KVKK Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice has been prepared by the data controller operating the Gezginsel platform, pursuant to our disclosure obligation under Article 10 of the Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (“KVKK”). Its purpose is to inform you about the purposes for which and the legal grounds on which your personal data is processed, to whom it may be transferred, how it is collected, how long it is retained, and what rights you have as a data subject.
1. Data Controller
Your personal data is processed in accordance with the KVKK and related legislation by the platform owner (“Gezginsel” or the “data controller”) that operates the website, mobile app and associated digital services offered under the “Gezginsel” brand. Up-to-date contact details for the data controller are set out in the “Applications and Contact” section of this notice.
2. Personal Data Processed
Depending on how you use the Platform and the consents you have given, the following categories of personal data may be processed:
Identity and profile information: name/display name, username, date of birth/age, gender, profile photo, biography, interests and travel preferences.
Contact information: email address and telephone number (if any).
Location information: city/location information, if you choose to share it; and, for security and legal record-keeping purposes, an approximate country/region/city derived from the IP address.
Preference and localisation information: interface language, device region (country) and time zone.
User content: the posts, photos, memories, travel notes, event descriptions, comments, reviews and messages you share.
Transaction and usage information: records of event creation/participation, matches, likes, follows, Gezo points, badges and in-app interactions.
Transaction security information: IP address, device and session information, access and log records (including traffic data within the scope of Law No. 5651).
Payment and subscription information: for Plus membership or paid service purchases, transaction verification information, since payment is carried out through the app stores/payment infrastructure (your card details are not stored by Gezginsel).
3. Purposes of Processing Personal Data
Your personal data is processed for the purposes of creating and managing your membership record, providing your profile and the Services, enabling communication between members, creating events and trip plans, providing interest-based recommendations and matches, operating Gezo points/badges and Plus membership features, enabling the Services to be provided according to your language, your device region and your time zone (notification language, refreshing daily content at your local time), and carrying out customer support and notifications.
It is also processed for the purposes of ensuring the security of the Platform, preventing fraud and misuse, protecting child safety, detecting spam and unwanted content, moderating content, measuring and improving service quality, operating paid services, and fulfilling obligations arising from applicable legislation and requests from competent authorities.
4. Legal Grounds for Processing
Your personal data is processed on the following legal grounds within the scope of Articles 5 and 6 of the KVKK:
Where processing is directly related to the establishment or performance of a contract (establishing the Membership Agreement and providing the Services).
Where the data controller must fulfil a legal obligation (retention, notification and response obligations arising from legislation).
Where processing is mandatory for the establishment, exercise or protection of a right.
Where processing is necessary for the legitimate interests of the data controller, provided that it does not harm the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject (Platform security, fraud prevention, service improvement).
Where you have given your Explicit Consent: for location sharing, for sending Commercial Electronic Messages (campaigns/marketing) and in other cases where legislation requires Explicit Consent. For processing based on Explicit Consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.
5. Transfer of Personal Data
Limited to the purposes set out above and in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the KVKK, your personal data may be shared with suppliers providing hosting/cloud infrastructure, email and push notification delivery, payment infrastructure, analytics and security services. Since some of these service providers may have servers located abroad, your data may be transferred abroad provided that the necessary security and legal conditions are met.
In addition, transfers may be made within the scope of duly submitted requests from competent public institutions and organisations and judicial/administrative authorities as required by applicable legislation, limited solely to the data requested. Your data is not sold to third parties for marketing purposes without your permission.
6. Method of Collecting Personal Data
Your personal data is collected electronically, by fully or partly automated means, through membership and profile creation forms, the actions you take and the content you share via the App/web, cookies and similar technologies, and security and log systems.
7. Retention Period
Your personal data is retained for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it is processed and for the minimum retention periods prescribed by applicable legislation (for example, traffic/log records within the scope of Law No. 5651 and financial legislation). Where the period expires or the purpose of processing ceases to exist, your data is deleted, destroyed or anonymised. If you close your Account, your data is deleted or anonymised, without prejudice to legal retention obligations and technical/security records.
8. Your Rights as a Data Subject
Pursuant to Article 11 of the KVKK, you may exercise the following rights by applying to the data controller:
To learn whether your personal data is being processed and, if so, to request information about it.
To learn the purpose of processing and whether the data is used in accordance with that purpose.
To know the third parties in Türkiye or abroad to whom the data is transferred.
To request the correction of data that has been processed incompletely or incorrectly.
To request the erasure or destruction of the data within the conditions prescribed by the KVKK and related legislation.
To request that correction, erasure and destruction operations be notified to the third parties to whom the data has been transferred.
To object to an outcome that is to your detriment arising from the analysis of the processed data exclusively by automated systems.
To claim compensation for damage if you suffer loss due to the unlawful processing of personal data.
9. Applications and Contact
You may submit requests relating to your rights as a data subject through the support channels within the App or by writing to [email protected]. Your request will be concluded within the periods prescribed by the KVKK and related legislation. In order for your application to be assessed, you must provide information verifying your identity and state your request clearly.
10. Cookies
Cookies and similar technologies may be used on the Platform for the purposes of session security, authentication, remembering preferences, performance measurement, security and service improvement. Details on cookies are explained in the Cookie Policy; you can manage your cookie preferences through your browser/device settings.
11. Children’s Data
Gezginsel provides its Services only to Users aged 18 and over. It is prohibited for persons under the age of 18 to become members of the Platform and to share their personal data. The accounts of Users found to be under the age of 18 are closed and their data is deleted in accordance with the applicable legislation.
12. Changes to this Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice may be updated from time to time in line with changes in legislation or updates to the Services. The current text enters into force on the date it is published on the Platform; in the case of material changes, notice may be given by reasonable means.