Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 1, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how the Beer Finder Buddy mobile application (“the App”, “we”, “us”) handles your information. By using the App you agree to this policy.
The App is intended for users 17 years of age or older because it involves alcohol-related content.
1. Information we collect
Information you provide
- Photos you take or pick when using the “Scan a case” feature.
- Sighting details you choose to log: a beer name, brewery, your rating (1–5), and free-form notes you type.
- Beer entries you add to the shared catalog (name, brewery, style, ABV, optional image).
Information collected automatically
- Approximate and precise location (only while the App is in use, and only with your permission). Location is used to query nearby venues and to attach a location to sightings you create.
- Anonymous account identifier — when the App first launches it creates an anonymous user ID in our authentication system (Supabase) so your sightings and points can be saved between sessions. We do not collect your name, email, or phone number unless you explicitly add them in a future signup flow.
- Advertising identifier (IDFA) — only if you grant the App Tracking Transparency permission iOS shows on first launch. If you decline, ads served by Google AdMob are non-personalized and no IDFA is read.
- Diagnostic and crash data that Apple collects at the operating-system level if you opted into “Share with App Developers” in iOS Settings. We do not embed third-party crash SDKs.
We do not collect: your name, email address, phone number, contacts, calendar, microphone, health data, or financial information.
2. How we use information
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Location | Show venues near you, attach to sightings you create |
| Photos | Identify beers in the image via AI (described below), optionally attach to a sighting |
| Sightings, beer entries, ratings, notes | Save your activity, share with the community map / catalog |
| Anonymous user ID | Save your points balance, ad-free entitlement, and sighting history |
| Advertising ID (IDFA) | Personalized AdMob banner ads (only if you opt in via ATT) |
3. Third-party services
We share data only with the providers listed below, only for the purposes shown. We do not sell personal data.
| Provider | What is sent | Purpose | Their privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Anonymous user ID, sightings, photos you scan, beers you add | Cloud database and storage for App data | supabase.com/privacy |
| Anthropic (Claude API) | Photos you submit to “Scan a case” | AI identification of beers in the image. Photos are sent server-to-server from our backend, not from the device. | anthropic.com/privacy |
| Google AdMob | Advertising identifier (if granted), device info, IP address | Display banner ads | policies.google.com/privacy |
| OpenStreetMap (Overpass API) | Your approximate search coordinates | Look up bars and bottle shops near you | osmfoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy |
| Open Brewery DB | Your approximate search coordinates | Look up breweries near you | openbrewerydb.org |
| Open Food Facts | Beer names you search | Look up beer information | openfoodfacts.org/privacy-policy |
4. Photo handling
When you use the “Scan a case” feature:
- The photo is compressed on your device to roughly 1600 pixels wide.
- It is uploaded to a private folder in our Supabase storage bucket scoped to your anonymous user ID. Only your account can read it.
- Our backend (a Supabase Edge Function) downloads it and sends it to Anthropic’s Claude API for beer identification. Anthropic does not train on data sent through the API.
- We retain the photo so you can revisit your scan results. You may delete a photo at any time by contacting us at the address below.
5. Community data
Sightings and beer entries you create are visible to other users of the App. Only the body of what you submit is shared (beer, location, your rating, your notes). Your anonymous user ID is not displayed to other users.
6. Data retention and deletion
- Sightings and beer entries you create are retained until you request deletion.
- Anonymous accounts are retained until you request deletion. Because we don’t collect contact information, you must reach us from the device the account was created on, or include the user ID in your deletion request (it can be obtained by contacting support).
- To delete your data, email floyd.alex.25@gmail.com with the subject line “Delete my data”. We will delete your account, sightings, and any photos you uploaded within 30 days.
7. Your choices
- Location — revoke at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Beer Finder Buddy.
- Tracking (IDFA) — revoke at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Beer Finder Buddy.
- Camera and Photos — revoke at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera / Photos → Beer Finder Buddy.
- Notifications — the App does not currently send push notifications.
8. Children
The App is not directed to children under 17 and we do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in other jurisdictions). If we learn we have collected data from a child under that age, we will delete it.
9. International users
The App’s backend is hosted by Supabase, which stores data in the United States. Anthropic and Google AdMob also process data in the United States. If you use the App from outside the US, your data will be transferred to and processed in the US.
10. Changes
If we make material changes to this policy we will update the “Last updated” date and post the new policy at this URL. Continued use of the App after the update constitutes acceptance.
11. Contact
Questions, deletion requests, or privacy concerns:
floyd.alex.25@gmail.com