Privacy Policy

At Go To Eat, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your data when you interact with our website, https://gotoeat.net, mobile applications, or any other online services provided by Go To Eat (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our Services.

We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy carefully and contact us with any questions at [email protected]. This policy complies with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other relevant regulations.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide, improve, and personalize our Services, which connect food enthusiasts with restaurants across the United States. The types of information we collect depend on how you interact with our Services and are categorized as follows:

a. Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you voluntarily provide when using our Services, including:

  • Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, password, and any optional details you provide, such as dietary preferences or favorite cuisines. This information enables you to access personalized features like saved restaurants or tailored recommendations.

  • Profile Information: You may enhance your profile with additional details, such as a profile picture, phone number, or dining preferences, to customize your experience.

  • Reviews and Ratings: When you submit restaurant reviews or ratings, we collect the content you provide, including text, star ratings, and any associated metadata (e.g., timestamp or restaurant name).

  • Communications: If you contact us via email, contact forms, or other channels, we collect the information you share, such as your message content, attachments, or contact details. For example, inquiries sent to [email protected] are stored to address your requests.

  • User-Generated Content: Any other content you submit, such as comments on blog posts or participation in promotions, may be collected to enhance community engagement.

b. Information We Collect Automatically

When you use our Services, we automatically collect certain data to optimize functionality and user experience, including:

  • Usage Information: We track your interactions with our Services, such as pages visited, search queries, time spent on pages, and click patterns. This helps us understand user preferences and improve site performance.

  • Device Information: We collect details about the devices you use to access our Services, including hardware model, operating system version, browser type, IP address, unique device identifiers, and mobile network data (if applicable). This ensures compatibility and security.

  • Location Information: If you enable location services, we may collect approximate or precise location data via GPS, Wi-Fi, or IP address. This allows us to recommend nearby restaurants or tailor content to your region. You can disable location tracking in your device settings.

  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance functionality, analyze trends, and deliver personalized content. Cookies may store session data, preferences, or analytics identifiers. See Section 4(d) for details on managing cookies.

c. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party sources to enhance our Services, including:

  • Social Media Platforms: If you sign in or link your Go To Eat account with a social media platform (e.g., Facebook, Google), we may collect information such as your name, email, or profile picture, subject to the platform’s privacy settings.

  • Business Partners: We may receive data from restaurant partners, payment processors, or marketing affiliates to improve recommendations or process transactions. For example, a partner may share reservation details to confirm bookings.

  • Analytics Providers: We work with third-party analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics) to collect aggregated data about user behavior, which helps us optimize our Services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to operate, enhance, and secure our Services while respecting your privacy. Our primary uses include:

a. Providing and Improving Our Services

  • Service Delivery: Operate and maintain our website and apps, including account management, restaurant searches, and reservation processing.

  • Personalization: Customize your experience by recommending restaurants based on your location, preferences, or past interactions.

  • Transaction Processing: Facilitate bookings, payments, or promotional offers and send confirmations or receipts.

  • Service Enhancements: Analyze user feedback and usage patterns to improve features, fix bugs, and develop new functionalities.

  • Notifications: Send technical alerts, service updates, or security notices to keep you informed.

b. Communicating with You

  • Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries, comments, or complaints, ensuring timely and effective assistance.

  • Marketing and Updates: Share newsletters, promotional offers, or dining trend updates, subject to your consent or opt-in preferences. You can unsubscribe at any time (see Section 4(b)).

  • Engagement: Notify you about new restaurant listings, community events, or user-generated content opportunities.

c. Analyzing and Understanding Our Users

  • Trend Analysis: Study usage trends, such as popular cuisines or peak booking times, to enhance content relevance.

  • Performance Monitoring: Evaluate the effectiveness of our Services, marketing campaigns, or partnerships through aggregated analytics.

  • Research and Development: Conduct studies to innovate and refine our platform, ensuring it meets user needs.

d. Protecting Our Services and Users

  • Fraud Prevention: Detect and prevent fraudulent activities, such as fake reviews or unauthorized account access, using automated tools and manual reviews.

  • Security: Safeguard our platform and users by monitoring for suspicious activity and protecting intellectual property.

  • Legal Compliance: Ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.

3. Sharing Your Information

We share your information only in specific circumstances, ensuring transparency and compliance with data protection laws:

a. With Your Consent

  • We may share your information with third parties when you explicitly consent, such as opting to share your review publicly or linking your account to a social media platform for cross-posting.

b. With Service Providers

  • We engage trusted third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf, such as:

    • Payment Processing: Securely handling transactions through providers like Stripe or PayPal.

    • Data Analytics: Using tools like Google Analytics to analyze user behavior.

    • Email Delivery: Sending emails via services like Mailchimp.

    • Hosting Services: Storing data on secure cloud servers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud).

    • Customer Support: Managing inquiries through ticketing systems.

  • These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

c. For Legal Reasons

  • We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to a court order, subpoena, or regulatory request.

  • We may also share data to enforce our Terms of Service, protect our rights, or prevent illegal activities, such as fraud or intellectual property violations.

d. Business Transfers

  • In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred to a successor entity, subject to applicable data protection laws. We will notify you of such changes and your options.

e. Aggregated or Anonymized Data

  • We may share aggregated or anonymized data (e.g., usage statistics) with partners or publicly for research, marketing, or industry reports. This data does not identify you personally.

4. Your Choices and Rights

We empower you to control your personal information through the following options:

a. Account Information

  • You can update, correct, or delete your account details at any time by logging into your Go To Eat account and accessing the profile settings.

  • To request account deletion, contact us at [email protected]. We will process your request within 30 days, subject to legal obligations to retain certain data.

b. Marketing Communications

  • You may opt out of promotional emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email or contacting us at [email protected].

  • Note: Opting out of promotional communications does not affect transactional or service-related messages, such as booking confirmations or account alerts.

c. Location Information

  • You can disable location tracking by adjusting your device settings (e.g., turning off GPS or location permissions for our app). This may limit location-based features, such as nearby restaurant recommendations.

d. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

  • Most browsers accept cookies by default. You can modify your browser settings to reject or delete cookies, but this may affect the functionality of our Services (e.g., staying logged in).

  • To opt out of interest-based advertising, visit www.aboutads.info/choices or www.networkadvertising.org/choices.

  • For more details, review our Cookie Policy on our website.

e. Data Rights (GDPR/CCPA Compliance)

  • If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or California, you may have additional rights, including:

    • Access: Request a copy of your personal data.

    • Rectification: Correct inaccurate data.

    • Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal exceptions.

    • Restriction: Limit how we process your data.

    • Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format.

    • Objection: Object to certain data processing, such as marketing.

  • To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days (or 45 days for CCPA requests, if extended).

5. Security

We prioritize the security of your personal information and implement industry-standard measures to protect against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include:

  • Encryption: Using SSL/TLS for data transmission and encrypting sensitive data at rest.

  • Access Controls: Restricting employee and contractor access to your data on a need-to-know basis.

  • Regular Audits: Conducting security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities.

  • Secure Vendors: Partnering with reputable service providers who adhere to strict security standards.

While we strive to protect your data, no system is completely secure. If you suspect unauthorized account activity, contact us immediately at [email protected].

6. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 13 years of age (or 16 in certain jurisdictions, per GDPR). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under these age thresholds. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected such data, we will promptly delete it. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

7. International Data Transfers

Go To Eat operates in the United States, and your data may be stored and processed on servers located in the U.S. or other countries. If you access our Services from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to jurisdictions with different data protection laws. We ensure such transfers comply with applicable regulations (e.g., GDPR’s Standard Contractual Clauses) and implement safeguards to protect your information.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make material changes, we will notify you by:

  • Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy.

  • Posting a notice on our website’s homepage.

  • Sending an email or in-app notification for significant changes.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed. Continued use of our Services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out to our dedicated team:

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Response Time: We aim to respond within 24-48 hours during business days (Monday–Friday, excluding U.S. holidays).

For California residents exercising CCPA rights or EEA residents exercising GDPR rights, please include “CCPA Request” or “GDPR Request” in your email subject line for faster processing.

10. Additional Information

  • Do Not Track: Our Services do not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, as there is no industry-standard protocol. However, you can manage tracking via cookie settings (see Section 4(d)).

  • Third-Party Links: Our Services may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., restaurant sites or social media). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before sharing information.

  • Data Retention: We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. For example, account data is retained while your account is active, and certain records (e.g., transaction logs) may be kept for legal compliance.

Thank you for trusting Go To Eat with your personal information. We are dedicated to providing a secure, transparent, and enjoyable dining discovery experience. For more details, visit https://gotoeat.net.