Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Spot is a Minnesota-based social map for campus communities. In this policy, “Spot,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Spot. This policy applies to the Spot mobile app, our website at spotcampus.app, and related services (together, the “Services”).

Questions or privacy requests can be sent to hello@spotcampus.app.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

• Account information. Your phone number, name, display name, and, if you choose to provide it, email address.
• Profile and content. Profile information, photos, videos, reviews, comments, places, and other content you submit.
• Circles and connections. The Circles you create or join, invitations, memberships, and how you interact with other people through the Services.
• Communications. Information you send when you contact us for support, report a problem, or provide feedback.

Location information

Spot is a map-based service. If you give Spot permission through your device, we collect location information, which may include precise location, to show your position on the map, provide location-based features, and share your location with members of the Circles you choose. Your location is not shared with every Spot user simply because you use the app.

Location access and sharing are optional. You can stop future collection by changing Spot’s location permission in your device settings. Some map and Circle features will not work without location access. Before joining a Circle or sharing your location, consider who its members are and whether you are comfortable sharing with them.

Information collected automatically

• Device and network information. Device type, operating system, app version, IP address, language, and similar technical information.
• Usage and diagnostics. Basic information about how the Services are used, performance, crashes, and errors.
• Notifications. A push notification token and your notification preferences if you enable notifications.

3. How we use information

We use information to:

• create, verify, secure, and maintain your account;
• operate the map, Circles, location sharing, and other features;
• display and deliver content to the audiences you select;
• send verification, service, safety, and support messages;
• understand usage and improve performance and reliability;
• detect fraud, abuse, security incidents, and policy violations;
• respond to support requests and enforce our Terms of Service; and
• comply with law and protect users, Spot, and the public.

We do not sell personal information, use it for targeted advertising, or use your content to train artificial intelligence models.

4. How information is shared

With people you choose

We share information as needed to provide the social features you use. For example, members of a Circle may see the profile, content, and location you share with that Circle. Content posted to a broader or public part of Spot may be visible to other Spot users. Review the audience shown in the app before posting or sharing.

With service providers

We use companies that process information for us to operate the Services. These currently include Convex for application hosting and data infrastructure, Mapbox for maps and location technology, Expo for app infrastructure and notifications, and Resend for email delivery and verification. They may process information only as needed to provide their services to us and under their own applicable terms and privacy policies.

For safety, legal reasons, or a business transfer

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe it is required by law or needed to protect someone’s safety, prevent fraud or abuse, investigate a security issue, or protect our rights. If Spot is involved in a merger, financing, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate protections.

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably identify you.

5. Your choices and controls

• Location. Change Spot’s access in your device settings. You can also control which Circles receive information through the sharing controls available in the app.
• Profile and content. Edit or remove supported profile information and content in the app.
• Notifications. Adjust notification settings in the app or on your device.
• Account deletion. Delete your account from within the app. You may also contact us for help.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of your personal information, or to withdraw consent for certain processing. Email us to make a request. We may need to verify your identity before completing it.

6. Retention

We keep personal information only as long as reasonably needed to provide the Services, maintain security, comply with law, and resolve disputes. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify information associated with it, except where limited retention is required for legal, safety, fraud-prevention, or backup purposes. Information other people have independently saved or reposted may remain outside our control.

7. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information. No online service can guarantee absolute security, so please use Spot carefully and protect access to your phone and account.

8. Children

Spot is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has used Spot, contact us so we can investigate and delete the information as appropriate. If you are under 18, you should use Spot only with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.

9. United States service

Spot is offered in the United States and information is processed in the United States. The Services are not currently directed to people outside the United States.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as Spot changes. We will update the effective date above and provide additional notice if a change materially affects your rights or how we use personal information.

11. Contact us

For questions, requests, or complaints about privacy, email hello@spotcampus.app.