Scout is an AI-powered compatibility matching platform that helps people find compatible roommates and listings in San Francisco and New York City, serving as the precursor to a line of products built for human compatibility infrastructure. Scout is operated by Etelson Alcius (“we,” “us,” or “our”). You can reach us at etelsonalcius@gmail.com or by using the contact form at scout.app/contact.
Information you provide directly:
Information collected automatically:
Information from third parties:
We use the information we collect to:
By providing your phone number and consenting to receive messages, you agree to receive SMS messages from Scout including:
Message frequency: Message frequency varies based on your activity and match availability. You may receive up to several messages per week during active search periods.
Message and data rates may apply based on your carrier plan.
To opt out: Text STOP to any Scout message at any time. You will receive a one-time confirmation that you have been unsubscribed and will receive no further SMS messages from Scout. To re-subscribe, text START.
For help: Text HELP to any Scout message or email us at privacy@scout.app.
We will never sell or share your mobile phone number with third parties for their marketing purposes.
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:
With other Scout users: Your profile information (excluding your phone number and email address) may be visible to other users as part of the matching process. Your contact information is never shared without your explicit consent.
With service providers: We work with trusted third-party providers to operate Scout, including Supabase (database), Twilio (SMS delivery), Vercel (hosting), and Anthropic (AI infrastructure). These providers access your information only to perform services on our behalf and are contractually prohibited from using it for other purposes.
For legal compliance: We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or comply with a legal requirement.
In a business transfer: If Scout is acquired, merged, or its assets are transferred, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal purposes.
Waitlist information (phone number or email collected before account creation) is retained for up to 12 months and used only to notify you of Scout's launch and availability in your city.
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@scout.app. We will respond within 30 days.
California residents: Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have additional rights including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to know whether your personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom, the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.
Scout uses cookies and similar technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and understand how people use the platform. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. You can control cookie settings through your browser, though disabling cookies may affect platform functionality.
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encrypted data storage, secure HTTPS connections, and access controls limiting who within our team can access personal data.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Scout is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately at privacy@scout.app and we will delete it promptly.
Scout may display links to third-party listings (Craigslist, Facebook groups, Reddit, and others) as part of the search experience. These third-party sites have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit.
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “last updated” date at the top of this page and, for material changes, notify you via SMS or email. Your continued use of Scout after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or your personal data, please contact us:
Email: privacy@scout.app
Website: scout.app/contact