Privacy Policy — Whateren

Whateren ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information in connection with the Whateren mobile application ("App"). By using the App, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Our Privacy Commitment

Whateren is designed with privacy as a core principle. We do not collect, store, transmit, or have access to any of your personal data or the content you create within the App. Your inventory data belongs to you and stays on your devices.

2. Information We Do NOT Collect

Unlike many applications, Whateren does not collect:

Personal Information: We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or any other personal identifiers.
Account Information: We do not require you to create an account. There is no registration, login, or authentication through our systems.
Inventory Data: We do not have access to, collect, or store any of the items, photos, categories, locations, or other content you create in the App.
Usage Analytics: We do not collect analytics, usage statistics, or behavioral data about how you use the App.
Device Information: We do not collect device identifiers, IP addresses, or technical information about your device.
Location Data: We do not collect or access your device's GPS location.
Contacts or Calendar: We do not access your contacts, calendar, or other personal information on your device.

3. Data Storage

3.1 Local Storage

All data you create within the App is stored locally on your device. This includes your items, categories, locations, photos, and any other content. This data never leaves your device unless you choose to export it or enable iCloud sync.

3.2 iCloud Sync (Optional)

If you choose to enable iCloud sync, your data will be stored in your personal iCloud account, which is provided and managed by Apple, Inc. When you use iCloud sync:

Your data is stored in a private CloudKit container associated with your Apple ID
Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest using Apple's security measures
We do not have access to your iCloud data — it is stored in your personal Apple account
Apple's Privacy Policy governs the handling of data stored in iCloud

You can disable iCloud sync at any time in the App settings, which will stop syncing your data to iCloud while keeping a local copy on your device.

3.3 Family Sharing

If you use the family sharing feature, your shared inventory data is stored in a shared iCloud container accessible only to the family members you explicitly invite. You maintain control over who can access shared data and can revoke access at any time.

4. Data Export

The App allows you to export your data in CSV and JSON formats. When you export your data:

The exported file is created locally on your device
You control where the file is saved and with whom it is shared
We do not receive, transmit, or have access to your exported data

5. Photos and Images

When you add photos to your inventory items:

Photos taken within the App are stored locally with your inventory data
Photos selected from your photo library are copied into the App's local storage
If you use the web image search feature, images are fetched from third-party image services; these services may have their own privacy policies
We do not upload, transmit, or have access to your photos

6. Third-Party Services

6.1 Apple Services

The App integrates with the following Apple services, each governed by Apple's Privacy Policy:

iCloud/CloudKit: For optional data synchronization and family sharing
App Store: For app distribution and purchase processing
StoreKit: For handling in-app purchases (if applicable)

6.2 Web Image Search

The App includes a feature to search for product images on the web. When you use this feature, your search queries are sent to third-party image search services. These services may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these services before use.

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children under 13. Since we do not collect personal information from any users, there is no data to delete. If you believe a child under 13 has somehow provided personal information through the App, please contact us.

8. Data Security

Since your data is stored locally on your device or in your personal iCloud account, the security of your data depends on:

Your device's security settings (passcode, Face ID, Touch ID)
Your iCloud account security (if sync is enabled)
Physical security of your devices

We recommend enabling device encryption and using strong authentication methods to protect your data. The App itself does not implement additional encryption beyond what is provided by iOS and iCloud.

9. Data Retention and Deletion

Because we do not collect or store your data:

There is no data retention period — we simply do not have your data
Deleting the App from your device will delete all locally stored data
If you use iCloud sync, you can delete your data from iCloud through your Apple ID settings or by using the App's data management features
There is no account to delete because we do not create user accounts

10. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, including:

Right to Access: The right to know what personal data is being processed
Right to Rectification: The right to correct inaccurate personal data
Right to Erasure: The right to have your personal data deleted
Right to Data Portability: The right to receive your data in a portable format
Right to Object: The right to object to certain processing of your data

Because we do not collect, store, or process any personal data, these rights are effectively self-exercised through the App:

You can view all your data within the App at any time
You can edit or correct any data within the App
You can delete any or all data within the App
You can export your data in portable formats (CSV, JSON)

11. International Data Transfers

Since we do not collect your data, there are no international data transfers by us. If you enable iCloud sync, Apple may store your data in data centers located in various countries, subject to Apple's data protection practices and applicable laws.

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with specific rights. However, because we do not collect personal information as defined under the CCPA, these rights do not apply in the traditional sense. Specifically:

We do not sell personal information
We do not collect personal information for commercial purposes
We do not share personal information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes

13. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides you with specific rights. Because we do not collect, process, or store your personal data:

We do not act as a data controller for your personal data
There is no legal basis for processing because no processing occurs
Your GDPR rights are preserved through the App's local-only architecture

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your privacy.

If we make material changes that affect your rights, we will provide notice through the App or by other means prior to the change becoming effective.

15. Compliance with App Store Guidelines

This App complies with the Apple App Store Guidelines, including the App Store Review Guidelines regarding data collection, privacy, and user consent. The App's App Privacy label on the App Store accurately reflects our data practices: we do not collect data from users.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@whateren.com

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe.

17. Summary

To summarize our privacy practices:

No data collection: We do not collect any personal data or usage information
No accounts: We do not require registration or login
No servers: We do not operate servers that store your data
No tracking: We do not track your behavior or use analytics
No ads: We do not display advertisements or share data with advertisers
Your control: You have complete control over your data at all times

Your privacy is not just a feature — it's the foundation of how Whateren is built.