Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 8, 2026

1. Introduction

Handshake ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly and information that is generated automatically when you use the Service:

• Account Information: When you sign up via Google OAuth, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from your Google account.
• Profile Data: Information you choose to add to your Handshake profile, including job title, company, social links, and "Looking for" / "Offering" fields.
• Proximity Data: When Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is enabled, the app detects other Handshake users nearby. We store proximity events (who was nearby, approximate duration, and timestamp).
• Location Data: With your permission, we use your device location to tag proximity events with venue and event names.
• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and unique device identifiers for analytics and troubleshooting.
• Usage Data: Interaction logs, feature usage patterns, and crash reports to improve the Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Enable proximity-based networking features
• Generate evening digests and contact history
• Send push notifications about nearby contacts and event summaries
• Improve, personalize, and develop the Service
• Communicate with you about updates, security alerts, and support
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse

4. Information Sharing

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

• With Other Users: Your profile information is shared with users you exchange cards with. Passive proximity data is not shared unless you explicitly approve a contact.
• Service Providers: We use third-party services for hosting, analytics, and push notifications that may process data on our behalf.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law or in response to valid legal process.

5. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Data

Handshake uses BLE to detect nearby users. Important details about BLE data:

• BLE signals are anonymized and do not contain personal information in transit
• Proximity events are processed on our servers only when both parties have the app active
• You can disable BLE detection at any time in the app settings
• Historical proximity data can be deleted from your account at any time

6. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Proximity logs are retained for 12 months unless you delete them earlier. When you delete your account, all associated data is permanently removed within 30 days.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (TLS), encrypted storage, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Delete your data
• Export your data in a portable format
• Withdraw consent for optional data processing
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for users under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via the app or email. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at support@skywaylab.com.