Azores Expats is an independent, non-commercial platform for foreigners living on the Azores. We ask for as little personal data as possible, we never sell it, and we don't run advertising. This page explains what we collect, why, and the rights you have.
Who is responsible
The platform is operated by the Azores Expats project (a small, independent initiative; a formal legal entity will be registered before public launch). For any data question, write to info@azoresexpats.com.
What we collect
- When you register: your real name, email address, and the concelho (municipality) where you live. Optionally, your nationality and interests (only if you choose to share them for the members directory), and optionally a profile photo.
- What you post: reviews, listings you add, calendar events, and messages you send to other members.
- Basic technical data: the minimum needed to keep the site secure and working (for example, sign-in records). We do not build advertising or tracking profiles.
Why we use it, and our legal basis
We use your data to run a trusted, residents-only community: to verify you are a real resident, to sign you in, to show your first name while you browse and your full name at accountability points (such as leaving a review), and to help members find and contact one another. The legal bases are your consent (which you can withdraw) and our legitimate interest in operating a safe community for its members.
How your name and photo are shown
Identity on Azores Expats is deliberately graduated. You appear by first name in browsing and low-stakes contexts; your full name becomes visible only at accountability points — when you leave a review or vouch, make a paid offer, or once the other person replies inside a one-to-one conversation. Photos are never shown in search results — only within a conversation, and only if you have chosen to reveal one.
Who we share it with
We do not sell your data and we do not share it with advertisers. Other members see only what the rules above allow. Some pages link out to official sources (for example, weather and flight information) — those are separate websites with their own policies. We may use a small number of trusted technical providers (for hosting and sign-in) that process data on our behalf under contract.
How long we keep it
We keep your data for as long as you are a member. If you close your account or ask us to delete your data, we remove your personal information, keeping only what we are legally required to retain.
Your rights (GDPR / RGPD)
You have the right to access your data, correct it, delete it, object to or restrict how we use it, and receive a copy in a portable format. To exercise any of these, email info@azoresexpats.com. You also have the right to complain to the Portuguese data-protection authority, the CNPD (cnpd.pt).
Cookies and local storage
We use only the minimum storage needed to keep you signed in and remember basic preferences. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.
Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your data. No online service can be perfectly secure, but we design the platform to hold as little sensitive information as possible in the first place.
Changes
We will update this page as the platform develops and once it has been legally reviewed. Material changes will be communicated to members.