LodeStone Privacy Policy
LodeStone is a temporary location-sharing radar app. It is designed to help people find each other during active, user-created channels without creating permanent tracking records.
Information We Collect
When you use LodeStone, the app may collect or process:
- Anonymous Firebase Authentication user ID.
- Signal name, signal color, selected emblem, public signal/dot style, trail style, pulse style, nameplate style, selected radar theme, favorites, and local customization preferences.
- Temporary channel/session information, including invite codes, channel type, members, beacons, temporary photo pins, pings, check-ins, messages, game state, game scores, activity events, expiration times, and host/member changes.
- Location data while sharing is active, including latitude, longitude, accuracy, heading or movement data when available, altitude when available, and last updated time.
- Notification tokens used to deliver channel alerts through Firebase Cloud Messaging.
- Purchase entitlement information for LodeStone Plus, individual themes, theme packs, identity bundles, cosmetic packs, Plus identity drops, and Lifetime All Access when purchases are enabled.
- Local progression data such as level, experience, completed tasks, unlocked reward themes/cosmetics, and reward history.
How Location Is Used
LodeStone uses location to show you and other channel members as directional radar signals, support beacons, check-ins, safety alerts, and optional game features. Location is shared only inside channels you create or join.
If enabled by you and allowed by your device permissions, LodeStone may continue using location in the background, when the phone is locked, or when the app is minimized so active channel members can keep seeing your current shared signal. Force-closing the app stops sharing until it is opened again. You can pause sharing, leave a channel, or end a channel at any time. Sharing stops when you leave, when sharing is paused, or when the channel ends or expires.
Temporary Channels
Channels are temporary by design. Channel data may include current and last-known member locations, beacons, messages, pings, check-ins, and game state. Channels have expiration times and may be cleaned up after they expire. Movement trails are optional and are intended to be temporary.
Temporary Photos and Session Recaps
Photo pins, emoji pulses, buzzes, and session recaps are LodeStone Plus features. Users may drop temporary photo pins during a channel. Photo pins are uploaded to Firebase Storage only for active channel use and are scheduled for deletion after the channel ends plus a short recap window, currently about 10 minutes.
When a channel ends, LodeStone may create a lightweight session recap on your device. Recaps can include basic stats, local trail summaries, temporary photo memories, and playful group stats such as closest pair or busiest area. Recaps expire locally unless you choose to save them on your device.
Notifications
LodeStone uses Firebase Cloud Messaging and local notifications to alert you about channel activity such as messages, pings, SOS alerts, check-ins, beacon reminders, stale signals, game events, channel expiration, and background sharing status. Notification tokens are used only to deliver app notifications.
Purchases
LodeStone may offer subscriptions and one-time purchases such as LodeStone Plus, individual themes, theme packs, identity bundles, cosmetic packs, Plus identity drops, and Lifetime All Access. Purchases are processed by the platform app store, such as Google Play or Apple App Store if an iOS version is released. LodeStone may store entitlement status so unlocked features remain available.
How We Use Information
We use app data to:
- Let users create, join, manage, and leave temporary channels.
- Show live radar signals, directions, distances, beacons, and check-ins.
- Deliver notifications related to channel activity and safety features.
- Support Plus features, themes, public cosmetic identity pieces, games, progression rewards, and purchase entitlements.
- Improve reliability, prevent duplicate member entries, and keep channels synchronized.
Sharing
Your channel information is shared with other members of channels you join. Your public cosmetic identity choices may be visible to other members while you are in a channel. LodeStone does not sell your location data. LodeStone does not show ads and does not use your location data for advertising.
Third-Party Services
LodeStone uses Firebase services provided by Google, including Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Functions, Firebase Cloud Messaging, Firebase Storage, Firebase Hosting, and Firebase App Distribution during testing. Purchases are processed by the platform app store.
Data Retention
Channel data is intended to be temporary and tied to channel expiration. Temporary photo pins are scheduled for deletion after the channel ends plus the short recap window. Some preferences, such as your signal name, signal color, selected theme, equipped cosmetic identity pieces, favorites, local progression, local read state, saved recaps, and recent channel references, may be saved on your device. Purchase entitlements may be retained to restore access.
Your Controls
- Pause location sharing in an active channel.
- Leave a channel to stop sharing to that channel.
- End a channel if you are the host.
- Disable permissions in Android or iOS settings.
- Clear app data from device settings to remove local preferences.
Children
LodeStone is not directed to children under 13 and is not intended for use as a child-tracking service.
Security
We use Firebase security rules and platform services to limit access to app data. No system is perfectly secure, so users should avoid sharing invite codes with people they do not want in a channel.
Changes
We may update this policy as LodeStone changes. The effective date will be updated when material changes are made.
Contact
For privacy questions, contact support@lodestoneradar.com.