This Privacy Policy explains how Tail Journal ("Tail Journal", "the app", "we", "us", or "our") handles information when you use the Tail Journal mobile app.
Overview
Tail Journal is a local-first app for keeping a private photo journal for your dog. The app lets you create a dog profile, save photo entries, add captions, use reminders, view a calendar/history, create collages, optionally back up your data, and optionally remove ads with an in-app purchase.
We do not operate a custom backend for Tail Journal. We do not sell your dog photos. We do not provide social features, public profiles, or shared feeds.
Most Tail Journal data is stored locally on your device. If iCloud backup or Google Drive backup is used, your backup is stored in your own Apple iCloud account or Google Drive account. If ads are enabled, Google AdMob may process data as described in the Advertising section below.
Information You Provide or Create in the App
Tail Journal may store the following information on your device:
- Your dog's name.
- Your dog's optional profile photo.
- Photo journal entries.
- Captions and dates for saved photo entries.
- Reminder settings, such as reminder frequency and reminder time.
- App settings, such as whether ads are enabled, whether onboarding is complete, and whether backup is connected.
- Purchase state for the one-time "Remove ads" in-app purchase.
- Google Drive backup connection status and backup email, if you connect Google Drive.
- Apple account connection status and Apple email or Apple user identifier, if you connect with Apple.
This information is used to provide the app's core features: saving photo moments, showing your journal, scheduling local reminders, creating collages, restoring backups, and managing app settings.
Photos, Camera, and Photo Library
Tail Journal asks for camera or photo library access only when you choose to take a photo, pick a photo, set a dog profile photo, save an entry, or create/share a collage.
Photos selected or captured in Tail Journal are stored locally in app storage on your device. They are not uploaded to us. Photos may be included in backups only if you enable iCloud backup or Google Drive backup. Photos may also leave the app if you choose to share or export them using your device's share sheet.
Local Reminders and Notifications
Tail Journal may schedule local reminders based on the reminder settings you choose. These reminders are processed on your device. We do not receive reminder times or notification history.
iCloud Backup
On iOS, Tail Journal may use iCloud Drive to back up and restore your app data when iCloud Drive is available for the app. The backup may include your dog profile, saved photo entries, captions, dates, and related image files.
iCloud backup is stored in your own Apple iCloud account using Apple's iCloud services. We do not operate the iCloud service and we do not receive your iCloud backup. Your use of iCloud is also governed by Apple's terms and privacy policy.
You can manage iCloud Drive and app access through iOS Settings. Deleting the app, disabling iCloud Drive, or disabling iCloud access for Tail Journal may affect backup and restore availability.
Google Drive Backup
Tail Journal may allow you to connect Google Drive for backup and restore. If you choose to use Google Drive backup, the app requests access to the limited Google Drive app data scope:
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.appdata
This scope allows Tail Journal to create, update, read, and delete its own hidden backup file in your Google Drive app data folder. The backup may include your dog profile, saved photo entries, captions, dates, and related image files.
We do not receive your Google Drive backup. Your backup is stored in your own Google account and is handled by Google under Google's terms and privacy policy.
You can disconnect Google Drive in the app. You may also delete the Tail Journal Google Drive backup from within the app when that option is available.
Sign in with Apple
Tail Journal may offer Sign in with Apple to connect an Apple account. If you choose to connect with Apple, the app may receive and store locally an Apple user identifier and, if Apple provides it, your email address.
Tail Journal uses this information only to show connection status and manage the Apple account connection inside the app. Tail Journal does not use Sign in with Apple to create a public profile or custom backend account.
You can disconnect the Apple account link in the app. Disconnecting the Apple account link in Tail Journal does not sign you out of iCloud and does not delete iCloud backups.
Google Sign-In
Tail Journal may use Google Sign-In when you choose to connect Google Drive backup. The app may receive your Google account email address and authorization tokens needed to access the limited Google Drive app data scope.
Tail Journal uses this information only to connect, back up, restore, and disconnect Google Drive backup. Tail Journal does not use Google Sign-In to create a public profile or custom backend account.
You can disconnect Google Drive in the app. You can also manage app access from your Google Account settings.
Advertising
The free version of Tail Journal may display banner ads using Google AdMob. Google AdMob and its advertising partners may collect and process information such as device identifiers, IP address, approximate location derived from IP address, app interactions with ads, diagnostics, and other data used for ad delivery, fraud prevention, frequency capping, measurement, and, where permitted, personalized advertising.
For users in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, Tail Journal requests advertising consent through Google's User Messaging Platform or another Google-certified consent management platform before requesting ads where consent is required. You may be able to change your advertising privacy choices through a Privacy Choices option in the app.
Google's processing of advertising data is governed by Google's own policies and the consent choices presented to you.
If you buy the one-time "Remove ads" in-app purchase, Tail Journal will stop showing ad banners in the app while the purchase is active.
In-App Purchases
Tail Journal may offer a one-time non-consumable in-app purchase to remove ads. Purchases are processed by Apple on iOS and by Google on Android, depending on where you downloaded the app.
We do not receive your full payment card details. The app may store purchase status locally so it can unlock the remove-ads feature and restore purchases.
Sharing and Collages
If you create a collage or share a photo from Tail Journal, the content you choose may be passed to the operating system share sheet and to the app or service you select. Tail Journal does not control the privacy practices of other apps or services you choose to share with.
How We Use Information
Tail Journal uses information for the following purposes:
- To save and display your dog profile and photo journal.
- To store photos, captions, dates, reminders, and settings locally on your device.
- To schedule local reminders.
- To create collages and support sharing/exporting when you choose.
- To provide optional iCloud backup and restore.
- To provide optional Google Drive backup and restore.
- To show Google Drive or Apple account connection status.
- To display ads in the free version of the app.
- To process and restore the remove-ads purchase.
- To respond to support requests if you contact us.
- To comply with legal obligations and app store requirements.
Legal Bases for Users in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we rely on the following legal bases where applicable:
- Performance of a contract: to provide the app features you request.
- Consent: for optional permissions such as camera/photo access, notifications, backups, and advertising consent where required.
- Legitimate interests: to maintain app functionality, prevent abuse, troubleshoot issues, and respond to support requests.
- Legal obligations: to comply with laws, payment rules, and app store requirements.
You can withdraw consent where the app or operating system provides that option. Withdrawing consent may limit some features.
Data Sharing
We do not sell your dog photos or journal content.
Tail Journal may share or make information available to the following third parties only when needed for the features you use:
- Apple, for iCloud, Sign in with Apple, App Store distribution, and in-app purchases.
- Google, for Google Drive backup, Google Sign-In, and Google AdMob advertising.
- The operating system and apps you choose, when you use sharing/export features.
These third parties process information under their own terms and privacy policies.
Data Retention
Tail Journal keeps local app data on your device until you delete it, replace it, uninstall the app, or erase your device data.
iCloud backups remain in your iCloud account until you delete them, disable the relevant iCloud storage, or Apple removes them under its policies.
Google Drive backups remain in your Google Drive app data folder until you delete them in the app or through Google account controls.
Advertising and purchase-related data may be retained by Google, Apple, or their partners according to their own policies.
Your Choices and Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or receive a copy of your personal data.
Because Tail Journal is local-first and does not operate a custom backend, most app data is controlled directly on your device. You can:
- Edit or delete saved photo entries in the app.
- Change or remove your dog's profile photo.
- Disable reminders in the app or in system settings.
- Disconnect Google Drive backup in the app.
- Delete the Google Drive backup from the app when available.
- Disconnect the Apple account link in the app.
- Manage iCloud access in iOS Settings.
- Manage camera, photo library, notification, tracking, and other permissions in system settings.
- Change advertising consent through the app's Privacy Choices option where available.
- Remove all local app data by deleting the app from your device.
If you contact us for a privacy request, we may need enough information to verify and handle the request.
Children
Tail Journal is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, contact us and we will take appropriate steps.
International Transfers
Apple, Google, and their service providers may process information in countries other than your country of residence. Their processing is governed by their own privacy policies and applicable transfer mechanisms.
Security
Tail Journal is designed to keep journal data local to your device unless you choose to back it up or share it. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure. You are responsible for protecting access to your device, Apple account, Google account, and backups.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, provide notice in the app or through the app store listing.
Contact
If you have questions or privacy requests, contact:
Konstantin Peltsmakher
mc41.projects@gmail.com
Israel