PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: July 12, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how ShutterFlock collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application, website at shutter-flock.com, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using the Service, you agree to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Who We Are

The Service is currently operated by Sean Sullivan, an individual sole proprietor based in Portland, Oregon, USA. For privacy questions, data requests, or any concern about how your information is handled, contact us at TheCreator@shutter-flock.com.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

  • Account information from Google Sign-In: your name and email address, provided by Google when you authenticate. We do not receive your Google password.
  • Profile information: your screenname (auto-generated at signup, editable later), home city, and optional phone number.
  • User-generated content: photographs of birds you upload, captions you write, screennames of users you challenge to rivalries, and any feedback reports you submit.

Information Collected Automatically

  • Device and browser information: device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, and general usage patterns (which pages you visit, features you use, and timestamps).
  • Location data (opt-in only): when Location Sharing is enabled in your profile AND your browser/device grants location permission, we collect the geographic coordinates of your bird photographs. See Section 5 below.

Information from Third Parties

  • Payment information from Stripe: if you subscribe to Field Pass, Stripe processes your payment. We receive confirmation of your subscription status (active, cancelled, expired) but we do not receive your credit card number, CVV, or full billing information.
  • Affiliate confirmation from Travelpayouts, Stay22, and Viator: when you complete a booking through an affiliate link in the Service, we may receive confirmation and commission data but not your booking details.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Service
  • Automatically identify and score the bird photographs you upload
  • Display your photographs, screenname, and (if enabled) location in community features including the feed, leaderboards, rivalries, teams, and map
  • Process your Field Pass subscription and communicate about payment status
  • Respond to your questions, feedback, or support requests
  • Protect the Service and its users from fraud, abuse, and legal violations
  • Comply with applicable law

We do not use your personal information for advertising. We do not sell your personal information.

4. How We Share Your Information

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

With other Service users. Your screenname, photographs, points, and (if location sharing is enabled) coordinates are visible to other users through community features. This is the nature of the Service — birding is inherently a social and location-based activity.

With service providers we rely on to operate the Service. This includes Google (authentication), Stripe (payment processing), Base44 (application infrastructure), Zoho (email), and travel affiliate partners (Travelpayouts, Stay22, Viator). These providers are permitted to use your information only to perform services for us.

For legal reasons. We may share your information if we believe in good faith that disclosure is required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Service, our users, or the public.

In a business transfer. If ShutterFlock is acquired or merged with another business, your information may transfer as part of that transaction. You will be notified before this happens and given options regarding your information.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not disclose it to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

5. Location Sharing

Location sharing is opt-in. You control it through two independent mechanisms:

  • In-app Location Sharing setting: available in your profile settings. When off, your uploaded photographs save without coordinates, and you do not appear on the community map.
  • Browser or operating system location permission: even if you enable in-app location sharing, you can revoke your device's location permission at any time. If revoked, the app cannot access location and uploads proceed without coordinates.

Turning off either mechanism is sufficient to prevent your location from being recorded on new uploads. Previously uploaded photographs retain their existing coordinates unless you delete them.

When Location Sharing is enabled and coordinates are captured, those coordinates are stored with the photograph and are visible to other users through community features.

6. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service.

When you delete your account, we will delete your associated personal data and content — including your account details, uploaded photographs, and location data — within thirty (30) days, except:

  • Where longer retention is required by law
  • Where retention is necessary to resolve disputes, enforce our Terms, or protect our legal rights
  • Where information has been aggregated or anonymized in a way that no longer identifies you

To request account deletion, contact us at TheCreator@shutter-flock.com.

7. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific rights regarding your personal information.

For all users

You may:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Correct information that is inaccurate
  • Delete your account and associated data (see Section 6)
  • Object to certain uses of your information
  • Withdraw consent to processing where consent is our legal basis

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at TheCreator@shutter-flock.com. We will respond within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.

If you are in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom (GDPR)

You additionally have the right to:

  • Data portability — receive your information in a structured, commonly used format
  • Restrict processing under certain circumstances
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

The legal bases we rely on to process your personal data include: your consent (for location sharing and marketing communications), the performance of a contract (to provide the Service), our legitimate interests (to operate and improve the Service and prevent abuse), and legal obligations (to comply with applicable law).

If you are a California resident (CCPA/CPRA)

You additionally have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we collect and how we use it (described in this Policy)
  • Request deletion of your personal information
  • Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information (we do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising)
  • Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

To submit a verifiable consumer request, contact us at TheCreator@shutter-flock.com. We will confirm your identity before responding.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If we learn we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly and terminate the account. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us information, contact us immediately at TheCreator@shutter-flock.com.

9. Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information, including secure authentication (Google OAuth), encrypted connections (HTTPS), and access controls on our infrastructure.

However, no security system is perfect. No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

10. International Users

The Service is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

We take steps to ensure that international transfers comply with applicable law, including through appropriate contractual protections with our service providers where required.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Service uses cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and understand how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may prevent parts of the Service from working correctly.

The Service does not currently use third-party analytics or advertising cookies.

12. Third-Party Links

The Service may include links to third-party websites, including affiliate travel booking partners. This Policy does not apply to those sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third parties. Review their privacy policies before providing them with your information.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated Policy in the Service and updating the "Last updated" date at the top. If the change is significant, we will provide additional notice through the Service or by email.

Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

14. Contact

Questions, requests, or complaints about this Policy or your information? Reach out:

Sean Sullivan
Portland, Oregon, USA
TheCreator@shutter-flock.com