Privacy Policy

Effective July 15, 2026

Hidden Green helps people discover and share small urban green spaces. This Privacy Policy explains how the Hidden Green app and service collect, use, disclose, retain, and delete information.

Information we collect

• Account information: Firebase user ID, email address, display name, email-verification status, authentication security data, IP address, and user-agent information.
• Green spot content: spot names, neighborhoods, descriptions, tags, map coordinates selected by the user, photos, ratings, reviews, likes, and timestamps.
• Safety information: reports, blocked-user relationships, moderation status, and account-deletion requests.
• Technical information: server request logs and limited device, SDK, crash, network, map interaction, and pseudonymous identifier information processed by Firebase Authentication and Google Maps Platform.
• Local app data: the app caches account-related state, spots, comments, likes, and selected photo references on the device to improve reliability.

Hidden Green does not request Android device-location permission. A precise map coordinate is sent to our server only when a user selects a location for a green spot. The app accesses only the photos a user chooses through Android's system photo picker.

How we use information

We use information to create and secure accounts, display and synchronize community green spots, operate reviews and favorites, provide maps, prevent abuse, investigate reports, moderate content, respond to support or deletion requests, and maintain service reliability. We do not sell personal information or use it for targeted advertising.

Public content

Green spot names, descriptions, coordinates, tags, selected photos, display names, ratings, and reviews are public to signed-in Hidden Green users. Do not upload private information, photos you do not have permission to share, private-residence locations, or sensitive locations.

Service providers and disclosure

• Google Firebase Authentication processes credentials and account-security data. Hidden Green does not receive or store account passwords.
• Google Maps Platform supplies map content and may process device metadata, IP address, crash metrics, pseudonymous SDK identifiers, and map interaction events.
• DigitalOcean infrastructure hosts the Hidden Green API, PostgreSQL database, and uploaded photos.

We may disclose information when required by law, to protect users or the service, to investigate abuse, or during a business transfer subject to appropriate safeguards. Google services are also governed by the Google Privacy Policy.

Security

Hidden Green uses HTTPS encryption in transit, Firebase token verification, email verification, account-based authorization, restricted administrator actions, upload type and size validation, rate limiting, and access controls. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure.

Retention and deletion

Account information and community content are retained while an account is active or as needed to operate the service. Replaced photos are deleted from active storage. Operational logs are retained only as reasonably necessary for security and service maintenance. Reports and limited records may be retained when reasonably necessary to prevent abuse, resolve disputes, or meet legal obligations.

Users can delete their account from the in-app Account menu. Users who cannot access the app can submit a request on the Account Deletion page. Account deletion removes the Hidden Green server profile, owned spots, comments, likes, uploaded photos, and Firebase Authentication account, except information that must be retained for legitimate legal or safety reasons.

Children

Hidden Green is not directed to children under 13. Users must meet the minimum age required to consent to online services in their country or use the service with authorization from a parent or legal guardian.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy as the service changes. Material changes will be reflected by a new effective date. Privacy questions and requests can be sent to hiddengreen14@gmail.com.