Privacy Policy
Effective Date:
Rabindranath Ferreira ("Watchy," "we," "us," or "our") operates the Watchy mobile application (the "App") and the Watchy web platform at watchy.app (the "Web Platform," and together with the App, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy describes the types of information we collect, how we use that information, and the circumstances under which we may disclose it. By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
If you do not agree with any part of this Privacy Policy, please discontinue use of the Service immediately.
On this page
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information Collected Automatically
When you use the App, certain technical information is collected automatically:
- Device Information.
- Device model, operating system, operating system version, and screen resolution.
- Installation Identifier.
- A locally generated unique identifier (UUID v4) stored exclusively on your device to distinguish installations. This identifier is not linked to your personal identity and is never transmitted to our servers.
- Usage Analytics.
- Anonymized interaction events, screens viewed, and feature usage patterns collected through Google Firebase Analytics to help us understand how the App is used and to improve the user experience.
- Crash Reports.
- Diagnostic and performance data collected through Firebase Crashlytics to identify, diagnose, and resolve technical issues.
- Advertising Identifiers.
- If the App displays advertisements, our advertising partners (including Google AdMob) may collect your device advertising identifier, IP address, and ad interaction data in accordance with their respective privacy policies. The Web Platform does not display advertisements.
1.2 Information You Provide
- Library and Watchlist Data.
- Movies you add to your personal library or watchlist, together with any associated preferences, are stored locally on your device. This data does not leave your device and is not transmitted to Watchy or any third party.
- Region and Language Preferences.
- Your selected country and language settings, used to personalize content served by the TMDB API and to render the Service in your chosen language.
- Waitlist Information (Web Platform).
- If you join the iOS launch waitlist on the Web Platform, we collect the name and email address you submit. This information is stored in Google Firebase Firestore and is used solely to notify you when the iOS App becomes available. You may request deletion at any time by emailing the address in Section 12.
1.3 Information We Do Not Collect
Watchy does not collect, request, or process:
- Phone numbers or mailing addresses.
- Payment or financial information of any kind. Voluntary tips are processed entirely by third-party platforms (see Section 5).
- Precise geolocation data (GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular triangulation).
- Contacts, photographs, camera input, or microphone input.
2. How We Use Information
We use the information described in Section 1 for the following limited purposes:
- To operate and maintain the Service, including delivering movie information, search results, and personalized library features.
- To improve the Service, by analyzing anonymized usage patterns and crash reports to enhance stability, performance, and the user experience.
- To serve advertisements within the App, through Google AdMob, subject to your consent where required by applicable law. The Web Platform does not serve advertisements.
- To notify Web Platform waitlist signups when the iOS App is released.
- To ensure security, by detecting, preventing, and addressing technical issues, misuse, or abuse.
We do not use your information for profiling, automated decision-making, or any purpose not described in this Privacy Policy.
3. Third-Party Services and Data Sources
The Service relies on the following third-party services. Each is governed by its own terms and privacy policies, which we encourage you to review:
We do not sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information to any third party.
3.1 The Movie Database (TMDB)
All movie data, images, metadata, cast information, and related content displayed in the Service is sourced from TMDB via the TMDB API. TMDB is operated by TiVo Platform Technologies LLC. As required by TMDB's API Terms of Use: "This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB."
TMDB's privacy policy is available at themoviedb.org/privacy-policy.
3.2 JustWatch (via TMDB)
Streaming, rental, and purchase availability data displayed in the Service is sourced from JustWatch and delivered to the Service through TMDB's watch providers endpoint (developer.themoviedb.org/reference/movie-watch-providers). The Service does not call the JustWatch API directly and does not transmit any of your information to JustWatch.
Where availability data is displayed, the Service includes the attribution "Powered by JustWatch," as required by TMDB's API terms.
JustWatch's privacy policy is available at justwatch.com/us/privacy-policy.
3.3 Google Firebase
We use Firebase Analytics for anonymized usage analytics, Firebase Crashlytics for crash reporting, Firebase Performance Monitoring for performance diagnostics, and Firebase Firestore to store the Web Platform waitlist entries described in Section 1.2.
Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy.
3.4 Google AdMob
Advertisements displayed in the App are served by Google AdMob. The Web Platform does not serve advertisements.
Google's advertising privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/technologies/ads.
3.5 Buy Me a Coffee
Voluntary tips made through the Service are processed entirely by Buy Me a Coffee. We do not receive, process, or store any payment information.
Buy Me a Coffee's privacy policy is available at buymeacoffee.com/privacy-policy.
4. Advertising
The App may display advertisements served by Google AdMob. The Web Platform does not display advertisements. Depending on your consent preferences and device settings, you may see non-personalized or personalized advertisements in the App.
You may opt out of personalized advertising through your device settings:
- Android.
- Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization.
- iOS.
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
Opting out of personalized advertising does not eliminate advertisements; you will continue to see non-personalized ads.
5. Support and Tips
The Service may provide the option to support development through voluntary tips via Buy Me a Coffee. Tips are entirely voluntary, are not required to access or use the Service, and do not constitute the purchase of any product, feature, or entitlement. Watchy does not collect, process, or store any payment credentials or financial information. All tip transactions are processed entirely by Buy Me a Coffee and are subject to their terms of service and privacy policy.
6. Data Storage and Retention
- Local Data.
- Your library, preferences, installation identifier, and settings are stored locally on your device using platform storage mechanisms. You may delete this data at any time through the "Clear Local Preferences" option in the App's settings, or by uninstalling the App.
- Waitlist Data.
- Waitlist entries are retained in Firestore until the iOS App launches and the notification is sent, or until you request earlier deletion by email.
- Analytics Data.
- Firebase Analytics data is retained in accordance with Google's data retention policies (typically 14 months).
- Crash Data.
- Firebase Crashlytics data is retained for 90 days.
- Advertising Data.
- Retention of advertising data is governed by Google AdMob's data retention policies.
Beyond the waitlist collection described above, Watchy does not maintain any server-side database of user accounts or personal information.
7. Data Security
We implement commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to safeguard the information associated with the Service. However, no method of electronic storage or internet transmission is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.
8. Children's Privacy
The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the applicable minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe that a child has provided personal information through the Service, please contact us, and we will take prompt steps to delete such information.
9. International Transfers
Information collected by third-party services integrated into the Service (Firebase, AdMob) may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. These transfers are governed by the respective privacy policies and data processing agreements of those third-party services.
10. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal information. Because Watchy primarily stores data locally on your device, you may exercise these rights directly by clearing your local preferences or uninstalling the App. For waitlist data on the Web Platform, or any other inquiries, please contact us at the address in Section 12.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected by an updated "Effective Date" at the top of this document. Your continued use of the Service following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
12. Contact
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact: