Privacy Policy

Fora ("Fora," "we," "us") is an iOS app for discovering scenic drives and independent "third places" — cafés, bookshops, farm stands, and the like. We built Fora to be useful without knowing who you are. This policy explains what the app does and does not collect.

The short version: Fora has no accounts and no sign-up. We don't run ads, we don't use analytics or trackers, and we don't sell your data. Most of what you do in the app stays on your device.

Information we collect

No personal account information. Fora does not ask you to create an account. There is no name, email address, phone number, or password. To let the app talk to our backend, Fora uses anonymous authentication, which assigns your installation a random, anonymous identifier. That identifier is not linked to your real-world identity.

Location (only with your permission). If you allow it, Fora uses your device location while you are using the app to show places and routes near you and to center the map. Your location is used on your device to calculate distances and is not stored on our servers, shared, or sold. You can decline location access, or turn it off later in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services; the app still works, it just won't sort by "near me."

Your saved favorites (stored on your device). Places and drives you favorite are saved locally on your device only. They are not uploaded to us and do not sync to a server.

App preferences. A small settings record associated with your anonymous identifier stores non-personal preferences — such as the home region you pick — so the app behaves consistently. It does not contain personal information.

Content you choose to submit. If you suggest a place, suggest a route, or flag/report an existing listing, the information you type (for example a place name, location, description, or the reason for a report) and any photos you choose to attach are sent to our backend so we can review them. This is always optional and only happens when you initiate it. Don't submit anything you consider private — submissions are reviewed for possible inclusion in Fora's catalog.

What we do NOT do

• We do not show ads.
• We do not use analytics SDKs or third-party tracking. (Firebase Analytics is disabled in the app.)
• We do not collect your name, email, contacts, or browsing history.
• We do not sell or rent any information to anyone.
• We do not track you across other apps or websites.

Service providers

Fora relies on a small number of infrastructure providers that process data only to make the app work:

• Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore database, and Cloud Storage) — hosts our catalog, the anonymous sign-in, your preferences record, and any content you submit. Google processes this data on our behalf. See Google's privacy information for how Google handles data as a processor.
• Apple MapKit — renders the maps in the app. Map interactions are subject to Apple's privacy practices.

Data retention

Content you submit (place/route suggestions and flags) is retained while we review it and, if accepted, as part of the Fora catalog. Your local favorites and preferences live on your device and are removed when you delete the app. Because we don't collect personal identifiers, we generally cannot associate catalog data with a specific person.

Children

Fora is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Your choices

• Location: grant or revoke anytime in iOS Settings.
• Favorites/preferences: delete the app to remove them from your device.
• Submitted content: to ask about content you submitted, contact us at ezgforge@gmail.com.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with a new "Last updated" date.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email ezgforge@gmail.com.
EZG Studio LLC, Massachusetts, United States.