1. Introduction
This policy describes what data Apparish ("we," "our," or "us") collects through our mobile application (the "App"), how we use it, and your rights regarding that data.
By using Apparish, you agree to this policy. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: When you create or connect an account, we receive identifiers and profile details made available by your authentication provider, such as your name, email address, or profile picture.
- User Content and Communications: Content you create, upload, save, or send through the App, which may include photos, recordings, messages, and support requests.
- Purchase Information: Product, entitlement, transaction, and subscription status supplied by app stores and our purchase-management provider. We do not directly receive or store full payment-card details.
2.2 Information Automatically Collected
- Location Data: With permission, we collect precise location, heading, and movement-related data to provide location-based functionality, maintain game state, prevent abuse, and improve the Service.
- Device and Technical Information: Device type, operating system, app version, language, network information, identifiers, logs, crash information, and diagnostics.
- Usage Data: Events describing how you interact with the App, feature use, session information, and related analytics.
- Camera, Photo Library, and Microphone Data: When you choose features that use these permissions, the App processes the images, video frames, or audio needed to provide them. Some processing occurs on your device; when remote processing or a fallback is used, relevant content may be sent to our service providers.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Run the App and its features
- Provide location-based, creative, social, and interactive functionality
- Process text, images, and audio on-device or through service providers
- Process subscriptions and payments
- Send requested communications, push notifications, security alerts, and support messages
- Analyze performance and usage, fix technical issues, prevent abuse, and address security threats
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
3.1 What other players can see
Apparish is a shared game. When you capture a spirit, that catch is posted to Sightings, a feed that other players in the app can see. A Sightings post shows:
- The photo you took when you captured the spirit, with the spirit added to it
- The spirit's name and story
- Your display name and avatar
- The neighborhood or city where the catch happened, and when
- Hearts and comments other players leave on the post
Sightings is on by default. You can turn it off at any time in Account under Share Sightings, which hides all of your catches, past and future, from the feed. You can also keep a single catch private from that spirit's page or from the post itself, which removes it from Sightings and from your public profile and withholds its photo everywhere other players look. Other players may also see your display name, avatar, and game statistics on leaderboards and when they interact with you in the game. Your precise location and your capture photos are never shown outside these features.
4. Third-Party Services
We use these third-party services that may collect or process your information:
4.1 On-Device and AI Processing
Where supported, the App processes some text, speech, and audio on your device using platform capabilities and downloaded models. Other features, unsupported devices, or fallback paths use Google Gemini to process relevant text, images, or audio remotely. The content sent depends on the feature you choose and whether remote processing is needed.
4.2 Maps and Location Context
- Mapbox: Provides map rendering. Map requests may include technical information and approximate or precise map coordinates needed to display the requested area.
- Google Maps Platform: Provides geocoding and place context for selected location-based features. Relevant coordinates or search queries may be sent when those features are used.
4.3 Accounts, Purchases, Analytics, and Notifications
- Apple and Google: Provide authentication and app-store services. The provider you use supplies account or transaction information under its own terms.
- RevenueCat: Manages purchase status and entitlements using account, device, product, and transaction identifiers.
- PostHog: Processes product analytics, device information, usage events, and diagnostics that help us understand and improve the Service.
- Expo: Helps deliver push notifications and processes push tokens and delivery-related technical data.
4.4 Hosting and Storage
Our hosting, database, and object-storage providers process account records, game data, saved images, voice notes, logs, and other content on our behalf. This includes infrastructure such as Vercel and Vercel Blob.
These providers process information under their own privacy terms and our arrangements with them. We may also disclose information when required by law, to protect rights or safety, or as part of a business transaction.
5. Data Storage and Security
We use reasonable security measures to protect your personal information. No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure.
- Account records, game state, and saved content are stored on our systems and those of our service providers
- Location data may be processed in real time, retained as part of game or security records, or cached to provide the Service
- Photos and audio may remain on-device, be processed remotely, or be stored when a feature requires saving or sharing them
- We use encryption, secure authentication, and access controls to protect your data
We retain information for as long as needed to provide the Service, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect users and the Service. Retention periods vary by data type and purpose.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: Request access to your personal information
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
- Consent and Objection: Withdraw consent or object to certain processing where applicable
- Location Services: You can disable location services in your device settings, though this will prevent core App features from working
You can manage device permissions and notification settings through your device. To exercise other rights, contact us at the email address below. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.
7. Children's Privacy
Apparish is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe your child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
8. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using the App, you consent to these transfers.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top. Changes take effect when posted.
10. Contact Us
Questions about this policy or your data? Contact us:
Email: privacy@appari.sh