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Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Gregory Crowley ("Operator," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects information in connection with the Ships mobile application ("App") and all related services (collectively, the "Service"). By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name (first and last), email address, and username. You may optionally provide a phone number, profile photo, biography, interests, and other profile details.
• User Content: We collect content you create through the Service, including messages (direct and group), posts and captions, event invitations (including titles, descriptions, dates, locations, custom items, dress codes, and photos), and social group information.
• Contacts: If you choose to use the "Find Friends" feature, we access contacts you select from your device's address book (names, phone numbers, and email addresses) solely to identify other Ships users you may know. We do not store your full contact list.
• Calendar Data: If you grant calendar access, we read your calendar events to check for scheduling conflicts with invitations and write accepted events to your calendar. We support Apple Calendar (EventKit) and Google Calendar (via OAuth). Calendar data is not stored on our servers.
• Customer Support: If you submit feedback or a report, we collect the content of your submission along with optional diagnostic information (such as app version and device model).

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Precise Location: With your permission, we collect your device's precise GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) to enable core features including nearby user discovery, encounter detection, and map display. Location data may be collected in the foreground and, if you grant "Always" location permission, in the background. You can control location access through your device settings and in-app privacy controls.
• Proximity Data: We use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and, on supported devices, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to detect proximity to other users. BLE tokens are rotated periodically and are used solely for encounter detection. UWB is used only for close-range interactions.
• Encounter Data: When you are detected near another user, we log an encounter record containing the user IDs of both parties, approximate distance, detection method, and timestamp.
• Device Identifiers: We collect your Apple Push Notification service (APNs) device token to deliver push notifications. We also generate rotating BLE tokens for proximity detection. We do not collect the Apple Advertising Identifier (IDFA).
• Usage Data: We use Firebase Analytics to collect information about how you interact with the Service, including screen views, feature usage, and in-app events. This data is associated with your user ID.
• Crash Data: We use Firebase Crashlytics to collect crash logs and related diagnostic information to identify and fix technical issues. Crash reports are associated with your user ID.
• Speech Recognition: If you use the voice-to-invite feature, audio is captured and processed on-device using Apple's speech recognition framework. We do not record, store, or transmit your audio.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We do not purchase data about you from third parties. If another user shares your contact information through the "Find Friends" feature, we use it only to suggest a connection.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• App Functionality: To operate and provide the Service, including user authentication, profile display, messaging, encounter detection, proximity alerts, event invitations, friend matching, push notifications, and all other core features.
• Analytics: To understand how users interact with the Service, evaluate feature effectiveness, and inform product decisions. We use Firebase Analytics for this purpose.
• Safety and Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service, including content moderation and account security.
• Customer Support: To respond to your feedback, reports, and inquiries.
• Advertising (Future): We may in the future display third-party advertisements through Google AdMob. If implemented, ad interaction data (such as ad views and taps) will be collected. We will update this Privacy Policy accordingly.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your profile information (name, username, profile photo, bio, interests), location (subject to your privacy settings and location fuzzing controls), posts, invitations, and messages are shared with other users as part of the Service's core functionality.
• Service Providers: We use the following third-party service providers to operate the Service:
• Supabase (database, authentication, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and serverless functions)
• Firebase / Google (analytics, crash reporting, remote configuration)
• Apple (push notification delivery, speech recognition, calendar integration)

These providers process data on our behalf and are bound by their respective privacy policies and data processing agreements.

• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, legal process, or governmental request, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Your Privacy Controls

The Service provides the following privacy controls:

• Location Visibility: You can set who can see your location (friends only, friends and encounters, or nobody) and enable location fuzzing to obscure your precise coordinates from specific friends.
• Privacy Mode: You can enable privacy mode to limit your visibility to other users.
• Location Permissions: You can grant or revoke location, Bluetooth, notification, calendar, and microphone permissions at any time through your device settings.
• Notification Preferences: You can customize which types of notifications you receive within the app settings.
• Blocking and Muting: You can block other users and mute encounters.
• Account Deletion: You can delete your account at any time through the app settings. Upon deletion, we will delete your personal data from our active systems, except as required by law, needed to resolve disputes, or necessary to enforce our agreements.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on servers operated by our service provider, Supabase. We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections, authenticated access, and row-level security policies. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You acknowledge and accept this inherent risk.

Images (profile photos, post images, and invitation photos) are stored in cloud storage with authenticated access controls.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Upon account deletion, we delete or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable time, except:

• Messages already delivered to other users, which remain visible to those users;
• Data we are required to retain by law;
• Data necessary to resolve disputes or enforce our agreements;
• Aggregated or anonymized data that cannot be used to identify you.

7. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under the age of 13, and children under 13 are expressly prohibited from using the Service. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you have reason to believe that a child under the age of 13 is using the Service, please contact us immediately at support@shipsfriends.com.

If you are over the age of 13 but under the age of legal consent in your jurisdiction, you may only use the Service with the permission and consent of your parent or legal guardian.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, correct, delete, or port your data, and the right to opt out of certain processing activities. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the address below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from your jurisdiction. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to such countries.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the Service or by other means. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

11. Contact

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us at: support@shipsfriends.com