Privacy Policy
Last updated: 16 March 2026
1. Introduction
Fruugle (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates the website at fruugle.co.za. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services, in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa and other applicable data protection laws.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information from Third-Party Sign-In
When you sign in using Google or Facebook, we receive the following information from the provider:
- Your display name
- Your email address
- Your profile picture URL
- A unique identifier from the sign-in provider
We do not receive or store your password from any sign-in provider.
2.2 Information You Provide
When you use our platform, you may voluntarily provide:
- Consumer reports (product names, store names, descriptions)
- Comments on reports
- Images uploaded as evidence
- Links to relevant product pages or advertisements
2.3 Automatically Collected Information
We automatically collect standard technical information when you visit our website, including your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. This is used for security and to improve our service.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your account
- Display your name alongside reports and comments you submit
- Enable you to vote on and comment on consumer reports
- Improve the platform and develop new features
- Prevent abuse and maintain the security of our service
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. Your information may be shared in the following limited circumstances:
- Public reports: Your display name and profile picture are shown alongside reports and comments you submit. This is a core feature of the platform.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, or other legal process.
- Safety: We may share information to investigate or prevent fraud, abuse, or threats to safety.
5. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on secure servers located in South Africa. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
All data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. We do not store any passwords — authentication is handled entirely by Google and Facebook.
6. Your Rights Under POPIA
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Object to the processing of your personal information
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the email address listed below.
7. Data Retention
We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Reports and comments you submit remain on the platform as part of the public consumer record. If you delete your account, your personal profile information will be removed, but reports you submitted may remain in anonymised form.
8. Cookies
We use essential cookies and local storage to keep you signed in. We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies. Third-party sign-in providers (Google) may set their own cookies as part of the authentication process, subject to their respective privacy policies.
9. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Google Sign-In: For authentication. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
10. Children's Privacy
Our service is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights under POPIA, please contact us at:
Email: teitge.h@gmail.com
Information Officer: Heinrich Teitge