Version: 2.5
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how KinCompass Labs LLC ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use the FishPilot mobile application ("App") and website at fishpilot.app ("Website") (collectively, "FishPilot" or "Services").
By using FishPilot, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use FishPilot.
This Privacy Policy applies to users in the United States. FishPilot is designed for and marketed to users in the United States.
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
| Data Type | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Account Information | Email address, name (if provided) | Account creation, authentication, communications |
| Photos | Fish photos you submit for identification | AI-powered species identification |
| Catch Data | Species identified, dates, locations (if shared), notes | Catch history, gamification features |
| Communications | Messages to support, feedback | Customer service, product improvement |
Information Collected Automatically
| Data Type | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Device Information | Device type, operating system, app version | App compatibility, bug fixing |
| Usage Data | Features used, screens viewed, actions taken | Analytics, product improvement |
| Log Data | Crash reports, performance data | Technical troubleshooting |
Photo Metadata (EXIF Data)
Photos you submit may contain embedded metadata (EXIF data), including:
- GPS coordinates (location where the photo was taken)
- Date and time the photo was taken
- Device make and model
- Camera settings
This metadata is processed along with your photos and may be stored as part of your catch records. If you do not want location data transmitted with your photos, disable location services for your camera app before taking photos, or strip metadata before submitting.
Location Data
When you save a catch with location data (either from photo metadata or manual entry), that location is stored with your catch record. You may choose not to save location data for any catch. Saved locations are associated with your account and are not shared publicly unless you explicitly choose to share them through a future feature.
Information We Do NOT Collect
- Financial/Payment Information: All payments are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play Store. We do not collect or store credit card numbers or payment details.
- Continuous Location Tracking: We do not track your location in real-time or in the background.
- Biometric Data: We do not collect biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or facial recognition data. Fish photos are analyzed for species identification only and do not involve biometric processing of individuals who may appear in photos.
- Data from Children: We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (see Section 11).
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide Services: Process fish identification requests, display catch history, provide regulation information
- Manage Accounts: Create and manage your account, process subscriptions
- Communicate: Send service-related notifications, respond to support requests
- Improve FishPilot: Analyze usage patterns, fix bugs, develop new features
- Train and Improve AI Models: Use submitted photos and identification data to train, develop, and improve our machine learning models and AI systems for fish identification and related features
- Ensure Security: Detect fraud, enforce our Terms of Service
- Marketing: Send promotional communications (you may opt out at any time)
AI Model Training
Photos and fish identification data you submit may be used to train and improve FishPilot's machine learning models for species identification and related features. This helps us provide more accurate identifications for all users. Photos used in AI/ML training pipelines are processed to remove EXIF metadata (including GPS coordinates), and images containing identifiable human faces are excluded from training datasets. Once data has been used for model training, it cannot be removed from the trained model, even if you later delete your account.
3a. Affiliate and Advertising Content
FishPilot may display product recommendations containing affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission. Product recommendations may be personalized based on your catch history and fishing patterns. We do not share your personal information with affiliate partners. Affiliate link URLs do not contain your user identity or personal data -- only campaign-level tracking identifiers.
3b. Community Intelligence and Aggregate Data
FishPilot includes Community Intelligence features -- aggregate fishing activity data derived from anonymized catch data contributed by FishPilot users.
How It Works
- When you log catches in FishPilot, anonymized versions of your catch data are included in aggregate community statistics
- Community data contribution is enabled by default as part of the FishPilot service
- You may opt out at any time in Settings > Community Intelligence
What Is Anonymized and Aggregated
- Species caught (aggregated count by water body zone and time period)
- General water body or zone name (e.g., "Tampa Bay," "Lake Okeechobee") -- never GPS coordinates
- Environmental conditions at the time of catch (tide phase, moon phase, solunar score, barometric pressure, wind, temperature)
- Fish size measurements (zone-level averages)
- General time of catch, bucketed to 3-hour minimum windows
What Is NEVER Included in Community Data
- GPS coordinates or specific catch locations
- Your fishing spots or spot names
- Individual catch records attributable to you
- Your name, email, username, or any identifying information
- Your photos
- Your exact catch timestamps
Anonymization Safeguards
- GPS coordinates are stripped before community data is stored
- Location data is generalized to the water body or regulatory zone level only
- Catch timestamps are bucketed to 3-hour minimum windows
- No persistent user identifiers are stored with anonymized community data
- A minimum of 5 unique contributing users in a zone is required before any community insight is generated
- Your own catches are excluded from community data displayed to you
Irrevocability of Anonymized Data
Because community data is anonymized and aggregated at the time of contribution, individual contributions cannot be identified or extracted after the fact. If you disable community data contribution, no further data will be contributed from your account. Previously contributed anonymous data cannot be retroactively removed from aggregate statistics because individual records are no longer distinguishable once aggregated.
How Community Data Is Used
Community Intelligence data is shared with other FishPilot users as aggregate, zone-level insights within the App (e.g., "Redfish activity is above average in Tampa Bay this week"). These insights never identify individual users. Community data is not sold to third parties or used for advertising.
4. How We Share Your Information
Service Providers
- Anthropic (Claude API): Fish photos are sent to Anthropic's AI service for species identification. Anthropic processes photos under our data processing agreement and does not use your photos to train their general models.
- Google Firebase: Cloud storage, authentication, and database services.
- NOAA / OpenWeatherMap: We send location data to retrieve environmental conditions. These services receive coordinates but not your identity.
Community Features
Anonymized, aggregate data is shared with other FishPilot users through Community Intelligence features as described in Section 3b.
Other Sharing
We may also share your information:
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request
- Protection of Rights: To protect the rights, property, or safety of FishPilot, our users, or others
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize sharing
We Do NOT
- Sell your personal information
- Share your GPS coordinates, fishing spots, or individual catches with other users or third parties
- Provide your personal data to advertisers
- Share your photos publicly
5. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide FishPilot and fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:
- Account Data: Retained while your account is active. Deleted within 30 days of account deletion request.
- Catch History and Photos: Retained until you delete them or delete your account.
- Community Data: Anonymized aggregate data is retained indefinitely as it cannot be attributed to individuals.
- Usage Data: Retained for up to 24 months, then deleted or further anonymized.
- Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer if required by law.
When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
AI Model Training Data
Data that has been incorporated into machine learning models cannot be individually deleted from those trained models. Deleting your account removes your data from our active databases and systems, but does not remove learned patterns from previously trained AI models. This is a technical limitation of machine learning systems.
6. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:
- Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
- Secure cloud infrastructure with access controls
- Regular security reviews and updates
- Limited employee access to personal data
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and device.
Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will:
- Investigate and contain the breach promptly
- Notify affected users as required by applicable law, typically within 72 hours of confirming the breach
- Notify relevant regulatory authorities as required
- Provide information about steps you can take to protect yourself
7. Your Rights and Choices
Access and Correction
You can access and update most of your personal information through the App settings. For additional requests, contact us at privacy@fishpilot.app.
Deletion
You can delete individual catches from your history within the App. To delete your entire account and all associated data, go to Settings > Delete Account in the App, or contact us at privacy@fishpilot.app. For detailed instructions, see our Account Deletion page.
Data Portability
You may request a copy of your personal data by contacting us at privacy@fishpilot.app.
Marketing Communications
You can opt out of promotional emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or contacting us directly.
Push Notifications
You can manage push notification preferences in your device settings.
Community Opt-Out
Disable community data contribution in Settings > Community Intelligence. Opting out stops future contributions but does not remove previously anonymized data from aggregates, as individual records are no longer distinguishable once aggregated.
Data Export
Request a copy of your data by emailing privacy@fishpilot.app.
AI Model Training Opt-Out
If you do not want your photos used for training FishPilot's machine learning models, you may contact us at privacy@fishpilot.app to opt out of future AI training. Please note:
- Opting out may limit certain features or reduce identification accuracy for your submissions
- Data already used for model training cannot be removed from trained models
- Opting out does not affect how third-party AI providers handle your data under their own policies
Do Not Track Signals
Our services do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser signals. This is because there is no industry-standard interpretation of DNT signals. However, you can manage your privacy preferences using the controls described in this policy.
8. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to Know: You can request information about what personal information we collect, use, and share
- Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information
- Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information. Community data contribution is not a "sale" as defined by the CCPA because the data is anonymized and aggregate.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise California privacy rights, email privacy@fishpilot.app or use the in-app deletion features.
9. Other State Privacy Rights
Residents of states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws may have additional rights similar to those described above for California residents. These states currently include:
- Virginia (Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act - VCDPA)
- Colorado (Colorado Privacy Act - CPA)
- Connecticut (Connecticut Data Privacy Act - CTDPA)
- Utah (Utah Consumer Privacy Act - UCPA)
- Other states that may enact similar legislation
If you are a resident of one of these states, you may have rights to:
- Access your personal data
- Correct inaccuracies in your personal data
- Delete your personal data
- Obtain a portable copy of your personal data
- Opt out of targeted advertising, sale of personal data, or profiling
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@fishpilot.app. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.
10. International Data Transfers
FishPilot is operated from the United States. If you access FishPilot from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.
These countries may have data protection laws that differ from the laws of your country. By using FishPilot, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other jurisdictions as described in this policy.
We take steps to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection in the jurisdictions in which we process it.
11. Children's Privacy
Age Restrictions
FishPilot is intended for users 18 years of age and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Parents and guardians may use FishPilot with their children, but children should not create their own accounts or submit personal information.
If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.
If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to FishPilot, please contact us immediately at privacy@fishpilot.app.
12. Third-Party Links and Services
FishPilot may contain links to third-party websites or services (such as state fish and wildlife agencies, NOAA, or app stores). These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or practices.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through FishPilot.
13. Cookies and Website Tracking
Our website at fishpilot.app uses cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services.
Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Essential Cookies | Required for basic website functionality and security |
| Analytics Cookies | Help us understand how visitors interact with our website |
| Preference Cookies | Remember your settings and preferences |
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies
- Clear all cookies when you close your browser
Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website. The mobile App does not use cookies but may use similar local storage technologies for functionality.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
- Notify you through the App or by email (for significant changes)
Your continued use of FishPilot after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
15. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Florida, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
KinCompass Labs LLC
Privacy: privacy@fishpilot.app
General: support@fishpilot.app
Legal: legal@fishpilot.app
Website: https://fishpilot.app
We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days.