Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how Blank2Bite ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects information when you use our mobile application (the "App"). Blank2Bite is a fishing journal application that enables users to record catches with photographs, AI-powered species identification, meteorological data, and geographic location tracking.

By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data transparently.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

To provide our services, we require user authentication. We collect the following information depending on your sign-in method:

Google Sign-In: email address associated with your Google account
Email/Password Authentication: email address and securely encrypted password

All authentication is processed through Google Firebase Authentication, a secure, industry-standard authentication service.

2.2 Catch Records

When you log a fishing catch, the App records the following information:

Fish species and bait/lure type (identified via AI or entered manually by the user)
Estimated fish size
Date and time of capture
Geographic coordinates (derived from photo EXIF metadata or device GPS)
Meteorological conditions at the time and location of capture
Lunar phase and illumination data
Marine conditions, including wave height and sea surface temperature

2.3 Photographs

The App requests access to your device camera and photo library to capture or select images of your catches.

    Important: Photographs are stored exclusively on your device. They are never uploaded to our servers for permanent storage. Images are temporarily transmitted in compressed form to our backend server solely for AI-powered species identification and are immediately discarded upon completion of the analysis.

2.4 Location Data

With your explicit permission, the App collects geographic coordinates for the following purposes:

Recording the precise location of each catch
Retrieving historical weather and marine conditions for that location
Displaying catch locations on an interactive map within the App

Location data is obtained either from EXIF metadata embedded in photographs or from your device's GPS sensor.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your data exclusively for the purposes outlined below. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Local Storage

All catch data and photographs are stored locally on your device using an encrypted SQLite database. The App is designed to function fully offline without an internet connection.

4.2 Cloud Synchronization

Catch records (textual data only; photographs are excluded) are synchronized to Google Cloud Firestore to enable backup and multi-device access. Your data is stored within your personal, isolated account. Firebase security rules enforce strict access control, ensuring that only you can read and modify your own data.

4.3 Backend Infrastructure

Our backend server functions exclusively as a secure proxy for third-party API services. No user data is persistently stored on our servers. Photographs transmitted for AI analysis are processed entirely in memory and are purged immediately upon completion.

5. Third-Party Services

The App integrates with the following third-party services, each governed by their respective privacy policies:

Data Type	Purpose	Processed By
Photographs Temporary	AI-powered fish and bait identification	Google Gemini AI (via our secure backend)
Geographic coordinates & date	Historical weather and marine data retrieval	Open-Meteo API
Date of capture	Lunar phase calculation	Our backend server
Catch records (text only)	Cloud synchronization across your devices	Google Cloud Firestore
Account credentials	User authentication and data access control	Google Firebase Authentication

Google Firebase — Authentication & Cloud Firestore — Privacy Policy
Google Gemini AI — Fish species identification — Terms of Service
Open-Meteo — Meteorological data (open-source) — Terms of Use
Google Play Billing — In-app subscription management — Privacy Policy

6. Device Permissions

The App may request the following device permissions to deliver its core functionality:

Camera — Required to photograph your catches directly within the App
Photos & Media — Required to select existing images from your device gallery
Location — Required to geotag catches and retrieve location-based weather data
Internet — Required for AI identification, weather data retrieval, cloud synchronization, and user authentication

All permissions are requested at runtime and may be individually granted or denied. The App will continue to operate with reduced functionality if specific permissions are not granted.

7. Data Retention and Deletion

8. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed at individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will take immediate steps to delete it.

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any modifications will be reflected on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the App following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please do not hesitate to contact us:

1. Introduction