The short version
Mela doesn't require an account, doesn't ask for payment details, and doesn't sell your data. We log the questions people ask so we can improve Mela's answers, and that's the core of it. The rest of this page explains that in full, as required under EU data protection law (GDPR), since Mela is based in and operates from Malta.
What we collect
- Your questions. When you ask Mela something, the question text is logged so we can review what people are asking and improve the answers and the underlying dataset over time.
- Feedback. If you tap "Was this helpful?" (👍/👎) or select a reason, that response is logged alongside the question it relates to.
- Basic technical data. Standard web request information (such as approximate location inferred from IP address, device/browser type) is processed by our hosting provider to serve the site and keep it secure.
- Contact form submissions. If you fill out a form on trymela.com (for example, as a contributor or partner), we collect the name, email, and any message you provide, so we can respond to you.
We do not collect names, email addresses, or any other personally identifying information through the Mela search itself. There is no login, no account, and no payment system.
Why we collect it
- To generate and improve the answers Mela gives
- To understand which places, categories, and questions people care about most, so we know what to prioritise adding to the dataset
- To respond to anyone who contacts us directly through a form on the site
- To keep the service secure and working reliably
We do not use your data for advertising, and we do not sell or rent it to third parties.
Who else processes it
Mela is built on a small number of trusted service providers who process data on our behalf as part of running the app. We don't control their systems directly, but we've chosen providers with their own data protection commitments:
- Anthropic — processes your question text to generate Mela's answer
- Google — provides place and location data used to build Mela's recommendations
- Airtable — stores the underlying database and query/feedback logs
- Netlify — hosts the website and handles the technical infrastructure that serves it to you
How long we keep it
Query and feedback logs are kept for as long as they're useful for improving Mela — currently indefinitely, while the product is early-stage and we're actively learning from usage patterns. If you'd like your data removed sooner, contact us and we'll action it (see below).
Cookies
Mela does not currently use tracking or advertising cookies. If this changes in future — for example, if we add analytics — we'll update this policy and, where required, ask for your consent first.
Your rights
Under GDPR, you have the right to:
- Ask what data we hold that relates to you
- Ask us to correct or delete it
- Object to how it's used
- Lodge a complaint with Malta's Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) if you believe your data has been mishandled
To exercise any of these rights, email us — see below.
Changes to this policy
As Mela grows, this policy may be updated to reflect new features (for example, user accounts or saved preferences in future). We'll update the "last updated" date above whenever that happens.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your data: hello@trymela.com
This policy covers Mela's current, early-stage functionality. It will be expanded as new features (like saved preferences or accounts) are introduced.
