Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains what data Insect Scanner collects, how we use it, who can see it, and the choices you have. Insect Scanner is operated by Meroe AI.

We collect only what the app needs to work. We don't show ads and we don't sell your personal data.

2. Data we collect

• Account: an anonymous account identifier created automatically. We don't ask for your name, email or password.
• Photos you scan: the photo is sent to our server to be identified.
• Finds you save or share: the bug's name and details, your photo, your note, and the city and country. If you allow location, also the coordinates of the find.
• Profile: the display name and picture you choose, and whether your profile is private.
• Community activity: who you follow, your points and your rank.
• Usage and subscription: how many scans you used, whether Pro is active, and the Google Play purchase reference needed to confirm your subscription. We never receive your card details.
• Support messages: what you write to us in Contact us.
• App settings: your language and preferences.

3. Data kept only on your device

Your personal collection, photos you didn't share, liked posts and in-app notifications are stored on your device. They don't reach our servers unless you share a find. Uninstalling the app or clearing its data removes them.

4. How we use your data

We use your data only to:

• Identify the bugs you photograph.
• Save your finds and show them in the community as you choose.
• Calculate points and ranks.
• Count free scans and confirm your Pro subscription with Google Play.
• Reply to your support messages.
• Keep the service safe, prevent abuse and fix problems.
• Understand, in general, which features are used, so we can improve the app.

5. How AI processes your photos

To identify a bug, your photo is sent from our server to DeepSeek, which runs the AI model that analyses it and returns the result. We send only the photo and the app's instructions, never your name or email. DeepSeek's servers are in China, so your photo is processed there, under DeepSeek's own terms and privacy policy.

We don't store the photos you only scan. A photo is saved on our servers only if you choose to share the find.

6. Location

Location is optional and is used only when you choose to add a place to a find. We then store your city, your country and the coordinates of that find. Other users can see the city and the find's place on the map, unless your profile is private.

We don't track your location in the background.

7. What other users can see

• Public profile: your display name, picture, points, rank, followers and shared finds with their photos, notes and cities.
• Private profile: your name and points still appear in the ranks, but your photos and finds are hidden from other users, and nobody can follow you.

Support messages are seen only by you and our support team.

8. Service providers

We use these companies only to run the app:

• Supabase: hosting, database, accounts and photo storage.
• DeepSeek: AI identification of your photos (servers in China).
• Google: Google Play payments and subscription checks.
• OpenStreetMap: map images. When you open a map, your device requests the map tiles directly, which shares your IP address with the map server.

They may process your data only to provide their service to us.

9. What we don’t do

• We don't sell your personal data.
• We don't show ads or use advertising trackers.
• We don't share your data with other companies for their own marketing.
• Our partners (influencers) only see anonymous counts, never who you are.

10. Security

Data is sent over encrypted connections. Access to accounts, finds and support messages is restricted by rules in our database so each person can reach only what they are allowed to. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your data and fix problems quickly.

11. How long we keep data

We keep your account data while your account exists. When you delete your account, your profile, shared finds, photos and follows are deleted. Support messages and purchase records may be kept for as long as needed to handle disputes and meet legal and tax obligations.

12. Your choices and rights

• Edit your name, picture and privacy in your profile at any time.
• Delete any find you shared.
• Delete your whole account from Settings, then Delete my account.
• Refuse or turn off location and camera permissions in your phone's settings.
• Ask us for a copy of your data, or ask us to correct or delete it, by writing to us from Contact us.

Depending on where you live, you may have more rights under data protection law, including the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

13. Children

Insect Scanner is not meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their data. Users from 13 to 17 should use the app with a parent's or guardian's permission. If you believe a child under 13 is using the app, contact us and we will delete the account.

14. International transfers

Our providers may store or process data in countries other than yours. In particular, photos you scan are analysed by DeepSeek in China. Where our providers offer protections such as standard contractual clauses, we rely on them to keep your data safe.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the app changes or the law requires it. The date at the top shows the latest version, and we will tell you in the app about important changes.

16. Contact us

For any privacy question or request, write to us from Settings, then Contact us, or by email at support@meroeai.com.

Contact: support@meroeai.com