Haunt Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 2025

DE AGOSTO DESIGN OFFICE LLC, a California limited liability company, operating as Haunt ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your email address, username, and authentication credentials. If you sign in through third-party services (Google, Apple), we receive basic profile information from those providers.

Location Data

Haunt requires location information to provide core functionality. We collect:

Precise location data when you create posts ("Haunts")
Background location data to enable post discovery (when permitted)
Location metadata embedded in photos (EXIF data)
Historical location data for posts you've created or discovered

Content and Media

We collect and store:

Photos and videos you upload
Text content in your posts and replies
Direct messages and group chat conversations
Message metadata including timestamps, read status, and participant information
Profile information including bio and profile pictures
Ratings and reviews of places

Usage and Device Information

We automatically collect:

Device identifiers and operating system information
App usage patterns and feature interactions
Network information and IP address
Crash reports and performance data
Push notification tokens

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your information to:

Provide and maintain the Hauntios service
Enable location-based post discovery and sharing
Facilitate social connections between users
Send notifications about app activity and discoveries
Improve app performance and user experience
Prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms
Comply with legal obligations
Communicate with you about the Service

3. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE

With Other Users

By design, Haunt shares certain information with other users:

Your posts and photos are visible to friends who visit the associated locations
Your username and profile information are visible to other users
Your approximate location when you discover posts (logged for revelation tracking - not visible in real-time to other users)

Third-Party Services

We share data with the following named service providers:

Firebase (Google) - Authentication, Firestore database, Cloud Storage, Analytics, Crashlytics crash reporting, Performance monitoring, Remote Config, and Push Messaging
Google Places API - Location and place information services
Google Sign-In - Third-party authentication services
Apple StoreKit - In-app purchase processing

For detailed information about how these services handle your data, please review their privacy policies:

Google/Firebase Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Apple Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/privacy/

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, to protect our rights, or to investigate potential violations of our Terms of Service.

4. DATA SECURITY

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit and at rest. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Specific retention periods include:

Account and profile data: Retained while your account is active
Posts and messages: Retained while your account is active
Analytics and usage data: Retained for up to 26 months
Backup data: Automatically deleted after 90 days
Legal compliance data: Retained as required by applicable law

When you delete your account, we immediately remove your personal information from active systems. Backup copies are automatically purged within 90 days of account deletion.

6. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Access and Control

You can:

Access and update your profile information through the app
Control location permissions through your device settings
Manage notification preferences in app settings
Delete your account and associated data

Regional Rights

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights under laws such as GDPR, CCPA, or other privacy regulations:

Right to access your personal information and receive a copy
Right to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
Right to delete your personal information ("right to be forgotten")
Right to data portability - receive your data in a structured format
Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
Right to restrict or object to certain processing of your information
Right to lodge a complaint with supervisory authorities
Right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by applicable law.

7. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Haunt is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately at hello@hauntt.com with "Child Privacy" in the subject line so we can delete the information.

8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your information may be processed and stored in countries other than your own, including the United States where our Firebase/Google Cloud services are hosted. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information during international transfers.

For transfers from the European Economic Area (EEA), we rely on:

Google's compliance with Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
Adequacy decisions where applicable
Other lawful transfer mechanisms as recognized under GDPR

9. TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES AND ANALYTICS

Technologies We Use

We use the following tracking technologies to improve our service:

Firebase Analytics - App usage patterns, feature interactions, and user engagement metrics
Firebase Performance Monitoring - App performance data, crash reports, and technical diagnostics
Firebase Crashlytics - Crash reporting and stability monitoring
Device identifiers - For authentication, push notifications, and fraud prevention
Local storage - For app preferences, cache management, and offline functionality

Your Control Options

You can manage tracking and data collection through:

iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements - Control system-level analytics sharing
iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising - Manage personalized ads
App Settings - Control notification preferences and location permissions
Account Deletion - Permanently remove your data by deleting your account

Cross-App Tracking and Advertising

We do not track users across other apps or websites for advertising purposes. We do not sell personal information or use it for cross-app targeted advertising. Our analytics are limited to first-party usage within the Haunt app to improve our service.

Note: Some tracking technologies are essential for core app functionality and cannot be disabled while using the service.

10. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Material changes will be communicated through the app or via email. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. CONTACT US

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: hello@hauntt.com or by mail at 3430 Helen Street, Oakland, California 94608, United States

For data protection inquiries or to exercise your privacy rights, please include "Privacy Request" in the subject line.

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