The Ground Privacy Policy
Last Updated: December 8, 2025
Welcome to The Ground ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our community members using our social sports and wellness platform, theground.io, and our upcoming mobile applications (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using our Services, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. This policy is designed to comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO) of Hong Kong.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information that identifies you personally as well as data regarding your usage of the platform to help connect you with the right sports communities and events in Hong Kong.
A. Personal Data You Provide to Us
- Account Registration: Name, email address, phone number, and password.
- Profile Information: Profile photos, bio, gender, date of birth, and sports/wellness interests (e.g., "Basketball," "Hiking").
- Event Data: RSVP history, events hosted, community memberships, and participation feedback.
- Payment Information: If you are an organizer or purchasing a ticket, our third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe) may collect financial information. The Ground does not store your full credit card details.
B. Information Collected Automatically
- Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers (for the upcoming App).
- Location Data: With your explicit permission, we collect location data to help you discover events and communities near you in Hong Kong.
- Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on the platform, and interaction logs.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected data to build a functional social sports ecosystem:
- Service Delivery: To create your account, manage event RSVPs, process payments, and facilitate community management for organizers.
- Discovery & Personalization: To recommend specific sports communities, events, or connections based on your profile, interests, and location.
- Communication: To send you updates about your events (e.g., cancellations, venue changes), security alerts, and marketing newsletters (which you can opt-out of).
- Platform Improvement: To analyze usage trends, troubleshoot issues, and improve the stability and functionality of our web and mobile apps.
3. Sharing Your Information
We share your data only to the extent necessary to operate the platform and facilitate social sports activities:
- With Other Users: Your public profile (name, photo, interests) is visible to other verified members of The Ground to facilitate social connection and group formation.
- With Organizers: When you RSVP to an event, the Community Organizer receives your name and contact details (if necessary) to manage attendance and ensure participant safety.
- Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating and scaling the platform (e.g., cloud hosting, payment processors, analytics providers).
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency in Hong Kong).
4. Payment Processing and Security
To support our future business model (including transaction fees), we utilize secure, industry-standard third-party payment gateways. These processors handle all financial data in compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). We only receive confirmation of payment status, not your sensitive card information.
5. Hong Kong Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO) Rights
In accordance with the laws of Hong Kong, users have specific rights regarding their personal data:
- Right of Access: You have the right to request access to and a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right of Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate data we hold about you.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent for the use of your data for non-essential purposes, such as marketing communications, at any time.
To exercise these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer as noted in Section 9.
6. Data Security and Retention
We implement commercially reasonable technical and organizational security measures to protect the integrity and confidentiality of your personal information. We retain your data only for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Services and comply with our legal obligations.
7. Third-Party Links
The Services may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., venue maps, organizer’s social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites.
8. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the Services or via email. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about this policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
The Ground
- Data Protection Officer Email: info@theground.io
- General Support Email: info@theground.io
- Location: Hong Kong
