Privacy

Privacy Policy - Smart Souq Last updated: September 7, 2026 · Effective date: September 7, 2026 · Version 2.0 Introduction At "Smart Souq" we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and who we share it with, when you use the Smart Souq app or its websites ssouq.io and web.ssouq.io. This policy applies to all users and visitors and complies with the Personal Data Protection Law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The platform was previously known as "Al Souq" (ssouq), and this policy also applies to data collected under the former name. Contact information Brand name: Smart Souq Website: ssouq.io Email: contact@ssouq.io Mailing address: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Data We Collect Account data Mobile number (used to sign in with a verification code sent to it, with no password) The name you choose Email address (optional) City or region Profile picture, if you add one Usage data The ads you post, their content and images Messages exchanged with other users inside the platform Ratings, reviews and reports Search and browsing history and favourites Coins, tasks, achievements and games activity Bookings you make or receive, and the details of services you list as a provider Subscriptions and purchases (we keep a record of the transaction; we never see your card or bank details, since payment goes through the App Store, Google Play, or a direct bank transfer) Technical data IP address, device type, operating system and app version Device identifier and push notification token (to deliver message, booking and account alerts) Usage and error logs Location data Only with your consent: approximate location to show ads near you The city you choose when posting an ad You can stop sharing location at any time from your device settings How We Use Your Data Running the service: showing your ads, delivering your messages, and managing your bookings, coins and subscription Improvement: search suggestions, result ranking, recommendations and new features AI: suggesting ad content when you ask for it, translating ads between Arabic and English, and automatically reviewing images and text to detect violations Communication: account activity notifications, support messages, important updates and security alerts Safety: preventing fraud and duplicate accounts, protecting users from harmful content, and verifying compliance with the terms Statistics: understanding how the platform is used and measuring features, with aggregated statistics that do not identify you Data Sharing We do not sell your data We never sell, rent or trade your personal data to any third party for commercial purposes. What other users can see Your name, picture, city, ratings and ads are public to everyone browsing the platform, and your ad pages appear in search engines Your mobile number is shown only if you enable that option in your settings As a booking provider, your services page and availability are public Technical service providers We rely on partners to operate the platform. All of them are bound to protect your data and use it only to provide their service to us: Cloud hosting and storage Push notifications and SMS delivery (verification codes) AI processing of ad text and images (content suggestions, translation, review) App stores (App Store and Google Play) for subscription processing Analytics and advertising tools on the website (see the Cookies section) Legal requirements Orders of Saudi courts and requests from the competent security authorities Cybercrime and fraud investigations Protecting our legal rights and those of our users Business transactions In the event of a merger or acquisition you will be notified in advance, this privacy policy remains in effect, and you have the right to object and delete your data. Data Protection SSL/TLS encryption for all data in transit Sign-in with a temporary verification code sent to your phone, so there is no password to leak Servers in certified data centres with monitoring and regular backups Access limited to authorised staff only, with access logs Regular security updates and monitoring for suspicious activity Your Rights Access: request a copy of your data and learn how it is used Correction: update your data from your profile at any time Deletion: delete your account permanently from the app or website settings, or request deletion of specific data that is not legally required Objection: stop marketing messages and withdraw consent for specific uses such as location Portability: receive a copy of your data in a common format To exercise any of these rights, email contact@ssouq.io or use the privacy settings in the app. We respond within 30 days of the request. Data Retention Active account: for as long as you use the account After account deletion: most personal data is deleted immediately, with a 30-day window to recover an accidental deletion, and removal from backups within 90 days Legal exceptions: we may retain transaction records (5 years), security and fraud data (3 years), and any records required by law or related to an ongoing dispute Ads you mark as "sold" remain visible as an archive with contact details hidden, and you can delete them at any time Cookies and Advertising on the Website Essential cookies: sign-in, security and core website functions. They cannot be disabled without disabling the service Performance and analytics: we use Google Analytics on the website to understand usage in aggregate Advertising: the website web.ssouq.io shows ads through Google AdSense, and Google may use cookies to show ads relevant to your interests. You can manage ad preferences in your Google account settings or your browser settings The app does not show third-party ads inside classified ads or conversations You can manage cookies from your browser settings at any time Children's Privacy The minimum age to use the platform is 18, or with a guardian's consent and supervision If we discover a child's data without a guardian's consent, we delete it immediately and close the account Direct commercial contact with minors is prohibited, and any misuse can be reported from inside the app Notifications Security notifications: sign-in attempts and account changes. These cannot be disabled Service notifications: new messages, bookings, ad updates and ad expiry. These can be customised Marketing notifications: offers, new features and events. These can be turned off completely in the settings or through the unsubscribe link in emails Security Incidents Continuous threat monitoring and an incident response plan In the event of a breach affecting your data: notification of the competent authorities, and notification of affected users within 72 hours with an explanation of the breach and recommended protection steps Data Transfers Outside the Kingdom Some technical services (hosting, notifications, AI processing) may rely on servers outside the Kingdom Transfers are fully encrypted and covered by binding protection agreements with the service providers, in line with Saudi regulations Automated Decisions We use automated systems to recommend relevant ads, detect violating content and fraud, and improve search results An ad may be hidden automatically when a possible violation is detected, and you may request a human review through support You have the right to object to any significant automated decision and to request its review Updates We notify you in advance of substantial changes to this policy, in the app or by email Continuing to use the platform after an update means you accept the updated policy. You may delete your account if you do not agree Contact and Complaints General inquiries: contact@ssouq.io Technical support: support@ssouq.io or from inside the app Privacy complaints: contact@ssouq.io, answered within 7 business days If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) At "Smart Souq" we are committed to protecting your privacy and earning your trust. You can control your data at any time, and we are here to answer any question. 📧 contact@ssouq.io 🌐 ssouq.io 📱 Smart Souq app - Privacy settings By accepting the terms of use, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to this policy.