Swiggy Knows Your Eating Habits Better Than Your Dietitian

You’re starving. You open Swiggy, scroll past 47 ads, and order a pizza. But while you’re deciding between extra cheese and garlic bread, Swiggy is busy collecting your location, your contacts, your payment details, and even your phone’s accelerometer data (yes, really).

Reading Swiggy’s privacy policy is about as fun as cleaning grout with a toothbrush. So I did it for you. Here’s what they’re taking, and how to stop them.

What data does Swiggy collect?

Swiggy collects your name, email, phone number, delivery address, payment info, device ID, location (even when the app is closed), browsing history, and order history. They also collect data from third parties like Facebook and Google if you sign in with them. In 2021, a security researcher found a bug that exposed users’ personal data, including addresses and phone numbers, through the app’s API. Swiggy fixed it, but it shows how vulnerable your data can be.

Why should you care?

Imagine this: you order a late-night snack, and suddenly your ex knows where you live. Or a hacker uses your saved card to order 50 pizzas to your neighbor’s house. Swiggy’s data can be used for targeted ads, but also for more sinister purposes if it leaks. In 2020, a data breach at a similar food delivery app exposed millions of users’ data. Swiggy hasn’t had a massive leak (yet), but the risk is real.

How to lock down your Swiggy privacy

1. Revoke unnecessary permissions

Go to your phone’s settings > Apps > Swiggy > Permissions. Turn off location (set to “While Using the App” instead of “Always”), disable access to your contacts, camera, and microphone unless you need them. Swiggy doesn’t need to know your contacts to deliver food.

2. Opt out of personalized ads

In the Swiggy app, go to Account > Privacy Settings > Data Sharing for Ads. Toggle off “Personalized Ads.” This stops Swiggy from using your order history to show you ads for things you already bought.

3. Clear your order history

In the app, go to My Orders > tap the three dots on any order > Delete. This removes your order history from Swiggy’s servers (though they may keep some data for legal reasons).

4. Use a virtual payment method

Don’t save your credit card. Use a virtual card from services like Privacy.com or a one-time use card from your bank. This way, even if Swiggy gets hacked, your real card number stays safe.

5. Disable notifications for non-essential updates

Go to Account > Notifications. Turn off marketing and promotional notifications. Keep only order updates. This reduces the data Swiggy collects about your behavior.

6. Use a separate email and phone number

Create a burner email and use a Google Voice number (or similar) for Swiggy. This keeps your primary email and phone number out of their database.

What about the Terms and Conditions?

Swiggy’s terms say they can share your data with “third-party service providers” and “business partners.” That’s legalese for “we sell your data to advertisers.” You can’t opt out of this entirely, but you can minimize what they have.

Remember: every time you order food, you’re not just paying with money—you’re paying with data. Make sure you’re getting a good deal.