Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2026

At Beacon, we believe privacy is a fundamental right, not a feature. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information. The short version: we collect the minimum necessary to make the app work, and we never sell your data.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address (for authentication and account recovery)
• Display name (optional, shown to friends)
• Profile photo (optional)

Location Data

This is important: We only collect your location when you actively light your beacon. When your beacon is off, we do not track, store, or access your location in any way. Period.

• Location is only shared while your beacon is lit
• Location is only visible to your approved friends
• Location data is not stored permanently—it's deleted when you extinguish your beacon
• We do not build location history profiles

Friend Connections

We store your friend connections (who you've added and who has added you) to enable the core functionality of seeing when friends are available.

Device Information

We collect basic device information for app functionality:

• Device type and operating system version
• App version
• Push notification tokens (if you enable notifications)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information exclusively to:

• Enable core beacon functionality (showing when you're lit)
• Display your approximate location to approved friends
• Send push notifications when friends light their beacons (if enabled)
• Authenticate your account and prevent abuse
• Improve app performance and fix bugs

We do not:

• Sell your data to third parties
• Use your data for advertising
• Share your data with data brokers
• Build profiles about you based on location history
• Track you when your beacon is off

3. Data Sharing

Your data is only shared with:

• Your approved friends: They can see your location and status only when your beacon is lit
• Service providers: We use essential services (cloud hosting, authentication) that process data on our behalf under strict contractual obligations
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect safety

4. Data Retention

• Active location data: Deleted immediately when you extinguish your beacon
• Account data: Retained while your account is active
• Deleted accounts: All data is permanently deleted within 30 days of account deletion

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your data: Request a copy of all data we have about you
• Delete your account: Permanently delete all your data at any time
• Control visibility: Choose who can see you by managing your friend list
• Disable notifications: Turn off push notifications at any time

To exercise these rights, visit your account settings in the app or contact us at ignitebeacon@gmail.com.

6. Security

We protect your data using:

• End-to-end encryption for data in transit
• Encrypted storage for data at rest
• Regular security audits
• Strict access controls for our team

7. Children's Privacy

Beacon is not intended for users under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or via email. Your continued use of Beacon after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or your data, contact us at:

Email: ignitebeacon@gmail.com