🪑 BenchFinder Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
What We Collect
BenchFinder collects the minimum data needed to provide you with a great bench-finding experience:
- Account info: Email address and display name when you create an account
- Location data: Your device location (only when you grant permission) to show nearby benches and enable check-ins
- User-generated content: Bench submissions, moments, comments, photos, and collections you create
- Usage data: Which benches you visit, save, and follow — used to personalize your experience
How We Use Your Data
- To show you benches near your location
- To save your favorites, visits, and check-in history
- To display your profile to other users (social features)
- To send you in-app notifications about follows, likes, and new moments
- To moderate content and maintain community standards
We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not serve ads.
Data Storage
Your data is stored securely using Google Firebase (Firestore and Firebase Authentication). Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Our Firebase project is hosted in the United States.
Third-Party Services
- Firebase Authentication: Handles login and account security
- Cloud Firestore: Stores bench data, user profiles, and app content
- Firebase Storage: Stores uploaded photos
- Expo / EAS: App build and update delivery
- Apple MapKit / Google Maps: Map display and location services
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access: View all data associated with your account in the app
- Delete: Permanently delete your account and all associated data from Profile → Delete Account
- Withdraw consent: Revoke location permissions at any time in your device settings
Account deletion removes your user profile, collections, notifications, and authentication credentials. Bench submissions and moments you contributed may remain as community content with your display name anonymized.
Children's Privacy
BenchFinder is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes through the app. Continued use of BenchFinder after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.