Privacy Policy for HAVAL Taxi & HAVAL Taxi Driver
Connex / HAVAL Online Taxi ("HAVAL", "we", "us", or "our") operates the HAVAL Taxi passenger application and the HAVAL Taxi Driver application. This Privacy Policy directly governs the collection, use, maintenance, disclosure, and protection of information gathered from users and drivers of our mobile applications and related transportation services.
By downloading, accessing, or using either HAVAL Taxi or HAVAL Taxi Driver, you acknowledge and agree to the data collection and usage practices described in this Privacy Policy.
📍 Prominent Disclosure: Location Data & Background Tracking
In compliance with Google Play Developer Policies, this section provides an explicit disclosure regarding how location data is collected, used, and processed:
1. What Location Data is Collected:
Our applications collect precise location data (GPS and network-based coordinates) as well as approximate location data from your mobile device.
2. Why Location Data is Collected (Core Purposes):
Location data is strictly required to power core dispatch, safety, and transportation features:
- Trip Routing & Navigation: Providing turn-by-turn navigation and optimal route guidance to pickup locations and passenger destinations.
- Nearby Driver Matching & Dispatch: Identifying and matching nearby available drivers to incoming passenger ride requests based on real-time geographical proximity.
- Live Active Trip Tracking: Allowing passengers and dispatch operators to track the live position of the vehicle in real time for safety, transparency, and accurate Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) updates.
- Fare Calculation: Accurately calculating trip distance, duration, and metered fares in Iraqi Dinar (IQD).
- Service Area Verification: Confirming that the trip originates and operates within our authorized service area (Sulaymaniyah).
3. Background Location Collection (HAVAL Taxi Driver App Only):
FOR DRIVERS (com.connex.havaltaxidriver): The HAVAL Taxi Driver app collects precise location data EVEN WHEN THE APP IS CLOSED, RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND, OR WHEN THE SCREEN IS LOCKED, but ONLY while the driver's status is toggled to "Online".
Why background location is essential for drivers: While on shift, drivers frequently switch to third-party navigation apps (e.g., Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze) or lock their device on a dashboard mount. Continuous background location updates (transmitted every 7 seconds via a foreground notification service) ensure that our automated dispatch system can continuously assign incoming nearby ride requests to the driver, maintain live vehicle tracking on the customer's map, and compute accurate arrival ETAs without interruption.
How to stop background tracking: Background location collection stops immediately the moment the driver taps "Go Offline" or logs out of the app.
4. Passenger Location Collection (HAVAL Taxi App):
FOR PASSENGERS (com.connex.havaltaxi): Location data is collected ONLY while the application is open in the foreground on your screen to help you select pickup points, choose destinations, and view nearby available taxis. We do NOT track passenger location in the background when the app is closed.
1. Other Personal Information We Collect
In addition to location data, we collect the following categories of information:
A. Account & Profile Information
- Passengers: Full name, mobile phone number, preferred language (Central Kurdish / Sorani, Arabic, English), and optional profile photo.
- Drivers: Full name, verified mobile phone number, national identity details, profile avatar/photo, driver's license details, vehicle make/model, year, color, license plate number, and vehicle registration documents for mandatory regulatory verification.
B. Trip & Transaction Details
- Complete record of ride requests, accepted bookings, completed trips, cancelled rides, pickup/destination addresses, timestamps, distance traveled, waiting times, and total fares in Iraqi Dinar (IQD).
- Payment method selected (Cash on delivery, First Iraqi Bank / FIB electronic payment, or FastPay digital wallet). Note: HAVAL does not store credit card numbers, debit card PINs, or banking passwords on our servers. All digital transactions are processed through authorized payment gateways.
- Driver wallet balances, active commission percentage deals, and payout transaction history.
C. Device & Technical Information
- Device model, manufacturer, operating system version, unique device identifiers, network connection type, and crash diagnostics.
- Push Notification Tokens: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) tokens to deliver time-sensitive operational alerts (e.g., incoming ride requests for drivers, driver arrival notifications for riders, and scheduled ride reminders).
D. Camera & Media Storage Access
- Accessed only when explicitly authorized by the user to upload a profile avatar or capture required driver/vehicle documentation. We never access your photo library or camera in the background.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal and location data strictly to provide, maintain, and enhance our services:
- Fulfilling on-demand ride requests and advance scheduled bookings.
- Facilitating direct communication between passenger and driver via in-app chat, direct telephone calls, or WhatsApp for pickup coordination.
- Ensuring safety, verifying driver eligibility, preventing fraudulent transactions, and complying with local transport regulations.
- Providing prompt customer support, handling lost items, and resolving fare inquiries.
3. Information Sharing & Third-Party Services
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties or advertising brokers. Data is only shared in the following scenarios:
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Between Passengers and Drivers: During an active trip, the assigned driver is provided with the passenger's name, pickup/drop-off points, and contact phone number. The passenger is provided with the driver's name, photo, vehicle details, license plate number, star rating, and live moving vehicle position.
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Technical Service Providers:
- Google Maps Platform (Google LLC): For map visualization, geocoding addresses, and route calculation.
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google LLC): For real-time push notification delivery.
- First Iraqi Bank (FIB) & FastPay: For processing authorized digital payments.
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Legal & Safety Compliance: We may disclose information if required by applicable law, court order, or official law enforcement request to protect user safety or defend legal rights.
4. Data Security & Retention
- Encryption: All communication between our mobile apps and our backend infrastructure is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols (HTTPS and WSS).
- Storage: Authentication tokens are stored securely using encrypted on-device storage (Android Keystore / iOS Keychain).
- Retention: We retain your account and ride history for as long as your account remains active. Transaction records are retained as required by applicable commercial and tax laws.
5. User Rights & Account Deletion Policy
You have full control over your personal data:
6. Children's Privacy
Our services are not intended for children under 13 years of age (and vehicle operation is restricted to licensed drivers 18 years and older). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
7. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may periodically update this Privacy Policy. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
8. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us: