At Chef's Compass, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use our mobile app and services.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly and information collected through your use of Chef's Compass:
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect: full name, email address, hashed password, vessel name, and professional rank.
Profile Content
Profile photo, background image, and any biographical information you choose to add.
Product Finds
Descriptions, photos, videos, geographic location, private notes, star ratings, and timestamps for all culinary discoveries you record in the app.
Device Information
Device identifiers, push notification tokens, and operating system version.
Location Data
Approximate location via heartbeat mechanism (disableable in app settings). Precise location is only used to power map features and find nearby Product Finds when you explicitly enable location services.
Usage Analytics
Anonymised data about app interactions, feature usage patterns, and system performance metrics.
Subscription & Payment
Subscription status and transaction history through Google Play Billing (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS). Chef's Compass never receives card details—payment processing is managed entirely by these platforms. We use RevenueCat to manage subscription status, transmitting only device ID and internal user ID (not name, email, or content).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- •Account Creation & Maintenance: Setting up your account, authenticating access, and managing your profile.
- •Displaying Your Profile & Finds: Sharing your name, rank, vessel name (if enabled), avatar, and Product Finds with other verified Chef's Compass users.
- •Subscription Verification: Confirming your subscription status to manage app access and premium features.
- •Push Notifications: Sending notifications about your Product Finds, messages from other users, or app updates (opt-out available in device settings).
- •Map & Geolocation Features: Using location data to display your Finds on the map and show nearby discoveries from other users.
- •Customer Support: Responding to your inquiries and resolving technical issues.
- •Legal Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal requests.
Important:
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising purposes.
3. How We Share Your Information
Your information is shared in limited circumstances:
RevenueCat (Subscription Management)
We share only your device ID and internal user ID for subscription status verification. No personal identifying information, email, content, or location data is transmitted.
Other Chef's Compass Users
Your name, professional rank, vessel name (only if you enable vessel visibility in settings), avatar, and all Product Finds are visible to other verified users of the app. Vessel name can be hidden in Profile Settings.
Google Maps Integration
Your approximate location and Find locations are sent to Google Maps only to render the map display and perform location-based searches. See Google's privacy policy for details.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information when required by law, court order, or government request, or when necessary to protect the safety, rights, and property of Chef's Compass, its users, or the public.
Business Transfers
If Chef's Compass is acquired or merged, your information will be treated with the same level of privacy protection under this policy.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account:
- •Your profile and personal data will be deleted within 30 days of your deletion request.
- •Product Finds you created may remain visible on the map but will be dissociated from your account.
- •We may retain aggregated, anonymised data for analytics and service improvement.
We may retain information longer where required by applicable law or for legitimate business purposes.
5. Your Rights & Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access & Correction
You can view and update your account information directly in the Chef's Compass app under Profile Settings.
Account Deletion
You can permanently delete your account at any time via Profile → Settings → Delete Account. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.
Location Services
You can disable location access at any time in your device settings. This will disable map features and nearby Finds discovery.
Push Notifications
Push notifications can be disabled in your device's notification settings for Chef's Compass.
Subscription Management
You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through Profile → Manage Subscription, or directly via your device's app store (Google Play or Apple App Store).
GDPR & UK GDPR Rights (EEA & UK Users)
If you are located in the European Union, United Kingdom, or other regions with similar privacy laws, you have additional rights including:
- • Right to access your personal data
- • Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
- • Right to restrict processing
- • Right to data portability
- • Right to object to processing
- • Right to lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@cheffcompass.com.
6. Data Security
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:
- •Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted between the app and our servers uses TLS/HTTPS encryption.
- •Password Security: Passwords are secured using one-way cryptographic hashing and are never stored in plain text.
- •Infrastructure: Chef's Compass is hosted on Google Cloud Platform with enterprise-grade access controls and audit logging.
- •Access Controls: Only authorised staff members have access to personal data, and access is logged and monitored.
Security Notice:
While we implement strong security measures, no system is absolutely secure. If you suspect a security breach, please contact us immediately at privacy@cheffcompass.com.
7. Children's Privacy
Chef's Compass is intended for professional culinary adults and is not targeted at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 years of age.
If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will delete that information immediately. If you believe a minor has provided personal information to Chef's Compass, please contact us at privacy@cheffcompass.com so we can take appropriate action.
8. Third-Party Services
Chef's Compass integrates with several third-party services that process your data:
Google Play Billing & Apple App Store
These platforms process all subscription and payment transactions. Chef's Compass never receives your payment card details. Please review their respective privacy policies for details on payment data handling.
RevenueCat
Manages subscription status and cross-platform subscriptions. RevenueCat receives only device ID and internal user ID. See RevenueCat's privacy policy at revenuecat.com/privacy.
Google Maps API
Provides map display and location-based search features. Your location data is subject to Google's privacy policies. See Google's privacy policy for details on how location data is handled.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Hosts the Chef's Compass backend infrastructure, databases, and user data. GCP implements enterprise-grade security and compliance controls.
We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party services to understand how they handle your information.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
Your continued use of Chef's Compass after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:
B1u3 Ventures
Email: privacy@cheffcompass.com
Product: Chef's Compass
We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days or as required by applicable law.