TideCatchPrivacy Policy
1. Who we are
TideCatch is published by Eric Z ("we"). Contact: candy66861@gmail.com.
2. Data that stays on your device
- Location. Used on your iPhone to find the nearest tide station and to record where a catch was made. It is never sent to our server.
- Catches, spots, photos, notes and alerts. Stored in the app on your iPhone. Location data (EXIF) is removed from photos when they are saved in the app, and all EXIF data is removed from images you share.
- iCloud sync (Pro, optional). If you turn it on, your data is stored in your private iCloud database, run by Apple under Apple's privacy policy. We cannot access it.
- Backup files. Files you export yourself go only where you send them.
- Air pressure. Read from your iPhone's barometer while the app is open and attached to a catch. It stays on your device.
3. Data we collect
3.1 Anonymous usage statistics (you can turn this off)
We record events such as "catch saved" or "widget added", with coarse details (for example a range for the number of catches, whether a photo was attached, or a distance range to the selected station). Each event includes a random installation ID created by the app (it changes if you delete and reinstall the app), app version, iOS version, device model, language and time zone.
We never collect coordinates, spot names, species you type in, notes, photos, your name, email address or the advertising identifier (IDFA). We do not link statistics to your identity.
Purpose: understanding which features are used so we can improve the app. You can switch statistics off during setup or at any time in Settings. Raw events are kept for 90 days; daily totals without any ID are kept for 400 days.
3.2 Crash reports
If the app crashes, Firebase Crashlytics (Google) receives a crash report: stack trace, app version, iOS version, device model, free memory and storage, and a Crashlytics installation ID. We use it only to fix bugs. Crash reports are kept for 90 days.
3.3 Tide error reports (only if you send one)
The report contains the station, date, type of problem, your optional note, app and data version, language, and a one-way hash of the installation ID with a salt that changes every month (to prevent spam). It contains no location. Reports are kept for 2 years.
3.4 Diagnostic logs and support email (only if you send them)
If you choose "Export diagnostic log" and send the file to us, or email us, we receive what you send. Logs contain app events and errors, never coordinates, spot names or notes. We use them only to answer you and delete logs within 90 days after your request is resolved; support emails are kept for up to 2 years.
3.5 Network data
When the app contacts our server, our hosting provider Cloudflare processes your IP address to deliver the request and protect against abuse. We do not store IP addresses with the data above; short-lived rate-limit counters are deleted within 2 days.
3.6 Purchases
Payments are handled by Apple. We never receive your payment details or Apple ID. The app checks your purchase on the device. Anonymous statistics record that a purchase or restore happened, with the product ID.
4. What we never do
- No advertising and no ad SDKs.
- No tracking across other companies' apps or websites, no IDFA.
- No selling or renting of data, no data brokers, no profiling.
5. Permissions
- Location (While Using the App): find the nearest station; tag a catch.
- Camera: take a catch photo.
- Motion & Fitness: read the barometer for air pressure.
- Add to Photos: save a share card.
- Notifications: tide alerts, scheduled on your device.
Photos are imported with the system photo picker, so the app does not get access to your photo library. Every permission is optional.
6. Service providers and international transfers
| Provider | What for | Data | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare, Inc. | Server and database | Usage statistics, tide error reports | USA and Cloudflare's global network |
| Google LLC (Firebase Crashlytics) | Crash reports | Crash reports | USA |
| Apple Inc. | App Store, purchases, iCloud | Handled under Apple's privacy policy | — |
Data may be processed outside your country. For users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland, transfers rely on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and/or the Standard Contractual Clauses offered by these providers.
7. Legal bases (EEA, UK)
Usage statistics, crash reports and abuse protection: our legitimate interest in running and improving a reliable app (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); you can object at any time by turning statistics off. Tide error reports and support: your request (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).
8. Your choices and rights
- Turn off anonymous statistics in Settings.
- Delete everything on your device by deleting the app. Delete synced data in iOS Settings › [your name] › iCloud › Manage Storage › TideCatch.
- Because we do not know who you are, we can only find server data by its installation ID. Copy it in Settings › Anonymous statistics and send it to us to request access or deletion.
- Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR or California law), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to processing and to data portability, and to complain to your data protection authority. We do not sell or share personal information for targeted advertising.
9. Children
TideCatch is not directed to children and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
10. Security
All connections use HTTPS. The server holds no location, spot or catch data. Access to the database is restricted to us. This website uses no cookies and no third-party scripts.
11. Changes
We will update the date above when this policy changes, and mention significant changes in the app's release notes.
12. Contact
Eric Z · candy66861@gmail.com