Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 1, 2026

BiteCycle respects your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights.

1. Information We Collect

Account information: When you sign up, we collect your email address, display name, and profile avatar selection. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email, and profile photo from Google.

Content you create: Dish reviews, ratings, photos, tags, notes, messages, event RSVPs, and reactions you post within the app.

Location data: With your permission, we access your device location to show nearby restaurants on the map and pre-fill place search. Location is used in real-time and is not stored on our servers.

Device information: We may collect basic device info (OS version, app version) for crash reporting and compatibility.

2. How We Use Your Data

• To provide the BiteCycle service: displaying your entries, messages, and content to your circle members
• To send in-app notifications about activity in your circles
• To improve the app and fix bugs
• To enforce our Terms of Service

3. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. Your content is shared only with members of the circles you join. We may share data with:

• Firebase (Google Cloud): Our backend infrastructure for authentication, data storage, and hosting
• Google Maps / Places API: To provide map and restaurant search functionality
• Law enforcement: If required by law or to protect the safety of our users

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored in Google Firebase (Firestore and Cloud Storage) with encryption at rest and in transit. We use Firebase Authentication for secure sign-in. Firestore security rules restrict data access to authorized users only.

5. Photos

Photos you upload are stored in Firebase Cloud Storage and are accessible to members of the circle where the entry was shared. Photos are not used for training machine learning models or shared with third parties.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days. Some anonymized data may be retained for analytics.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data via your profile settings
• Delete your account and associated data — request deletion
• Export your data upon request
• Withdraw consent for location access at any time through device settings

8. Children's Privacy

BiteCycle is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If we learn that we have, we will promptly delete that data.

9. Cookies and Tracking

The BiteCycle mobile app does not use cookies or third-party tracking. Our website uses no analytics or tracking cookies.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes through the app. The "last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

11. Contact

For privacy questions or data requests, contact us at privacy@bitecycle.app.