Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

BrewSeek is operated by Bowshock Software, based in Australia. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. By using BrewSeek, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information We Collect

Account information. When you create an account, we collect your display name and email address. If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name and email from those services. When signing in with Apple you may choose to hide your email address, in which case Apple provides a private relay address instead.

User-generated content. We store the reviews you write, the star ratings you submit, the coffee shops you add to the map, the photos you upload for cafe listings, and any feature suggestions or reports you submit.

Photos. Photos you upload are stored in Firebase Storage and are publicly accessible via their download URL so they can be displayed in the app. Photos are associated with the cafe listing, not directly with your account.

Location data. BrewSeek requests access to your device location to show nearby cafes on the map and to help you add new listings. Your location is used in-app only and is not stored on our servers.

Usage and analytics data. We use Firebase Analytics to collect anonymised information about how the app is used — such as which screens are visited and how features are interacted with. This data does not identify you personally and is used to improve the app.

Technical data. Firebase may automatically collect device type, operating system version, and crash reports to help us diagnose and fix issues.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and operate the BrewSeek service, including displaying your contributions on the map.
• To calculate and display your points, rank, and position on the leaderboard.
• To send in-app notifications about the status of your reports and feature suggestions.
• To allow administrators to moderate content, respond to reports, and maintain the quality of listings.
• To process account deletion requests and remove your data within the 30-day deletion window.
• To understand how the app is used and to improve its features and performance.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. Your data may be shared with the following third-party services solely to operate the app:

• Google Firebase (Firestore, Authentication, Storage, Analytics) — cloud database, sign-in, photo storage, and analytics infrastructure.
• Google Sign-In — optional OAuth authentication.
• Apple Sign In — optional OAuth authentication via your Apple ID.
• Google Places API — used to surface nearby cafes and import listing details. Searches are sent to Google's servers.

Google services have their own privacy policies and are governed by Google's data processing terms. Apple Sign In is governed by Apple's privacy policy.

4. Data Retention

Your account information and user-generated content (reviews, cafe listings, photos, suggestions) are retained on our servers for as long as your account is active.

Account deletion. You can request deletion of your account directly within the app from your Profile screen. On confirmation, your display name is immediately replaced with [Deleted User] on any existing reviews and your account is marked inactive. All of your personal data will be permanently deleted within 30 days of the request. You may continue to sign in during this 30-day window; signing in again will not cancel the deletion request. If you need to cancel a pending deletion, please contact us before the 30 days have elapsed.

If you prefer to request deletion by email, contact us at support@brewseek.app and we will action your request within 30 days.

5. Children's Privacy

BrewSeek is available to users of all ages. We do not knowingly collect any additional personal information from children beyond what is described in this policy, and we do not use children's data for advertising or analytics purposes beyond what is described above. If you believe a child's information has been collected inappropriately, please contact us.

6. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and applicable state laws, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your personal information — this can be done in-app from your Profile screen, or by emailing us.

To exercise any of these rights, use the in-app deletion option or email us at support@brewseek.app. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including Firebase's built-in security features, Firestore security rules that restrict database access to authorised users only, and Firebase Storage security rules that restrict photo uploads to authenticated users and limit deletion to the uploader or an administrator. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of BrewSeek after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy, please contact:

Bowshock Software
Australia
support@brewseek.app