Spotly - Discover Places Together

Last updated: September 2025

Kaspar Padberg ("we", "our", or "us") operates the Spotly mobile application (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you create an account, we collect:

Name and email address
Profile photo (optional)
Authentication information (Google, Apple, or email/password)
User-generated content (POI entries, comments, photos)

1.2 Location Information

With your permission, we collect:

Precise location data for POI discovery and navigation
Background location for geofencing and visit notifications
Location history for personalized recommendations
Visit tracking data (entry/exit times, duration at locations)

1.3 Usage Data

We automatically collect:

Device identifiers and technical information
App usage patterns and feature interactions
Log data and crash reports
Push notification preferences and responses

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide and maintain the Service
Discover and recommend Points of Interest near you
Send location-based notifications about your saved POIs
Enable social features (friend connections, POI sharing)
Process and store your photos and comments
Provide customer support
Improve our Service and develop new features
Ensure security and prevent abuse

3. Third-Party Services

Our Service integrates with the following third-party services:

3.1 Firebase (Google LLC)

Authentication and user management
Database storage (Cloud Firestore)
File storage (Firebase Storage)
Push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging)
Cloud functions for server-side processing

3.2 Google Maps Platform

Map display and navigation
Place information and photos
Geocoding and reverse geocoding

3.3 Authentication Providers

Google Sign-In
Apple Sign In

4. Location Data

Location data is central to our Service. We use your location to:

Show nearby Points of Interest
Provide navigation and directions
Send notifications when you're near saved POIs
Track visits to locations for personalized experiences
Enable geofencing features

Background Location: We may collect location data even when the app is not actively being used to provide location-based notifications. You can disable this in your device settings at any time.

5. Social Features

Our Service includes social features that allow you to:

Connect with friends and see their POIs
Share POIs with others
Comment on and like POIs
Create and share POI lists

Information you share through these features is visible to your connected friends and may be visible to other users depending on your privacy settings.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With your consent or at your direction
With service providers who help us operate the Service
To comply with legal obligations
To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users
In connection with a business transfer or acquisition

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

8. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request access to your personal information
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured format
Withdrawal of consent: Withdraw consent for location tracking

8.1 Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time through:

The account settings within the Spotly app
Contacting our support team at support@heyspotly.com

What happens when you delete your account:

Your profile, POIs, comments, and photos will be permanently deleted
Shared POIs and lists will be removed from other users' accounts
Your social connections (friends) will be terminated
Location history and visit tracking data will be erased
Some data may be retained in system backups for up to 30 days

Note: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. We recommend exporting any data you wish to keep before deleting your account.

For all other rights, you can contact us at support@heyspotly.com or use the privacy controls within the app settings.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. When you delete your account, we will delete your personal information, though some information may be retained in backups for a limited time.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete such information.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have different data protection laws than your country. By using our Service, you consent to such transfers.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy within the app and updating the "Last updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

By email: support@heyspotly.com
By mail: Kaspar Padberg, Möckernstr. 102, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Through the app's contact form