Privacy Policy

Information we collect

Depending on how you use Chasen, we may collect account profile details, your Apple sign-in identifier and email address (including an Apple relay address), display name, username, avatar, saved places and posts, ratings, notes, captions, uploaded photos and videos (including recorded audio), comments and replies, likes, reports, moderation and safety signals, friend relationships, push notification tokens if notifications are enabled, and lightweight product analytics. Posts may also include an ordered item, place details, or an editor credential you choose to show.

If you allow location access, Chasen uses your current location to show nearby places. Location access is optional and can be changed in iOS Settings. Places you add or attach to a post may include a public address and map location.

Photos, videos, and permissions

Camera and microphone access are used when you choose to capture a photo or record a video. The photo picker gives Chasen access to the items you select. You can change camera and microphone permissions in iOS Settings.

Draft edits and media are kept on your device until you start publishing. Publication uploads media to private storage for processing and safety checks before it can become public. A failed or interrupted publication may leave a private upload available for retry.

How we use information

We use information to operate city boards, show posts, ratings, and discussions, personalize discovery and My Matcha, save your profile and places, support friends features, process media, send requested notifications, process reports, prevent abuse, and understand product health. Product analytics include actions such as opening places, starting or completing a post, saving, liking, commenting, and sharing.

Automated moderation and human review

We send submitted text, photos, and sampled video frames to OpenAI for automated safety checks. When an uploaded video contains audio, an audio extract is sent to OpenAI for transcription, and the resulting text is checked for unsafe content. Transcripts are used for safety checks and are not added to your public post. Relevant place details may also be processed by automated services to help identify duplicate or inaccurate submissions.

Ordinary comments publish automatically after passing their safety check. Content may be held for human review when flagged or when checks cannot be completed. Authorized Chasen administrators can review held content and reports, including relevant media, the original post, parent comments, and moderation results. We retain moderation decisions and audit records to operate these safety features.

Public content

Published posts, comments, and replies can be viewed by other people, including people who are not signed in. Public contributions may show your username, avatar, caption, photos, videos and their audio, comments, rating or order details, place context, and any editor credential you choose to display. Do not post private information or content you do not have permission to share. Other people may save or share copies of content you make public.

Notifications

If you allow notifications, Chasen may send notifications such as friend requests, friends' posts, note likes, and moderation outcomes. You can turn notifications off in iOS Settings.

Account controls

You can browse public posts and comments without signing in. Apple Sign In is required for posting, commenting, replying, saving, liking, friends, reports, profile changes, and other account actions. You can delete your own posts and comments, report content, block people, or delete your account in the app.

Retention and deletion

We keep account information and contributions while they are needed to provide the app. Deleting a post removes it from public view and starts cleanup of its associated uploaded media. Deleting a comment removes its text from the discussion; a placeholder may remain to preserve reply context. Account deletion removes your synced profile and associated contributions and removes account-owned photos, videos, and private uploads from Chasen storage. If media removal fails during account deletion, the app asks you to retry before completing deletion.

Storage cleanup may take additional time and is retried if interrupted. Uploads that were never completed or failed are scheduled for cleanup after 30 days of inactivity. Content awaiting a moderation decision is retained for review. Private moderation, report, and audit records may remain for safety and operational purposes. Deletion from Chasen cannot remove copies that others have already saved or shared.

Data sharing

Chasen does not sell personal information or use submitted content for advertising tracking. We use service providers to operate the app: Supabase stores account data, content, and moderation records; Google Cloud processes uploaded videos and extracts frames and audio; OpenAI provides transcription and automated safety checks; and Apple provides sign-in, maps, and push notification services. These providers receive the information needed to perform their services.

Temporary video-processing files are removed after processing. Third-party providers may retain service and security records or backup copies under their own policies after content is deleted from Chasen.

Editor applications

If you apply to become a community editor, we collect the application details you choose to provide, including your name, email, Chasen username, city, social handles, and written answers. Chasen uses this information only to evaluate, contact, and manage editor candidates.

Applications are reviewed privately by authorized Chasen administrators. Closed applications are generally deleted after 12 months. We may retain an application longer while it remains under active consideration or when needed for safety, legal, or operational records.

Contact

For privacy questions, email privacy@joinchasen.app.