Privacy Policy

1. What We Collect

Email Address

Used only so you can log in, save favorites, and sync your preferences across devices.

Usage Data (Anonymous)

We track anonymous statistics such as which flavor profiles you explore and how often you open the app. Appwrite assigns internal user IDs for authentication purposes, but these identifiers are removed before any analytics or trend reporting is performed.

General Location

City and country only. This helps us understand regional gin trends without identifying any individual user.

Technical Info

Appwrite session IDs (used to keep you logged in) and basic device type (such as iPhone or Android). These are never used for analytics or trend reporting.

We don't collect names, addresses, payment info, GPS location, advertising IDs, or contact lists.

2. How We Use This Data

We use data to:

• Keep your account, favorites, and preferences working properly
• Understand what flavor profiles people enjoy
• Publish aggregated research like "Most searched flavor profiles" or "Regional gin trends"
• Improve app performance and reliability

We never share personally identifiable information with advertisers or outside organizations.

3. Analytics & How We Anonymize Data

We use Appwrite's built-in analytics and our own servers to understand how the app is used. Before analyzing search trends, any internal Appwrite user identifiers are stripped from the data. Analytics are processed later in aggregate, not at the time of collection.

Search behavior cannot be linked back to your account. Your personal account data (email, preferences, favorites) remains inside Appwrite and is never exported, shared, or connected to analytics.

No tracking cookies, no advertising IDs, no fingerprinting, and no third-party analytics providers.

4. Aggregate Research & Public Reports

We publish anonymous, high-level gin trend reports that may include insights like:

• Most searched flavor profiles of the year
• Regional differences in gin preferences
• Frequently explored flavor combinations

To protect privacy, we apply safeguards such as:

• Minimum sample size thresholds (e.g., at least 250 searches per region)
• Never reporting on very small groups
• Never attempting to re-identify users in any dataset

These reports contain only aggregated data and cannot identify any individual.

5. Data Storage

Your account data is securely stored with Appwrite, currently hosted in Frankfurt, Germany. We may change hosting regions in the future, but will always maintain strong security and privacy protections.

6. Legal Basis for Processing

Email (Account Data)

Processed under Contractual Necessity (so you can log in and use your saved features).

Anonymous Analytics & Location Data

Processed under Legitimate Interest (to understand usage and improve the service).

These practices comply with GDPR and UK GDPR.

7. Your Rights

You can:

• Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Ask us to update or delete your account data (Right to be Forgotten)
• Close your account at any time

Anonymous analytics data cannot be deleted because it cannot be linked back to you.

To make any requests, email [email protected]. We'll respond within 30 days.

8. Data Retention

Your account and email data are kept only while your account is active. Anonymous analytics and search-trend data may be stored indefinitely because it cannot identify you.

9. Analytics Opt-Out

Because our analytics are completely anonymous and cannot be linked to any individual, there is no way to opt out without impacting core app functionality.

10. Age Restriction

GinFinder is intended for users of legal drinking age in their location. We do not knowingly collect data from minors.

11. Updates

If we update this policy, we'll post a new effective date here. Continued use of the app means you accept the updated version.