Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to PlantPeek ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our PlantPeek mobile application and related services.

By using our app, you consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your email address and any profile information you choose to provide.
• Plant Images: Photos you take or upload for plant identification purposes.
• Garden Collections: Plants you add to your personal garden collection, including notes and care reminders.
• User Content: Any comments, reviews, or other content you submit through the app.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version, and device identifiers.
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app, features used, and time spent in the app.
• Location Data: Approximate location (if you grant permission) to provide regional plant information.
• Crash Reports: Technical information when the app experiences errors.

2.3 Camera and Photo Library Access

PlantPeek requires access to your device's camera and photo library to enable plant identification features. We only access images you specifically choose to capture or select for identification purposes.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Plant Identification: Process images through our AI systems to identify plants.
• Personalization: Customize your app experience and provide relevant plant recommendations.
• Sync Across Devices: Synchronize your garden collection and preferences across multiple devices.
• Improvements: Analyze usage patterns to improve app functionality and user experience.
• Customer Support: Respond to your questions and provide technical assistance.
• Communications: Send important updates about the app and new features (with your consent).
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.

4. App Permissions Explained

4.1 Required Permissions

• Camera: Essential for capturing plant photos for identification.
• Photo Library: Allows selection of existing photos for plant identification.
• Local Storage: Stores offline plant database and your collection data.
• Internet Access: Required for AI plant identification and data synchronization.

4.2 Optional Permissions

• Location Services: Helps provide regional plant information and growing zones. You can use the app without granting location access.
• Notifications: Sends care reminders and app updates. Can be disabled in device settings.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted third-party services that help us operate the app (cloud hosting, analytics, customer support).
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Anonymous Data: Aggregated, anonymized usage statistics to improve our AI models and services.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure cloud infrastructure with reputable providers
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Secure authentication and session management

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specifically:

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• Plant Images: Processed for identification then deleted within 30 days unless saved to your collection
• Usage Analytics: Anonymized and retained for up to 2 years for service improvement
• Support Records: Retained for 1 year for quality assurance purposes

8. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Export your garden collection and identification history
• Opt-out: Disable notifications, location services, and marketing communications
• Account Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

9. Children's Privacy

PlantPeek is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information.

11. Third-Party Services

Our app may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through our app.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the app and updating the "Last updated" date above. Your continued use of the app after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Regional Privacy Rights

13.1 European Union (GDPR)

If you are located in the EU, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to object to processing and the right to data portability.

13.2 California (CCPA)

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected and the right to delete personal information.