GoCanadaSearch & GoSocial are dedicated to safeguarding your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy details our actual data practices across our website and mobile applications.
Effective Date: September 10, 2026Last Updated: September 10, 2026Jurisdiction: Canada (PIPEDA Compliant)
Key Highlights of Our Data Practices
Account Information: We only collect basic account data (name, email, password) needed to run your account. We never collect payment or credit card details during registration.
Location Privacy: Precise GPS location is requested strictly when you give permission and is used only for real-time Canadian local discovery. We do not track background location.
User Content & Media: Photos and videos are uploaded only when you explicitly grant media permissions to post on community feeds, stories, or update your profile.
No Selling of Data: We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third-party data brokers or advertisers.
Your Right to Delete: You can request full account and data deletion at any time in-app or by emailing privacy@gocanadasearch.ca.
1. GoSocial & GoCanadaSearch Platform Overview
GoCanadaSearch (gocanadasearch.ca) and the GoSocial mobile applications for Android and iOS (collectively, "we", "us", or "our") operate as an integrated Canadian digital ecosystem. Our mission is to connect Canadian residents, newcomers, community groups, and local businesses through community discussions, directory search, housing, jobs, and localized services.
This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and protected when you access our website or download and use the GoSocial mobile application. We operate in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada, applicable provincial privacy statutes, and global mobile application distribution guidelines.
2. Account Information
To access community features, participate in feeds, or save listings, users create an account with our unified platform using GoCanada ID. When you register, we collect:
Full Name: Used to display your identity on your profile and alongside content you post.
Email Address: Used for account creation, one-time password (OTP) verification, critical security notifications, and password recovery.
Optional Phone Number: If provided during registration, used for Canadian verification and account recovery.
Password: Encrypted and cryptographically hashed before storage. We never have access to your plain-text password.
Optional Profile Details: Your bio, location preference (Canadian province and city), and avatar image if you choose to personalize your account.
Actual Practice Note: We do not collect payment card information, financial account numbers, or government identification numbers for consumer account registration.
3. User ID & Account Identifiers
When you register and use the GoSocial mobile app or GoCanadaSearch platform, our system generates and assigns technical account identifiers:
Numerical User ID: An internal database identifier that uniquely links your profile, posts, comments, media, and settings.
Unified GoCanada ID: A single account identifier allowing you to sign in seamlessly across GoCanadaSearch web services and GoSocial mobile apps.
Authentication Bearer Tokens: Secure cryptographic tokens stored locally on your device to maintain your authenticated session with our API without storing your password on the device.
These identifiers are strictly used for application functionality, authentication, session security, and protecting the integrity of user accounts.
4. Precise Location Practices
GoCanadaSearch and GoSocial are location-aware platforms designed to highlight local Canadian businesses, services, community posts, and nearby resources.
Strict Permission-Based Collection
We access and collect your precise GPS location only when you explicitly grant location permission to GoSocial or your web browser:
Nearby Discovery: To calculate distance and sort nearby businesses, EV charging stations, healthcare services, food banks, and housing listings.
Community Posting: To allow you to optionally attach your city or general location to posts or community notices you share.
Search Relevance: To prioritize relevant Canadian regional and municipal search results.
No Background Location Tracking: GoSocial and GoCanadaSearch do not track, collect, or store your continuous background location when the app is closed or in the background. Location access occurs solely while the app or page is active and only when required by a specific user action.
You can adjust, disable, or revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings (iOS Settings > GoSocial > Location, or Android Settings > Apps > GoSocial > Permissions). If you disable location permissions, you can still use GoSocial and manually enter your Canadian city or province.
5. User-Generated Posts & Other User Content
GoSocial provides community sharing, discussion feeds, and interactive features. We collect and process content that you choose to submit:
Community Posts & Stories: Text updates, questions, recommendations, community events, and story captions.
Social Interactions: Likes, reactions, comments, replies, and saved posts.
Direct Messages: Messages sent between GoSocial members. Messages are transmitted securely and delivered only to the intended recipient accounts.
Public posts, comments, and profile information are visible to other members of the community and visitors to the platform. Direct messages remain restricted to conversation participants.
6. Photos and Videos Uploaded by Users
GoSocial allows users to upload visual media to enhance community engagement:
Profile Photos: Avatar pictures chosen by the user to represent their profile.
Post & Story Media: Photos and short video clips uploaded to accompany community posts, stories, or business showcases.
Device Media Permissions
The GoSocial app requests access to your device camera or photo library only when you initiate an upload (e.g. taking a photo or selecting an image/video from your gallery). We do not access your photo gallery or camera without your direct interaction.
Uploaded media is stored securely on our Canadian server storage. You retain rights to media you create and upload, and you may delete your posts and media at any time through the application.
7. How This Information is Used for App Functionality
We process personal information strictly to fulfill legitimate platform purposes and deliver core app features:
Authentication & Account Management: Registering your account, authenticating sign-in, maintaining secure sessions, and verifying email via OTP codes.
Community Feed & Interactivity: Displaying your posts, comments, likes, follower connections, and messaging.
Localized Discovery: Presenting nearby businesses, housing opportunities, Canadian employment listings, and public amenities.
Trust & Platform Safety: Detecting, preventing, and addressing fraud, spam, automated abuse, harassment, or unauthorized access.
Transactional Notifications: Sending critical operational notices such as password reset codes, verification OTPs, and policy updates.
Customer Support: Responding to user inquiries, technical assistance requests, and resolving bug reports.
8. Data Storage and Security
We take appropriate technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or misuse:
Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted between the GoSocial app, website, and our servers is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2/1.3 / HTTPS).
Password Protection: Passwords are protected using strong cryptographic one-way hashing algorithms (such as bcrypt). Plaintext passwords are never stored.
Server Infrastructure: Hosted in secured data center environments with enterprise firewalls, isolated database access, rate-limiting rules, and continuous monitoring.
Retention Period: We retain account data as long as your account is active. When an account deletion request is processed, data is permanently deleted or anonymized according to our deletion policy.
9. User Rights and Choices
In accordance with Canadian privacy standards and applicable laws, you possess the following rights regarding your information:
Access & Review: You can view your profile data, posted content, and account settings directly inside the GoSocial app and web portal.
Correction & Update: You may correct or update your profile name, bio, location, or password at any time via Account Settings.
Revoke Permissions: You may revoke Camera, Photo Library, or Location permissions anytime through your device operating system settings.
Content Management: You can edit or delete your posts, comments, and media within the application.
Account Closure: You have the right to close your account and request complete data deletion at any time.
10. Account & Data Deletion Request Process
We respect your right to be forgotten. In compliance with Google Play, Apple App Store, and Canadian privacy requirements, we provide a clear, accessible process for requesting the permanent deletion of your account and associated personal data.
How to Request Account & Data Deletion:
In-App / Online Self-Service: Log into your account on the web at gocanadasearch.ca/account or within the GoSocial mobile app settings and submit an account deletion request.
Direct Email Request: Send an email from your registered account email address to privacy@gocanadasearch.ca or support@gocanadasearch.ca with the subject line: Account Deletion Request. Please include your registered email address and user name.
Deletion Scope and Timeline
Upon receipt and verification of your deletion request:
Your user account will be deactivated immediately.
Your profile information, name, email address, user ID associations, uploaded photos/videos, posts, and direct messages will be permanently deleted from our active production databases within thirty (30) days.
Residual backup logs are permanently purged in accordance with standard backup rotation cycles, unless retention is legally mandated for fraud prevention, tax, or legal compliance.
11. Third-Party Services
We do not sell, rent, trade, or monetize personal information. We work with limited technical service providers who assist in operating our platform:
Email Service (SMTP): Secure transactional email delivery services used strictly to transmit OTP verification codes and critical account security messages.
Website Analytics: Standard analytics (such as Google Analytics / Tag Manager) on our website to analyze aggregate, non-personally identifiable traffic patterns and optimize platform speed.
Geographic Mapping: Open-source and standard mapping APIs (such as OpenStreetMap) for Canadian municipal coordinate lookups and displaying business locations.
These providers are contractually bound to use your data only to the extent necessary to perform technical functions on our behalf and must maintain confidentiality and security standards consistent with this policy.
12. Children's Privacy
GoCanadaSearch and GoSocial are intended for general adult and young adult audiences aged 13 and older (or the minimum legal age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly solicit, collect, or maintain personal information from children under the age of 13.
If we learn that personal data of a child under 13 has been inadvertently collected without verifiable parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete that account and data from our systems. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided personal information to us may contact us at privacy@gocanadasearch.ca for prompt removal.
13. Changes to the Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect enhancements to GoSocial, newly introduced features, changes in operational practices, or evolving Canadian and international legal requirements.
When updates occur, we will revise the "Effective Date" and "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy page. Any modifications become effective immediately upon posting to https://gocanadasearch.ca/privacy. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
14. Contact Section
If you have questions, comments, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or wish to exercise any of your privacy rights, please contact our dedicated Privacy Officer:
