Privacy Policy

Effective date: March 22, 2026

Veld ("we", "our", or "us") is a wildlife sighting and identification app. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using Veld, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information we collect

Account information

When you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from Google. This is used to create and identify your Veld account.

Location data

When you log a wildlife sighting, Veld can optionally record the GPS coordinates of your location at the time of the sighting. This data is stored against that sighting record. Location is only collected when you actively use the app to log a sighting — we do not track your location in the background.

Photos

Photos you take or select from your library for species identification are uploaded to our cloud storage (Google Firebase Storage) and associated with your sighting records. Photos are used to power AI identification and are stored as part of your account data.

Sighting and collection data

Records of species you have logged — including species name, date, location, any notes, and associated photos — are stored in our database (Google Cloud Firestore) linked to your account.

Device and usage information

We use Firebase Crashlytics to collect crash reports and Firebase Analytics to understand how the app is used. This may include your device model, operating system version, and anonymised usage events. This data helps us fix bugs and improve the app.

Advertising identifiers

Free-tier users see ads served by Google AdMob. AdMob may collect device identifiers (including, on Android, information associated with the READ_PHONE_STATE permission) to serve personalised ads. You can opt out of personalised ads in your device settings. Subscribing to Veld Pro removes all ads.

2. How we use your information

  • To create and manage your account
  • To store and display your sighting records and collection
  • To power AI-based species identification
  • To display relevant ads to free-tier users
  • To diagnose crashes and improve app performance
  • To process subscription payments (Veld Pro)

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

3. Third-party services

Veld uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policy:

4. Data retention

Your account data (sightings, photos, collection) is retained for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, all of your data is permanently deleted from our systems immediately. See section 5 for how to delete your account.

5. Deleting your account

You can permanently delete your Veld account and all associated data directly within the app:

  1. Open the app and tap You (the profile tab)
  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Delete Account
  3. Confirm by typing DELETE when prompted

The following data is deleted immediately and permanently:

  • Your account and login credentials
  • All sighting and journey records
  • All photos you have uploaded

There is no grace period — deletion cannot be undone. We do not retain any of your personal data after your account is deleted.

6. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time using the in-app flow described in section 5. For any other requests, please contact us at [email protected].

EU / UK users (GDPR): Our lawful basis for processing your data is the performance of our contract with you (providing the app) and our legitimate interest in improving the service. You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

California users (CCPA): We do not sell personal information. You have the right to know what personal information we collect and to request its deletion.

7. Children's privacy

Veld is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
[email protected]