Last updated: June 2026
Short version: We collect only what we need to make the app work. We never sell your data. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time from inside the app.
1. Who We Are
Clouds with Friends is a social photo and drawing application that lets users photograph clouds, draw outlines on them, and share them with friends. The app is operated by an independent developer.
For privacy inquiries, contact us at: privacy@cloudswithfriends.app
2. Information We Collect
Account Information
- Email address — used to create and authenticate your account
- Full name — displayed to your friends within the app
- Username — your unique identifier in the app; permanent once set
- Profile photo (optional) — an image you choose to represent yourself
- Avatar colour — a colour preference for your avatar
Content You Create
- Cloud photos — images you photograph and upload
- Drawing outlines — the strokes you draw on cloud images
- Comments — short descriptions you write about your outlines
- Chat messages — messages sent within a post's group chat
- Friend connections — the list of users you are friends with
- Friend groups — named groups of friends you create
- Awards — votes you give to others' outlines
Usage and Technical Metadata
We automatically collect the following metadata when you use the app:
- Timestamps — when posts, outlines, messages, and friend requests are created
- Device timezone — e.g. "America/New_York", used to understand when and where the app is used geographically. This is derived from your device's time settings and does not require location permission.
- Platform — iOS or Android
- Push notification token — a device identifier used to deliver push notifications (only collected if you grant notification permission)
- App version and build number
- Sharing patterns — which friends a post is shared with (stored as a list of user IDs)
- Post engagement data — how many outlines and awards a post receives
Information We Do NOT Collect
- Precise GPS location or location history
- Contacts from your device's address book
- Browsing history or cross-app tracking data
- Microphone or audio data
- Biometric data
3. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and operate the core features of the app (posting, drawing, sharing, chatting)
- To deliver push notifications about activity on your posts and friend requests
- To allow friends to find you by username
- To display your profile to your friends
- To understand aggregate usage patterns (e.g. posts per day, geographic distribution) for product improvement
- To maintain the security and integrity of the platform
4. How We Store Your Information
All data is stored securely using Google Firebase (Firestore database and Cloud Storage), operated by Google LLC. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Firebase services are located in the United States.
Profile photos and cloud images are stored in Firebase Cloud Storage. All other data (posts, outlines, messages, user profiles) is stored in Firestore.
5. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
Your content is shared only with the specific friends you choose when posting. We share data with the following third-party services solely to operate the app:
- Google Firebase — database, storage, and authentication
- Expo — mobile app build platform and push notification delivery
6. Data Retention
Your data is retained for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account (see below), your profile, friend connections, and friend groups are permanently deleted. Cloud posts and outlines you authored may remain visible to others who were shared on them.
7. Your Rights and Choices
Delete Your Account
You can permanently delete your account at any time from the Profile tab → Delete Account. This will:
- Delete your user profile and all associated data from Firestore
- Remove you from all friends' friend lists
- Delete your Firebase Authentication account
- Remove your push notification token
Notification Preferences
You can enable or disable push notifications at any time from the Profile tab → Notifications. Disabling notifications removes your push token from our servers.
Access and Correction
You can update your name, profile photo, and avatar colour at any time from the Profile tab. Your username cannot be changed after account creation.
8. Children's Privacy
Clouds with Friends is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
privacy@cloudswithfriends.app