Legal

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 14, 2026

Last Updated: April 14, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Patrick Fortin, doing business as Spotty ("Spotty," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"), collects, uses, stores, discloses, and otherwise processes information in connection with the Spotty mobile application, related websites, and any associated services we provide (collectively, the "Services").

By downloading, accessing, or using the Services, you acknowledge that your information may be processed as described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to information processed through the Services, including when you:

  • browse or use the Spotty mobile application;
  • create or maintain a profile;
  • log aircraft sightings and related content;
  • connect with other users through social or profile features;
  • purchase or use premium features, including SpottyPro;
  • contact us or otherwise communicate with us regarding the Services.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to information processed by third parties that are not under our control, including Apple, CloudKit, StoreKit, WeatherKit, Photos, or third-party aviation and reference data providers, except as otherwise expressly stated herein.

2. Categories of Information We May Collect

Depending on how you use the Services, we may collect or process the following categories of information.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information you voluntarily provide through the Services, including:

  • display name and profile information;
  • avatar or profile image;
  • home airport and profile customization selections;
  • notes, captions, album names, and other user-generated content;
  • social links or website information you choose to add;
  • communications you send to us.

2.2 Location Information

If you grant permission, we may collect and process precise or approximate location information from your device in order to:

  • display nearby aircraft and related map features;
  • center or adjust the map experience;
  • record the location associated with logged sightings;
  • provide location-based features, including weather and related operational information.

You may control location permissions through your device settings. If you deny or revoke permission, some features may be unavailable or limited.

2.3 Photo, Camera, and Media Information

If you choose to use photo-related features, we may access:

  • your camera, for capturing images;
  • your photo library, for selecting or displaying images you attach to sightings or related content.

Spotty generally stores references to user-selected media (for example, local asset identifiers) rather than duplicating the underlying image files, except where necessary for app functionality or where a user explicitly elects to share or upload content.

2.4 Purchase and Subscription Information

If you purchase subscriptions or in-app purchases, including SpottyPro, payment processing is handled by Apple or its affiliates. We do not receive or store full payment card information. We may receive limited transaction, entitlement, or subscription status information necessary to:

  • verify active entitlements;
  • enable or disable premium features;
  • restore purchases;
  • manage subscription-related access.

2.5 Device, Diagnostics, and Usage Information

We may process certain technical information necessary to operate, secure, and improve the Services, including:

  • app version and build information;
  • device type and operating system information;
  • crash, error, and diagnostic information;
  • feature availability and permission status;
  • app preferences and configuration state.

2.6 Social and Cloud Data

If you use profile, friend, album, or other social features, we may process information such as:

  • profile records;
  • friendship records or invite links/codes;
  • pinned spots, albums, and visibility settings;
  • social activity metadata;
  • profile configuration and associated customization settings.

Some of this information may be processed using Apple CloudKit or other Apple frameworks.

3. Information Stored Locally on Your Device

Certain information may be stored locally on your device, including but not limited to:

  • logged sightings and local history;
  • app preferences and settings;
  • cached data used for performance or offline convenience;
  • banner, icon, and customization selections;
  • temporary or derived content needed to render the Services.

Local storage may be removed by deleting the app, clearing device-level data, or otherwise removing app data from the device, subject to your operating system's behavior.

4. Sources of Information

We may collect information from the following sources:

  • directly from you;
  • automatically from your device or your use of the Services;
  • from Apple services and frameworks, including but not limited to CloudKit, StoreKit, Photos, Notifications, and WeatherKit;
  • from aviation and related third-party data providers used by the Services;
  • from reference photo or metadata providers used to display aircraft-related information.

5. How We Use Information

We may use information for the following business and operational purposes:

  • to provide, maintain, and improve the Services;
  • to authenticate users and maintain user profiles;
  • to display live aircraft, map, weather, and related operational data;
  • to save, organize, analyze, and display spotting history and related media;
  • to enable social, sharing, profile, and friend features;
  • to process, verify, restore, and manage subscriptions or premium access;
  • to troubleshoot errors, monitor performance, and maintain app stability;
  • to protect the integrity, security, and functionality of the Services;
  • to comply with applicable legal obligations and enforce our policies, rights, and agreements.

6. Legal Bases for Processing (Where Applicable)

If and to the extent applicable under laws such as the GDPR, UK GDPR, or similar frameworks, we may process personal data on one or more of the following legal bases:

  • your consent;
  • performance of a contract with you;
  • compliance with legal obligations;
  • our legitimate interests, including operating, securing, and improving the Services, provided such interests are not overridden by your rights.

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal and technical limitations.

7. Disclosure of Information

We do not sell personal information in the traditional sense. We may disclose information in the following circumstances:

7.1 Service Providers and Platform Providers

We may disclose information to Apple and other service providers, vendors, or contractors that support operation of the Services, including for hosting, cloud storage, subscriptions, diagnostics, notifications, weather, and related functionality.

7.2 Third-Party Data Sources

The Services may request, display, or rely on third-party aviation, photo, mapping, and weather data. In doing so, limited technical or request-related information may be transmitted as required to obtain the relevant data.

7.3 Social and Public Sharing

If you choose to use social or sharing features, information you designate for sharing may be disclosed to other users, friends, or the public, depending on your privacy and visibility settings.

7.4 Legal and Safety Disclosures

We may disclose information if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary or appropriate to:

  • comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or legal process;
  • protect our rights, property, systems, or users;
  • detect, prevent, or address fraud, abuse, security issues, or technical issues;
  • enforce our terms, policies, and agreements.

7.5 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, corporate reorganization, sale of assets, or similar transaction, information may be disclosed or transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

8. Third-Party Services and External Content

The Services may contain, access, display, or rely on third-party services, data, or content, including but not limited to:

  • Apple CloudKit;
  • Apple StoreKit;
  • Apple WeatherKit;
  • Apple Photos and Camera frameworks;
  • aviation data providers;
  • aircraft metadata providers;
  • reference photo providers.

Such third-party services and providers operate under their own terms, privacy policies, and practices. We are not responsible for the privacy, security, availability, accuracy, legality, or content practices of third parties except as required by law.

9. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to:

  • provide the Services;
  • maintain account, profile, and social features;
  • comply with legal, tax, accounting, or regulatory obligations;
  • resolve disputes and enforce agreements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the information, whether the data is stored locally on-device, whether cloud-based features are enabled, and applicable legal requirements.

10. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights relating to your personal information, including the right to request:

  • access to personal information;
  • correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
  • deletion of certain information;
  • restriction of processing;
  • objection to certain processing;
  • portability of certain information;
  • withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent.

You may also control certain data processing through your device settings, including permissions for location, camera, notifications, and photos.

To exercise applicable rights, contact us using the contact information provided below. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request.

11. International Transfers

Your information may be processed and stored in countries other than your country of residence, including through third-party services and cloud providers. Where required by applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for cross-border data transfers.

12. Children's Privacy

The Services are not directed to children under the age of 13, or a higher age where required by applicable law, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us unlawfully, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

13. Data Security

We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect information processed through the Services. However, no security measure or method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

14. No Guarantee of Third-Party Availability or Accuracy

The Services may display or rely on third-party aviation, weather, photo, mapping, and metadata content. We make no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, legality, timeliness, availability, or reliability of such third-party data or content. Use of the Services is at your own risk.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time in our sole discretion. If we do so, we will update the "Last Updated" date above and, where required by law, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Services after an updated Privacy Policy becomes effective constitutes your acknowledgment of the revised Policy, to the extent permitted by law.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, you may contact us at:

Patrick Fortin
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thespottyapp.com