Privacy Policy
Last Updated: January 30, 2026
Our Commitment
At PingCircle, your privacy isn't a feature—it's our foundation. We built this app because we're tired of platforms that monetize your relationships. Here's exactly what we do (and don't do) with your data.
The Short Version: We collect only what's necessary to make the app work, we never sell your data, and you can delete everything with one tap.
What We Collect
Account Information
- Apple ID (via Sign in with Apple)
- Username (chosen by you)
- Email address (optional, if you choose to provide it)
- Account creation date
Usage Data
- Check-in history (dates and mood selections)
- Ping history (who you messaged and when)
- Constellation membership (your friends list)
- Streak data and achievements
- Token balance and transaction history
- App preferences and settings
Technical Data
- Device type and iOS version (for compatibility)
- App version (for bug tracking)
- Crash logs (anonymous, for debugging)
- Performance metrics (to improve app speed)
What We DON'T Collect
- Your location - We never track where you are
- Your contacts - Unless you explicitly choose to import
- Your photos or videos - We don't support media uploads
- Browsing history - No tracking outside the app
- Advertising identifiers - We have no ads
- Biometric data - No facial recognition or fingerprints
- Health information - Mood check-ins aren't medical data
- Payment information - All transactions through Apple
How We Use Your Data
We use your information solely to provide PingCircle's core functionality:
- Showing your constellation status to friends you've added
- Calculating streaks and care scores
- Sending notifications (if you've enabled them)
- Generating insights about your connection patterns
- Improving app performance and fixing bugs
- Preventing fraud and abuse
- Complying with legal obligations
What We NEVER Do
- Sell your data: Ever. To anyone. For any price.
- Share with third parties: No advertisers, no data brokers, no "partners."
- Use for advertising: We don't have ads, so we have no reason to track you.
- Train AI models: Your messages stay yours. We don't feed them to language models.
- Profile you: No behavioral tracking, no shadow profiles, no creepy algorithms.
- Share without consent: We only share what you explicitly choose to share with friends.
Data Security
We protect your information using industry-standard security measures:
- End-to-end encryption for all ping messages
- Secure Firebase infrastructure with strict access controls
- TLS/SSL encryption for all data in transit
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- Two-factor authentication for team access
- Automated backup systems to prevent data loss
- SOC 2 Type II compliance (in progress)
Your Rights
You have complete control over your data:
Access
Request a copy of all your data anytime. We'll provide a complete export within 30 days.
Export
Download your check-in history, pings, and reflections as JSON from Settings → Privacy → Export Data.
Delete
Remove your account and all associated data with one tap. All data is permanently deleted within 30 days, except:
- Anonymized analytics (no personally identifiable information)
- Legal compliance records (if required by law)
Modify
Update your username, preferences, or constellation anytime from the Profile tab.
Object
Opt out of analytics, notifications, or any non-essential data processing.
Portability
Take your data with you. Export in machine-readable JSON format.
Data Retention
- Active accounts: Data stored as long as your account exists
- Deleted accounts: All data permanently deleted within 30 days
- Inactive accounts: We'll email you after 2 years of inactivity before deletion
- Backups: Deleted data removed from backups within 90 days
- Legal holds: Data may be retained longer if required by law
Sharing Your Data
We only share your data in these limited circumstances:
With Your Friends
Your check-in status, mood, and pings are visible to friends you've added to your constellation. This is the core function of the app.
Service Providers
We use trusted third-party services to operate PingCircle:
- Firebase (Google): Database, authentication, cloud functions
- Apple: Sign in with Apple, push notifications, payments
- Sentry: Crash reporting (anonymous)
All providers are bound by strict data processing agreements and cannot use your data for their own purposes.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose data if required by law, court order, or to:
- Comply with legal process
- Protect our rights or property
- Prevent fraud or abuse
- Protect user safety in emergencies
We'll notify you of legal requests unless prohibited by law.
Children's Privacy
PingCircle is not intended for users under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we discover underage usage, we'll delete the account immediately and notify parents if possible.
Users aged 13-17 should have parental consent before using PingCircle.
International Users
PingCircle is operated from the United States. If you use our app from outside the US, your data will be transferred to and stored in the US.
We comply with international data protection laws including:
- GDPR (European Union)
- UK GDPR (United Kingdom)
- CCPA (California)
- PIPEDA (Canada)
Cookies & Tracking
The PingCircle mobile app does not use cookies. Our website (pingcircle.app) uses minimal cookies for:
- Session management (keeping you logged in)
- Analytics (understanding how people use the site)
You can disable cookies in your browser settings.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Material changes will be announced via:
- Email notification (30 days in advance)
- In-app notification
- Banner on this page
Continued use after changes means you accept the updated policy. The "Last Updated" date at the top shows when changes were last made.
Contact Us
Questions about privacy? We're here to help:
Email: privacy@pingcircle.app
Response time: Within 48 hours
Data Protection Officer:
PingCircle, Inc.
Attn: Privacy Team
[Your Address]
privacy@pingcircle.app
Compliance
PingCircle complies with:
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation - EU)
- CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
- COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)
- Apple's App Store Privacy Guidelines
- SOC 2 Type II (in progress)
Our Promise: Your friendships are sacred. We'll never compromise your privacy to make a quick buck. If we ever need to change our business model, we'll be transparent about it and give you plenty of notice.
Document Version: 1.0
Last Updated: January 30, 2026
Effective Date: January 30, 2026