Gora

1. Introduction

Gora ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Gora mobile application, a technology platform that connects riders with independent third-party transportation providers ("Partners"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you access or use our services.

By creating an account or using the Gora app, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described herein, please do not use our services.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data to provide and improve our services:

Location Data: We collect your precise location only when the Gora app is actively in use or during an active ride. You may adjust location permissions at any time through your device settings. Disabling location access will prevent the app from providing ride-booking services.

Camera Access: The app requests camera permission only when you initiate an action that requires it, such as taking a profile photo, sending an image in chat, or attaching evidence to a support report. We do not access your camera in the background.

3. How We Use Your Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

• Service delivery: To authenticate your account, match you with available Partners, process bookings, and enable real-time trip tracking and navigation.
• Communications: To deliver push notifications about booking status, trip updates, and service alerts. To facilitate in-app messaging between you and your assigned Partner.
• Safety and security: To verify user identity, detect and prevent fraudulent activity, and support safety-related workflows during active rides.
• Support: To process and respond to your support requests, issue reports, and feedback.
• Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, diagnose technical issues, and improve app functionality and reliability.
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

4. Sharing & Disclosure

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

• With your assigned Partner: During a booking, your Partner receives your first name, pickup location, drop-off location, and in-app chat messages necessary to complete the ride. Your full phone number and payment details are not shared with Partners.
• Service providers: We use Google Firebase for authentication, cloud storage, database, and push notification services. These providers process data on our behalf under contractual obligations to protect your information.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your data when required by law, court order, or government authority, or when necessary to protect the safety, rights, or property of Gora, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the successor entity. You will be notified of any such change.

5. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored and processed using Google Firebase infrastructure, which employs industry-standard encryption for data in transit (TLS) and at rest. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

• Account data: Retained for the duration of your active account and deleted within a reasonable period after account deletion, except where retention is required by law.
• Ride and transaction records: Retained for the period required to comply with applicable financial and regulatory obligations.
• Chat messages and images: Retained for the duration necessary to support active rides and related support requests.
• Location data: Used in real-time during active rides and not retained beyond what is necessary for trip records and dispute resolution.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data through the in-app "Delete Account" feature or by contacting support.
• Withdraw consent: Revoke camera or location permissions at any time through your device settings. This may limit the functionality of the app.
• Objection: Object to processing of your data based on legitimate interests.

To exercise any of these rights, use the in-app support options or contact us using the details in the Contact section below. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days.

8. Children's Privacy

Gora services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.

9. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. The updated policy will be indicated by a revised "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of the app after any modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

10. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, accessing, or using the Gora application, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Gora. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our services.

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy above, form the complete agreement between you and Gora regarding your use of the services.

11. The Services

Gora provides a technology platform that connects riders ("Users") with independent third-party transportation providers ("Partners"). Gora is not a transportation carrier, taxi service, or public transit provider. Gora does not provide transportation services and is not responsible for the acts or omissions of any Partner.

Partners are independent contractors and are not employees, agents, or representatives of Gora. The transportation services provided by Partners are governed by the agreement between you and the Partner.

Ride availability, fares, and estimated arrival times depend on real-time Partner availability, traffic conditions, and other external factors. Gora does not guarantee the availability of rides at any given time or location.

12. User Accounts

• You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account and use Gora services.
• You may only maintain one account. Accounts are personal and non-transferable.
• You must provide accurate and complete registration information, including a valid phone number.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
• You must notify Gora immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
• Gora reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that contain inaccurate information, are used fraudulently, or violate these Terms.

13. User Conduct

When using Gora services, you agree to:

• Comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.
• Provide accurate booking details including pickup and drop-off locations.
• Treat Partners with respect and refrain from abusive, threatening, or discriminatory behavior.
• Not use the service for any unlawful, fraudulent, or unauthorized purpose.
• Not interfere with or disrupt the integrity of the Gora platform or its infrastructure.
• Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the service, other accounts, or connected systems.
• Not use the app for commercial purposes other than booking rides for personal transportation.

Repeated violations of these conduct requirements, including abusive cancellations, fraudulent activity, or misuse of the platform, may result in temporary or permanent account suspension.

14. Bookings & Rides

• A booking is confirmed when a Partner accepts your ride request through the app.
• You must be present at the designated pickup location at the agreed time. Failure to appear may result in the ride being cancelled and a cancellation fee applied.
• Ride routes are determined by the Partner based on navigation guidance. You may request an alternative route, but the Partner has final discretion on road safety matters.
• You are responsible for the safety and behavior of any minors or additional passengers traveling with you.
• You must wear seatbelts where required by law and follow all applicable vehicle safety regulations.
• You are liable for any damage caused to the Partner's vehicle during your ride.

15. Payments & Fares

• Fares are calculated based on factors including distance, duration, route, demand, and applicable tolls or surcharges.
• Estimated fares displayed before booking confirmation are approximations and the final fare may vary based on the actual route taken and ride duration.
• Payment is due upon completion of the ride through the payment method available in the app or as agreed with the Partner.
• Gora reserves the right to adjust fares in cases of technical errors, fraud, or route deviations caused by the User.
• Promotional offers and discounts are subject to their specific terms and conditions and may be modified or withdrawn at any time.

16. Cancellations

• You may cancel a booking at any time before or after a Partner has been assigned.
• Cancellations made after a Partner has been assigned and is en route may be subject to a cancellation fee.
• If a Partner fails to arrive within a reasonable time, you may cancel without charge.
• Repeated or excessive cancellations may affect your account standing and access to the service.

17. Intellectual Property

The Gora app, including its design, logos, trademarks, text, graphics, software, and all other content, is the exclusive property of Gora and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the app for your personal, non-commercial transportation needs. You may not:

• Copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the app or its content.
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the app software.
• Use any automated system, including bots or scrapers, to access the service.
• Remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices or labels on the app.
• Use the app's content for training machine-learning or artificial intelligence systems.

18. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

THE GORA APP AND ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

GORA DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, OR THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. GORA DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING THE QUALITY, SAFETY, OR LEGALITY OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY PARTNERS.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, GORA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY.

GORA'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO GORA IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Gora, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of or inability to use the service.
• Your violation of these Terms.
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation.
• Your violation of any rights of a third party, including Partners.
• Any damage to a Partner's vehicle or property caused by you or your passengers.

20. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time by using the "Delete Account" feature in the app or by contacting support.

Gora may suspend or terminate your access to the service at any time, with or without notice, for conduct that Gora believes violates these Terms, is harmful to other users or Partners, or is otherwise objectionable. Upon termination, your right to use the service ceases immediately.

Sections relating to Intellectual Property, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, and Governing Law shall survive termination of these Terms.

21. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Gora operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in that jurisdiction.

22. Changes to Terms

Gora reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through the app or by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the service after any modifications constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the service and delete your account.