At Spot Capsule ("Spot Capsule," "we," "us," or "our"), we believe your memories deserve to be shared securely and on your terms. Spot Capsule is a privacy-first app designed to let you upload and discover location-based photos—called "Spot Capsules"—that preserve life's moments for family and friends. Whether you're a senior leaving behind digital breadcrumbs of your adventures or a loved one revisiting cherished places, our focus is on protecting your data while enabling meaningful connections.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your information. It applies to the Spot Capsule app and any related services. By using Spot Capsule, you agree to the practices described here. We encourage you to read it carefully, and we'll notify you of material changes.

1. Our Privacy Commitment

Spot Capsule is built on privacy-first principles. We prioritize your control over your photos, locations, and personal data. Here's what sets us apart:

  • Location Privacy: We use your device's location only when the app is open to show you nearby Spot Capsules. We never track you in the background, and location services are disabled by default.

  • Photo Metadata Protection: By default, we strip GPS coordinates and other sensitive metadata from your photo files before upload. Instead, we use your device's current location (with your permission) to associate the photo with a place—giving you better privacy control without exposing embedded data.

  • Controlled Sharing: You decide exactly who sees your Spot Capsules. Share with all friends, specific people, or keep them private. Your audience is always under your control.

  • Discovery Radius: Spot Capsules are revealed to authorized viewers only when they are physically within your chosen radius (default: 100 feet) of the location. Viewers must be at the spot to discover your photo—no remote access.

  • Your Data Rights: You own your content. Delete your Spot Capsules anytime, and they vanish for everyone. We never sell your data, photos, or personal information.

  • No Surprises: We don't show exact coordinates to viewers—just a "nearby" notification. Your privacy is our guarantee.

2. Information We Collect

To make Spot Capsule work seamlessly, we collect the following, always with your consent and minimal data:

Photos and Spot Capsules

  • Photos you upload, including any captions, dates, or notes you add.

  • Location data tied to each Spot Capsule (derived from your device at upload time, not embedded metadata).

Location Data

  • Precise location (latitude/longitude) only while the app is actively open and you're using features like discovering Spot Capsules or uploading.

  • We do not store or track your location history unless it's directly tied to a Spot Capsule you create.

Account and Profile Information

  • Basic details like your name, email, phone number (for account recovery), and profile photo.

  • Lists of trusted contacts (e.g., family or friends you grant access to).

  • Device information (e.g., model, OS version) for app performance and security.

Usage Data

  • Anonymous analytics on how you use the app (e.g., which features you engage with) to improve SPOT. This doesn't include personal photos or locations.

We never collect sensitive data like health info, financial details, or precise location without explicit permission.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your data only to deliver the Spot Capsule experience you love:

  • Creating and Sharing Spot Capsules: Upload photos and associate them with locations so authorized friends can discover them when they're nearby.

  • Discovery for Viewers: When you're at a location, the app checks for Spot Capsules from people you've granted access to, within your radius. (User A uploads and selects User B; User B fetches based on their current spot.)

  • Personalization: Show relevant Spot Capsules based on your location (when app is open) and your network of trusted users.

  • App Improvements: Analyze usage to fix bugs, enhance features, and ensure Spot Capsules load quickly and securely.

  • Notifications: Send alerts about new Spot Capsules from friends or important updates (you can opt out anytime).

We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or third-party marketing.

4. How We Share and Disclose Information

Your privacy is non-negotiable—we share data only as needed and under strict controls:

  • With Authorized Users: Spot Capsules are visible exclusively to people you select. If you grant access to family (e.g., User B), they can discover your photos at the location—but only if they're physically there.

  • Service Providers: We may share anonymized data with trusted partners for hosting (e.g., secure cloud storage) or analytics tools. These partners are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for us.

  • Legal Requirements: If required by law (e.g., court order), we'll disclose data—but we'll notify you where possible.

  • No Selling or Renting: We never sell, rent, or trade your photos, locations, or personal info.

Important for Legacy: If a user passes away, their Spot Capsules remain accessible to designated viewers per your sharing settings. You can pre-designate beneficiaries in your account to ensure memories live on.

5. Your Choices and Rights

You have full control—Spot Capsule is designed for it:

  • Delete Anytime: Remove any Spot Capsule, and it disappears instantly for all viewers. Your entire account can be deleted too.

  • Manage Sharing: Edit who can see your Spot Capsules or revoke access at any time.

  • Location Controls: Toggle location services off in your device settings or app preferences. Spot Capsules won't appear without it.

  • Data Access and Portability: Request a copy of your data (photos, Spot Capsules) anytime via the app or by emailing us.

  • Opt-Outs: Disable notifications, analytics, or any non-essential features.

  • For Minors: Spot Capsule is for adults 18+, but if a minor's data is involved, parents can request deletion.

  • Your Data Rights (Global): Depending on your location (e.g., California, EU), you may have additional rights like "do not sell my data" or erasure. Contact us to exercise them.

6. Data Security and Storage

  • Protection Measures: We use industry-standard encryption (e.g., HTTPS, AES-256) for data in transit and at rest. Photos are stored securely in the cloud, with access limited to you and your chosen viewers.

  • Long-Term Preservation: Spot Capsules are designed to last. Paid users' data is prioritized for ongoing storage, even in edge cases like payment issues (see our Terms for details).

  • Breach Response: If a security incident occurs, we'll notify affected users promptly and take steps to mitigate it.

7. Children's Privacy

Spot Capsule is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If we learn of such data, we'll delete it immediately.

8. International Users

If you're outside the US (e.g., EU), your data is processed in the US. We comply with laws like GDPR and CCPA, ensuring equivalent protections.

9. Changes to This Policy

We'll update this policy as Spot Capsule evolves. Major changes will be emailed to you and posted in the app. Your continued use means you accept the updates.

10. Contact Us

Questions? Concerns? We're here to help:

Email: spotcapsuleapp@gmail.com

Thank you for trusting Spot Capsule with your memories. Together, we're building a world where life's moments endure—privately and forever.

Spot Capsule Team
Privacy-First Location Photo Sharing