantuNet without appropriate permission, contact support.

International data handling

BantuNet and its service providers may process information in countries different from where a user lives. When this happens, BantuNet uses reasonable safeguards appropriate for the service and applicable requirements.

Changes to this policy

BantuNet may update this privacy policy as the platform, services, laws, or business needs change. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a new last updated date.

Contact

For privacy questions, account deletion requests, or support, contact BantuNet at support@bantunet.org.