Walkmates – Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 06 June 2025
Last Updated: 31 January 2026

Walkmates.com (“Walkmates”, “the platform”) is operated by Ninvoice Limited (“we”, “us”, “our”).

We believe in transparency. This policy sets out exactly what data we collect, how we use it, how long we keep it, and where responsibility sits. We do not pretend to offer controls we do not provide, and we do not guarantee deletion where retention is legitimate or necessary.

By using Walkmates, you acknowledge and agree to the data practices described in this policy.

1. Scope & Acknowledgement

This policy applies to all users of Walkmates, whether registered or not.

You acknowledge and agree that:

We may collect, store, analyse, and use data relating to you
Some data may be retained long-term or indefinitely
Some data may remain even if you close your account
Absolute security, availability, or deletion cannot be guaranteed

This policy has been effective from the date shown above.
Any updates or revisions form part of the same policy and apply immediately once published on Walkmates.

If you do not agree, you must not use the platform.

2. What Data We Collect

We may collect and process any of the following data, either automatically, directly from you, or via third parties.

Identity & Profile Data

Name, username, email address
Year of birth
Profile text, photos, preferences
Approximate location (e.g. town or region)

Content You Submit

Walks, routes, and descriptions
Photos, comments, messages, reactions, and “Ghosts”
Any other content you upload or generate on the platform

Behaviour & Usage Data

Pages visited, features used, clicks, scrolls, and interactions
Time spent on pages or features
Search queries and filters used

Device & Technical Data

IP address
Browser type and version
Operating system
Screen size and capabilities
Device identifiers
Battery state (for example, to reduce location update frequency during active walks)

Location Data

Approximate location inferred from IP
Precise location data, where explicitly enabled by you

Third-Party Data

Social login providers (e.g. identity tokens, profile basics)
Analytics, monitoring, and moderation providers
Advertising or attribution partners

Other Data

Any information you choose to provide, intentionally or otherwise
Derived or inferred data created by us based on your activity

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your data to operate, maintain, improve, and grow Walkmates.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Providing core platform functionality
Personalising content and experiences
Understanding usage patterns and performance
Moderating content and enforcing rules
Detecting abuse, fraud, or misuse
Developing, testing, and improving features
Training, evaluating, and enhancing automated or AI-driven systems
Marketing, promotions, offers, and advertising (where permitted)
Producing anonymised or aggregated insights for public or partner use

Put simply: we use your data to run and grow Walkmates, including technical, commercial, analytical, and social uses.

4. Automated Processing & AI

We may use automated systems, including machine learning and AI-based tools, to:

Moderate content
Detect spam, abuse, or unsafe behaviour
Rank, recommend, or personalise content
Analyse usage patterns
Support product development

These systems may process user-generated content and behavioural data. Decisions with legal or similarly significant effects are not made solely by automated means.

5. Who We Share Data With

We may share data with:

Service Providers

Including hosting, infrastructure, analytics, moderation, security, messaging, and notification providers.

Partners

Including technical, commercial, content, advertising, attribution, or research partners (typically using aggregated or anonymised data).

Legal & Regulatory Bodies

Where required by law or reasonably necessary to protect users, the platform, or our legal interests.

Other Users

Profile information, walk listings, and public content you choose to share.

We do not guarantee anonymity where you publish content publicly.

6. International Transfers

Your data may be processed or stored outside the UK or EEA.

Where this occurs, we rely on appropriate safeguards, including adequacy decisions, Standard Contractual Clauses, or equivalent lawful transfer mechanisms.

7. Data Retention

We retain data indefinitely by default, unless:

You request deletion and
We are legally required to comply

Even where deletion is requested or granted:

Public content may remain visible
Historical records may persist
Backups, logs, analytics, or derived data may be retained
Data may remain where necessary to preserve platform integrity, legal compliance, or legitimate interests

We do not guarantee complete or immediate erasure.

8. Data Security & Loss

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect data.

However, you acknowledge and accept that:

No system is completely secure
Data may be lost, corrupted, delayed, duplicated, or accessed without authorisation
Failures may occur due to software bugs, infrastructure issues, attacks, maintenance, or third-party services

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ninvoice Limited accepts no liability for data loss or corruption.

You are responsible for keeping your own copies of any data you consider important.

9. Your Rights (UK GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, you may have the right to:

Request access to your personal data
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion (Right to Erasure), subject to lawful limitations
Object to certain processing, including marketing
Request restriction of processing
Lodge a complaint with the ICO

We may refuse or limit requests where legally permitted, including where necessary to preserve platform integrity, protect other users, maintain public or historical records, comply with legal obligations, or exercise legitimate interests.

10. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data on the following legal bases:

Consent – where explicitly provided
Contract – to deliver the services you use
Legitimate Interests – operating, securing, improving, and growing Walkmates
Legal Obligation – where required by law

11. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Enable essential site functionality
Recognise users between visits
Analyse usage and performance
Improve relevance and experience
Support marketing or advertising (where consented)

Essential cookies are used by default.
For non-essential cookies, we seek consent where required.

12. Contact Details

For privacy-related questions or requests:

Email: [email protected]

Postal Address:
Ninvoice Limited
3rd Floor, 86–90 Paul Street
London, EC2A 4NE
United Kingdom

Company Number: 08186678

13. Changes to This Policy

This policy has been effective from the original effective date stated above.

Any updates or revisions form part of the same policy and take effect immediately once published on Walkmates. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Privacy Policy