WalkFriends - Personal Data Protection Disclosure Text

Effective Date: (23/02/2026)

Data Controller: WalkFriends Mobile Application (WalkFriends)

Contact: team@walkfriends.app

1. About the Data Controller

In accordance with the Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (KVKK), the WalkFriends mobile application is the entity responsible for the processing of your personal data. This text has been prepared to inform you about the purposes for which personal data obtained within the scope of the application is processed, with whom it is shared, and your legal rights.

2. Processed Personal Data

The following types of data may be processed within the scope of the application:

• Identity and contact data: name, surname, e-mail, age, username, profile photo.
• Location data: real-time and historical location, walking routes, distance, and duration information.
• Activity/Health-related data: step count, heart rate, walking pace, Google Fit, and Apple Health data.
• Device and technical data: IP address, device model, operating system, application usage logs, cookie information.
• Social data: friend list, message contents, activity history, preferences.
• Other data provided by the user: uploaded photos, comments, shared posts.

The application accesses Google Fit and Apple Health data temporarily only with user consent; this data is not stored or processed on WalkFriends servers in any way. The data is only displayed to the user and is not shared with third parties.

3. Purposes of Processing Personal Data

Your data is processed for:

• Carrying out the application membership process,
• Recording walking routes and enabling social interactions,
• Ensuring integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Google Maps services,
• Personalizing the user experience and providing recommendations,
• Ensuring in-app security, error detection, and prevention of abuse,
• Performance and statistical analysis,
• Responding to support requests,
• Fulfilling legal obligations,
• Sending marketing or information messages (only with your explicit consent).

4. Method and Legal Basis for Data Collection

Your personal data is collected through automatic or semi-automatic methods via application registration forms, device permissions, and third-party services (Google, Apple, etc.). The legal grounds for processing activities within the framework of KVKK provisions are: performance of a contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, and explicit consent in specific cases.

5. Transfer of Personal Data

Your data may be shared with necessary third parties, including Google LLC, Apple Inc., Firebase, Analytics, and map services, as well as domestic or international cloud systems from which server services are received, and legal authorities. Since the application infrastructure utilizes international services, the transfer of your data abroad is possible.

6. Retention Period

Your personal data is stored for the duration of your application membership or for the period required by relevant legislation; upon expiration of the period, it is securely deleted, destroyed, or anonymized.

7. Your Rights

Under Article 11 of the KVKK, you have the following rights:

• To learn whether your personal data is being processed,
• To request information if processed,
• To learn the purpose of processing,
• To request correction of incorrect/incomplete data,
• To request deletion or destruction of data,
• To learn the third parties to whom data is transferred,
• To demand compensation for damages due to unlawful processing.

You can submit your requests regarding your rights to team@walkfriends.app in a manner that verifies your identity.

8. Data Security

While WalkFriends takes reasonable technical and administrative measures, it cannot be held responsible for breaches originating from third-party systems. The user accepts that they share their data of their own free will and have granted the necessary permissions.

9. Updates

This Disclosure Text may be updated in accordance with legislative changes or systemic requirements. The current version will be published at https://walkfriends.app/kvkk.

ANNEX – EULA / Terms of Use

The following additional provisions have been added as mandatory for compliance with App Store Guideline 1.2 – User Generated Content.

10. End User License Agreement (EULA)

By using the WalkFriends application, you are deemed to have accepted the following conditions:

• You must provide accurate and up-to-date information to become a member of the application.
• WalkFriends reserves the right to suspend or close the user account when deemed necessary.
• The user is solely responsible for the content shared via the application.
• The application reserves the right to make necessary changes to the services provided.

11. User Generated Content (UGC)

In the application, users may:

• send messages,
• create events,
• share photos/locations,
• edit profile information.

The user is entirely responsible for this content.

12. Prohibited Behaviors

Users may not create or share the following content:

• Violence, threats, harassment, hate speech
• Pornography, nudity, obscene content
• Copyright infringement
• Spam, fraud, fake accounts
• Racism, discrimination, political propaganda
• Illegal activities or solicitation
• Content that violates the privacy of other users

If these behaviors are detected, the account will be terminated immediately.

13. Content Filtering and Moderation

WalkFriends uses automated and manual filtering methods to detect inappropriate content. Content reported by users is reviewed within a maximum of 24 hours.

14. User Complaint / Reporting Mechanism

Users can report inappropriate content via the in-app "Report" button or via the team@walkfriends.app email address. WalkFriends reviews the reported content, removes it if necessary, and blocks the relevant user.

15. Blocking Users

Users can block other users who exhibit disturbing, threatening, or spam behavior via the Profile → Block section.

16. Termination of Account

Accounts may be permanently closed in the following cases:

• Sharing inappropriate content
• Harassment or abuse
• Security breaches
• Violation of community guidelines

17. Disclaimer

Content shared by users is the responsibility of the content owner, not WalkFriends.
WalkFriends cannot be held responsible for the communication and interaction that users have among themselves.

18. Google Play – IARC Age Rating and Content Disclosure

The WalkFriends application has been subject to age rating via Google Play under the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system.

The application contains User Generated Content (UGC) where users can interact with each other, message, create events, and share content (photos, location, comments, etc.).

As per IARC rules, WalkFriends implements the following measures:

• Sharing of inappropriate, harmful, or age-inappropriate content is prohibited.
• Posts containing violence, sexual content, hate speech, illegal activities, and harassment are blocked.
• Users can report inappropriate content from within the application or via e-mail.
• Reported content is reviewed within 24 hours at the latest and necessary action is taken.
• In case of repeated violations, the user account may be suspended or permanently closed.

The content provided within the application is not pre-created by WalkFriends; the responsibility for the content belongs to the user who shares it.

WalkFriends undertakes to provide services in accordance with IARC age rating criteria and Google Play Developer Program Policies.

I have read, understood, and accepted the Personal Data Protection Disclosure Text.