This Privacy Policy explains how your data is collected and used when you use TLC Drivers Hub. We are an independent platform and not affiliated with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us and information we gather automatically when you use our Service.
1.1 Information You Provide
| Data Type |
Examples |
Purpose |
| Account Information |
Email address, username, password |
Account creation and authentication |
| Profile Information |
Display name, bio, profile picture, driving experience |
Social features and community interaction |
| Communication Data |
Messages, posts, comments in chat rooms |
Platform functionality and community features |
| Calculator Usage |
Trip distances, times, fare calculations |
Earnings estimation and app improvement |
| Marketplace Activity |
Rental listings, equipment sales, inquiries |
Marketplace functionality and user matching |
| Preferences |
Notification settings, privacy choices |
Service customization and user experience |
1.2 Information We Collect Automatically
- Usage Data: How you interact with our app, features used, time spent, chat participation
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version, unique device identifiers
- Location Data: General location (borough level) for relevant marketplace listings and community features
- Log Data: IP address, access times, error logs, performance data
- Analytics Data: App performance, crash reports, user engagement metrics, feature usage
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
2.1 Core Service Provision
- Create and maintain your user account and driver profile
- Enable social features like chat rooms, following, and mentions
- Provide earnings calculator functionality using NYC TLC rates
- Facilitate vehicle rental and equipment marketplace features
- Deliver personalized content and relevant marketplace listings
- Process and respond to your requests and inquiries
2.2 Community Features
- Enable social features like chat rooms, following, and mentions
- Facilitate vehicle rental and equipment marketplace features
- Deliver personalized content and relevant marketplace listings
- Process and respond to your requests and inquiries
- Maintain community safety and prevent abuse
2.3 Communication and Notifications
- Send account-related notifications and important updates
- Notify you of new marketplace listings matching your interests
- Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
- Send community updates and platform announcements
- Deliver mentions and messages from other drivers
2.4 Improvement and Analytics
- Analyze usage patterns to improve driver-focused features
- Optimize earnings calculator accuracy and functionality
- Develop new features based on community needs
- Optimize app performance and user experience
- Conduct research on NYC driver community trends
3. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We only share your information in the limited circumstances described below.
3.1 Public Information
Certain information is public by design within the driver community:
- Your username and public profile information
- All posts and comments you make in chat rooms (visible to all authenticated users)
- Your rental and equipment listings in the marketplace
- Your follower/following relationships (if set to public)
Important: All chat room conversations are public and visible to any authenticated user of the platform. Do not share sensitive personal information in chat rooms.
3.2 Service Providers
We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our Service:
- Cloud Infrastructure: Firebase (Google) for backend services, authentication, and secure data storage
- Analytics: Google Analytics for app usage insights and performance monitoring
- Customer Support: Support platform providers for user assistance
- Email Services: Email delivery providers for notifications and communications
3.3 Legal Requirements and Safety
We may disclose your information if required by law or to ensure community safety:
- In response to valid legal requests and court orders
- To protect the safety of our users and community
- To prevent fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms of Service
4. Data Security and Protection
Security Measures: We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data and maintain platform integrity.
4.1 Technical Safeguards
- Firebase Security: We use Google Firebase for secure data storage with built-in security features
- Data Transmission: All data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS/TLS
- Access Controls: Strict access controls and authentication for internal systems
- Regular Security Audits: Regular security assessments and monitoring
- Secure Infrastructure: Enterprise-grade cloud security through Google Cloud Platform
4.2 Operational Safeguards
- Employee training on data protection and user privacy requirements
- Limited access to personal data on a strict need-to-know basis
- Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures
- Secure development practices with code reviews and testing
- Compliance with applicable data protection regulations
5. Your Privacy Rights and Choices
You have several rights regarding your personal information:
5.1 Account Management
- Access: View and download your personal data
- Update: Modify your profile and account settings
- Delete: Delete your account and associated data
- Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
5.2 Privacy Controls
- Control visibility of your profile and activity
- Manage notification preferences for marketplace and community updates
- Block or report other users
- Opt out of marketing communications
- Control location sharing for marketplace features
5.3 Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and comply with legal obligations. When you delete your account:
- Your profile and personal data are permanently deleted within 30 days
- Chat messages remain visible in the community as they are public conversations, but your account association is removed
- Marketplace listings are removed immediately
- Some data may be retained longer for legal, safety, or fraud prevention reasons
Chat Message Retention: Since all chat conversations are public community discussions, messages may remain visible even after account deletion to maintain conversation continuity for other users.
6. Third-Party Services and Integrations
6.1 Firebase (Google)
We use Firebase for all our backend services, including:
- User authentication and secure account management
- Database storage for user profiles, chat messages, and marketplace listings
- Real-time features for chat and community updates
- Cloud storage for user-uploaded images and content
- Push notifications for community updates
- Analytics and performance monitoring
All user data is stored in Firebase's secure database infrastructure. Firebase's privacy practices are governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
6.2 Rate Information
Our earnings calculator uses publicly available NYC TLC rate information. We access this data from public sources and do not maintain direct connections with TLC systems or databases.
6.3 Analytics Services
We use analytics services to understand how drivers use our platform:
- Google Analytics for mobile apps (driver usage patterns)
- Firebase Analytics for feature engagement
- Crash reporting tools for app stability and performance
7. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers, including:
- Google Cloud Platform's global security standards
- Standard contractual clauses for international transfers
- Compliance with applicable data protection frameworks
8. Children's Privacy
TLC Drivers Hub is intended for professional drivers who must be at least 18 years old to hold a NYC TLC license. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
9. 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 "Last updated" date
- Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)
- Providing in-app notifications
- Posting announcements in the community chat for policy changes affecting drivers
10. Regional Privacy Rights
10.1 California Residents (CCPA)
California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know, delete, and opt-out of the sale of personal information.
10.2 New York Residents
As a New York-based service for NYC drivers, we comply with applicable New York State privacy laws and regulations.
10.3 European Users (GDPR)
Users in the European Economic Area have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, and data portability.
11. Platform Independence
TLC Drivers Hub operates as an independent platform and maintains the following principles:
- We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
- We do not verify user compliance with TLC regulations
- We do not report user activities to regulatory agencies
- Users are individually responsible for their regulatory compliance
- We provide platform services only and do not offer regulatory guidance
12. Contact Us About Privacy