Privacy Policy

Transparency Technologies, LLC, doing business as Rookd ("Rookd," "we," "us," or "our"), operates the Rookd platform and related services (collectively, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Services.

1. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

• Name, email address, phone number
• Date of birth and gender
• Profile photos and bio
• Password and authentication credentials

Profile and Preference Information:

• Housing preferences (budget, location, move-in date, bedroom requirements)
• Lifestyle preferences (cleanliness, noise tolerance, sleep schedule, social habits)
• Pet ownership and pet-friendliness preferences
• Smoking and drinking preferences
• Personality traits and compatibility factors
• Music preferences (if you choose to connect a music streaming service)
• Activities and interests

Verification and Background Information:

• Government-issued identification documents
• Social Security Number (for background checks and credit reports)
• Employment and income verification data
• Rental history and landlord references
• Background check results (criminal history, eviction records)
• Credit information (credit score, credit history)

Property and Rental Information (for Landlords):

• Property listings (address, photos, descriptions, amenities, pricing)
• Proof of property ownership
• Business information (company name, EIN, licenses)
• Bank account information for rent collection

Communications:

• Messages exchanged with other users
• Support requests and correspondence
• Survey responses and feedback

Payment Information:

• Payment card details (processed by our third-party payment processor; we do not store full card numbers)
• Billing address
• Transaction history

B. Information Collected Automatically

• Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
• Browser type and settings
• IP address and approximate location
• Usage data (pages visited, features used, search queries, time spent)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies
• Log data (access times, error logs)

C. Information from Third Parties

• Authentication providers: Account management and sign-in data
• Consumer reporting agencies: Background check reports (as described in Section 4)
• Identity verification services: Identity verification results
• Financial data providers: Bank account verification and income data
• Credit bureaus: Credit reports and credit scores
• Social media platforms: Data from connected accounts (if you choose to connect)
• Public records: Property ownership, assessor data

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide and Improve Our Services

• Create and manage your account
• Facilitate property searches and applications
• Match you with compatible roommates based on your preferences and lifestyle
• Calculate and display your Rookd Score
• Process payments and rental transactions
• Enable messaging between users
• Improve our matching methodology and platform features

Verification and Trust

• Verify your identity to prevent fraud
• Conduct background checks (with your consent)
• Verify income and employment
• Generate credit reports for rental applications
• Build trust in our community through verified profiles

Communication

• Send service-related notifications (application updates, messages, etc.)
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Send promotional communications (with your consent)
• Conduct surveys and collect feedback

Safety and Security

• Protect against fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
• Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Comply with legal obligations
• Investigate and address safety concerns

Analytics and Research

• Analyze usage patterns to improve our Services
• Conduct market research and trend analysis
• Develop new features and services

Anonymized and Aggregated Data

We may create anonymized and aggregated data from your personal information by removing information that makes the data personally identifiable to you. We use this anonymized data for:

• Market Research: Analyzing rental market patterns, pricing trends, and demand by geographic area
• Service Improvement: Enhancing the quality and relevance of our matching and recommendation features
• Internal Research: Conducting research and analysis to improve our Services
• Market Insights: Aggregated industry analysis and market reporting

Important: Anonymized data cannot be used to identify you personally. Once data is anonymized, it is no longer considered personal information and may be used and shared without restriction.

3. How We Share Your Information

With Other Users

When you use Rookd, certain profile information is shared with other users to facilitate matching and connections:

• Your public profile (name, photos, bio, preferences) is visible to potential matches
• When you apply for a rental, landlords receive your application information
• Roommate compatibility scores may be shared with potential roommates
• Your Rookd Score tier is visible to landlords reviewing your applications

With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our Services:

• Payment processing: Payment processing and financial transactions
• Identity verification: Government ID verification and fraud prevention
• Background screening: Background checks and consumer reporting
• Financial verification: Bank account and income verification
• Credit reporting: Credit reports and credit scoring
• Authentication: User authentication and account security
• Communications: SMS and email delivery
• Cloud infrastructure: Data storage, hosting, and file management
• Analytics: Usage analytics and performance monitoring

All service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on our behalf.

For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

• Legal process (subpoenas, court orders, search warrants)
• Government or regulatory requests
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Rookd, our users, or others
• To investigate potential violations of our Terms of Service
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

With Your Consent

We may share your information in other circumstances with your explicit consent.

4. Background Checks and Credit Reports (FCRA Disclosure)

Rookd may obtain consumer reports, including background checks and credit reports, as part of the rental application process. These reports are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Background Check Provider

Background checks are conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency. If adverse action is taken based on a background check, you will be provided with the consumer reporting agency's contact information and a copy of your rights under the FCRA.

Your FCRA Rights

Under the FCRA, you have the right to:

• Know if information in your file has been used against you
• Obtain a free copy of your report if adverse action is taken
• Dispute incomplete or inaccurate information
• Have inaccurate information corrected or deleted
• Limit access to your information

Important: Rookd does not guarantee the accuracy of background check or credit report information provided by third parties. If you believe information in your report is inaccurate, please contact the consumer reporting agency directly.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after deletion
• Verification Documents: Retained as required for fraud prevention purposes
• Background Checks: Retained as required by the FCRA and applicable law
• Transaction Records: Retained as required for tax, accounting, and legal purposes
• Communications: Retained for a reasonable period or until account deletion
• Usage Data: Retained in aggregate form for analytics purposes

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• Industry-standard encryption of sensitive data at rest and in transit
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and testing
• Employee training on data protection
• Incident response procedures
• Compliance with applicable industry security standards

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

7. Your Rights and Choices

All Users

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Cookie Preferences: Manage cookie settings through your browser

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Right to Limit: Limit use of sensitive personal information
• Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: Rookd does not sell your personal information for monetary consideration. To opt out of sharing for targeted advertising purposes, contact us at legal@getrookd.com.

Other U.S. State Rights

Residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia have similar rights under their respective state privacy laws. Contact us to exercise your rights.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

• Email: legal@getrookd.com
• In-app: Settings > Privacy > Data Requests

We will respond to verifiable requests within 45 days (or as required by applicable law).

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect usage information and improve your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Services to function (authentication, security)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our Services
• Advertising Cookies: Used to deliver relevant ads (if applicable)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Services.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at legal@getrookd.com.

11. International Data Transfers

Rookd is based in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)
• Displaying a notice within the Services

Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

For California residents: You may also contact the California Attorney General's office at oag.ca.gov if you have concerns about our privacy practices.