Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2026. Namaste America (“we”, “us”) respects your privacy and collects as little as possible. This policy explains what we collect, why, and the choices you have.

1. Information we collect

• Location (optional). If you allow it, your browser shares approximate coordinates so we can show the nearest listings. We use them only for that search and don't store them with your identity. If you decline, we may estimate your city-level area from your IP address, or simply ask which city you mean.
• Usage data. We log aggregate, non-identifying activity — for example which searches return no results — to improve coverage and reliability. This may include your search text and approximate area.
• Business accounts. If you register or claim a business, we collect your email address and, if you set one, a password stored only as a salted one-way hash (never in plain text). Listing details you provide are published in the directory.
• Reviews you post. A star rating, your review text, an optional display name, and (only if you provide it) an email used solely to contact you about the review — your email is never published. Reviews are public and moderated.
• Cookies. A signed session cookie is used only for admin and business-owner logins. We don't use cookies to track general visitors for advertising.

2. Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate site usage (pages viewed, rough geography, device type). It may set its own cookies; Google Analytics 4 does not store full IP addresses. See Google's Privacy Policy. We don't use Analytics to identify you personally. You can opt out with Google's opt-out add-on or by blocking analytics cookies in your browser.

3. How we use information

• To return relevant, nearby results and answer your questions.
• To maintain and improve the directory (e.g. find gaps in coverage).
• To operate business-owner accounts and verify listing ownership.
• To contact a business about claiming or correcting its listing — every such message has a one-click unsubscribe.

4. Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with service providers that help us operate (e.g. Google Analytics, our email provider) and where required by law. Public listing information is, by design, publicly visible and available through our search, JSON API, and AI-agent (MCP) interfaces.

5. Data retention

We keep aggregate usage logs for a limited period to analyze trends, and account data for as long as your account is active. You can ask us to delete your account data at any time.

6. Your choices & rights

• Decline or revoke location access in your browser at any time.
• Opt out of analytics (see above).
• Businesses can claim, correct, or request removal of a listing for free.
• Request access to or deletion of your account data by emailing us.

7. Children

This service is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13; we don't knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Security

We use reasonable measures (HTTPS, hashed passwords, minimal data collection) to protect information, but no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

9. Changes

We may update this policy; material changes are reflected by the “last updated” date above.

10. Contact

Questions or removal requests: please use our contact form.