Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 7, 2025

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Username, email address, profile picture, and authentication data
• User-Generated Content: Car photos you take and share, comments, posts, and car spotting data
• Profile Data: Bio, location preferences, social connections, and app settings
• Communication Data: Messages, support requests, and feedback you send us

1.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Analytics: How you interact with the app, features used, time spent, and user behavior patterns
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version, unique device identifiers
• Location Data: GPS coordinates when you spot cars (only with your explicit permission)
• Photo Metadata: We may extract location data from photo EXIF data when you upload car photos
• Camera & Media Data: Photos you take within the app for car identification and sharing
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, crash reports, and performance metrics

1.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

• Personal information about other people without their consent
• Data from your contacts or friends lists
• Background location tracking when app is not in use
• Information about third parties not related to your app usage
• Biometric data or sensitive personal information

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Core App Functions

• Provide car identification using advanced AI technology
• Enable social features like following other users and sharing content
• Maintain your profile, account settings, and user preferences
• Process and display your car spotting activities and achievements
• Facilitate user interactions through comments, likes, and follows
• Provide location-based car spotting features and maps

2.2 App Improvement & Development

• Analyze usage patterns to improve app performance and user experience
• Develop new features based on user behavior and feedback
• Fix bugs, technical issues, and optimize app functionality
• AI Model Training: We may use anonymized, aggregated data to improve our car recognition algorithms
• Conduct research and development for future app enhancements

2.3 Communication & Support

• Send important app updates, security notifications, and service announcements
• Respond to your support requests and provide customer service
• Notify you about new features, changes, or promotional content (with your consent)
• Send push notifications for social interactions and app activity

2.4 Legal & Safety

• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the safety and security of our users and platform
• Prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access to our services
• Respond to legal requests from authorities when required by law

3. Information Sharing

3.1 Public Information

The following information is public by default when you choose to share it:

• Your username and profile picture
• Car photos you share publicly on the platform
• Comments and interactions on public posts
• Your follower/following connections (if you choose to make them public)
• Public posts and car spotting activities

3.2 We Do NOT Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Your privacy is our priority, and we maintain strict policies against data monetization.

3.3 Trusted Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate and improve the app:

• Cloud Storage & Authentication: Firebase/Google Cloud for secure data storage and user authentication
• AI Services: OpenAI and other AI providers for car recognition and content analysis
• License Plate Detection: Roboflow API for automatic license plate blurring
• Location Services: Google Places API for location autocomplete and mapping
• Analytics & Performance: Anonymous usage analytics to improve app performance and user experience
• Payment Processing: RevenueCat, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store for premium subscriptions
• Content Delivery: CDN services for fast image and content delivery
• Communication Services: Email and push notification services for user communication

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may share your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Spotted, our users, or others
• Investigate or prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activities
• Enforce our Terms of Service or other agreements

4. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Secure Authentication: Multi-factor authentication and secure login systems through Google Sign-In
• Access Controls: Strict access controls and limited access to personal data by our team
• Regular Security Audits: Ongoing security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Infrastructure Security: Secure cloud infrastructure through Firebase/Google Cloud Platform
• Privacy Protection: We use AI technology to automatically blur license plates in photos to protect privacy, though this process may not be 100% effective in all cases
• Data Minimization: We only collect and retain data necessary for app functionality
• Incident Response: Comprehensive incident response procedures for any security issues

5. Your Privacy Rights

5.1 Access and Control

• View Your Data: Access your profile, posted content, and account information anytime
• Update Information: Edit your profile, account settings, and preferences
• Delete Content: Remove photos, comments, posts, and any shared content
• Account Deletion: Permanently delete your account and all associated data
• Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications and notifications

5.2 Location Privacy

• Location sharing is completely optional and can be disabled anytime in settings
• You can choose to blur, hide, or remove exact location information
• Location data is used only for car spotting features and is never collected without permission
• You can post content without including location information

5.3 Photo and Content Privacy

• We use AI technology to automatically blur license plates in photos to protect privacy, though this feature may not work perfectly in all situations
• You have full control over which photos and content are public or private
• Original photos are stored securely and never shared without your explicit permission
• You can delete any content you've shared at any time
• Content moderation tools help protect your privacy and safety

5.4 Communication Preferences

• Control push notifications and email communications
• Choose which types of notifications you want to receive
• Opt out of promotional content while keeping essential app notifications
• Manage your communication preferences in app settings

6. Children's Privacy

Spotted is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use this app. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete such information immediately. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States where our servers are located. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your privacy rights, including:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant data protection authorities
• Adequacy decisions by relevant data protection authorities
• Other appropriate safeguards as required by applicable law

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Specifically:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active
• Content: Retained until you delete it or your account is deleted
• Usage Data: Retained for up to 2 years for analytics and improvement purposes
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer if required by law

You can request deletion of your account and data at any time through the app settings or by contacting us directly.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use minimal tracking technologies to provide and improve our services:

• Essential Cookies: Required for app functionality, authentication, and security
• Analytics: Anonymous usage analytics to understand app performance and user behavior
• Performance Monitoring: Crash reporting and performance metrics to improve app stability
• No Advertising Tracking: We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels
• User Control: You can manage cookie preferences through your device settings

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Updating the "Last updated" date
• Sending you a notification about significant changes
• Requiring your consent for material changes when required by law

Your continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Third-Party Services

Our app integrates with third-party services to provide enhanced functionality:

• Google Sign-In: For secure account creation and login (Google Privacy Policy)
• Apple Sign-In: For iOS users (Apple Privacy Policy)
• Firebase/Google Cloud: For data storage and authentication (Google Privacy Policy)
• OpenAI: For AI-powered car recognition features (OpenAI Privacy Policy)
• RevenueCat: For subscription management (RevenueCat Privacy Policy)
• Social Media Platforms: For optional content sharing (respective platform policies)

These services have their own privacy policies and data practices, which we encourage you to review. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services.

12. Contact Us