Privacy Policy

Effective Date: December 22, 2025

Gadzooks is operated by Very Machine, Inc. ("we", "us", or "our"). Gadzooks is a location-based discovery application that combines AI-powered insights with user-generated content. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using Gadzooks, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address
• Display name (optional)
• Authentication credentials (stored securely)

Location Data

With your permission, we collect precise geolocation data from your device. This is essential to the Service and is used to:

• Show you places, events, and content near your current location
• Record the location of snapshots you capture
• Track your visits to places
• Calculate distances to points of interest

You can disable location access in your device settings, but this will significantly limit the functionality of the Service.

User-Generated Content

When you capture snapshots, we collect:

• Photos you capture
• Precise geographic coordinates
• Timestamp of creation
• Device orientation (compass heading, pitch, roll) at the moment of capture
• Any description text you add

Snapshots are processed by our AI systems to generate insights and integrate with the knowledge graph.

We also collect engagement data: places and events you've viewed, visited, or marked as loved.

Photos and Images

When you capture or upload photos:

• Images are stored on our servers
• EXIF metadata (location, timestamp, camera settings) may be extracted and stored
• Images may be processed by AI systems to generate insights and connections

Device Information

We automatically collect:

• Device type and operating system version
• App version
• Unique device identifiers
• IP address
• Browser type (for web access)

Usage Data

We collect information about how you use the Service:

• Features accessed and actions taken
• Search queries
• Discovery preferences (your tuning of the seven axes)
• Time spent in the app
• Crash reports and performance data

Biometric Data

If you enable biometric login (Face ID, fingerprint), the biometric data itself is stored only on your device by your operating system. We store only an encrypted token that allows us to verify your identity after successful biometric authentication. We never have access to your actual biometric data.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide the Service: Display nearby places, events, and user content; enable snapshot capture and AI analysis
• AI Processing: Analyze your photos and text to generate insights, find connections to the knowledge graph, and surface related content
• Personalization: Remember your discovery preferences (the seven axes) and show content that matches your interests
• Build the Knowledge Graph: Your snapshots and interactions become part of the collective knowledge available to all users
• Improve the Service: Analyze usage patterns to fix bugs, improve features, and develop new functionality
• Communicate: Send service-related emails (account verification, security alerts, important updates)
• Process Payments: Handle subscription purchases and manage your account tier
• Prevent Abuse: Detect and prevent fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity

3. Your Content

Snapshots

Snapshots you create are visible to all Gadzooks users. They appear in search results and on the map, and become part of the knowledge graph. By creating a snapshot, you grant Gadzooks a worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, process, and incorporate it into the knowledge graph for as long as your account is active. Your snapshots:

• Are visible to all Gadzooks users
• Appear in search results and on the map
• Are processed by AI to generate insights and connections
• Are automatically moderated to ensure quality and safety
• May be displayed alongside AI-generated content about locations

Account Deletion and Your Content

If you delete your account, all of your snapshots and associated data are permanently deleted. This includes photos, metadata, descriptions, and any AI-generated insights derived from your content. We comply fully with data protection laws including GDPR and CCPA.

Content Moderation

All content is automatically moderated to maintain quality and community standards and to prevent misuse of the Service. Content that violates our terms may be removed or restricted.

4. AI Processing

Gadzooks uses artificial intelligence to enhance your experience:

• Photo Analysis: We may analyze photos you upload to identify subjects, extract text, and generate relevant insights
• Content Analysis: Your snapshot descriptions and other content may be processed to understand meaning and find connections
• Semantic Search: Your search queries are processed to understand intent and find conceptually related content
• Content Generation: AI generates descriptions and insights about places in the knowledge graph

AI processing may involve third-party AI service providers. Data sent to these providers is used solely for processing your request and is not retained by them for training purposes.

5. Information Sharing

We share your information only in these circumstances:

With Your Consent

When you create snapshots, you consent to sharing them with other users.

Service Providers

We work with third parties who help us operate the Service:

• Cloud hosting and storage providers
• AI processing services
• Analytics services
• Payment processors
• Email delivery services

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

Business Transfers

If Gadzooks is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information as follows:

• Account data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward
• Your content: Retained while your account is active; permanently deleted when you delete your account
• Location history: Your engagement history (viewed, visited, loved) is retained while your account is active
• Usage data: Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely; individual usage logs are typically deleted within 90 days

Account Deletion

When you delete your account:

• Your snapshots and all associated data (photos, metadata, descriptions) are permanently deleted
• Your account data (email, display name, settings) is deleted within 30 days
• Engagement history (views, visits, loves) is deleted

We comply fully with data protection laws including GDPR and CCPA.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Access and Portability

You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

Correction

You can update your account information in the app settings, or contact us to correct other data.

Deletion

You can delete individual snapshots in the app at any time. You can delete your account through Settings in the app, which will permanently delete all of your content and data.

Location Access

You can revoke location permissions in your device settings at any time.

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email.

8. California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Right to request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

9. European Users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:

• Right of access to your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing

Our legal basis for processing your data is:

• Contract: Processing necessary to provide the Service you requested
• Consent: For optional features like marketing communications
• Legitimate interests: For analytics, security, and service improvement

To exercise your rights or file a complaint, contact us at [email protected].

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States. These countries may have different data protection laws. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

11. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS) and at rest
• Secure authentication mechanisms
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data

However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

12. Children's Privacy

Gadzooks is not intended for users under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from users under 16. If we learn that we have collected information from a user under 16, we will delete it promptly. If you believe someone under 16 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

13. Third-Party Services

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services:

• Apple MapKit: Maps are provided by Apple. Apple's privacy policy applies to map data.
• App Stores: Downloads and payments through Apple App Store or Google Play are subject to their respective privacy policies.
• Event Data: Information about events may come from third-party sources and is subject to their terms.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will always update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy when changes are made. For significant changes, we will also notify you by posting a notice in the app and/or sending an email to your registered address.

Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:

Very Machine, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
General support: [email protected]

This policy is governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles.