Privacy Policy

Overview

Alkas ("we", "our", or "us") is a wildlife discovery and learning platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our service.

Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your email address and display name. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name and email from Google.

iNaturalist Integration

If you connect your iNaturalist account, we import your publicly available observation data (species observed, dates, approximate locations) to build your life list. We store a local copy to enable features like tracking which bookmarks you've already seen.

Your Activity

We store data you create while using Alkas:

• Bookmarks - Species you add to your wishlist
• Saved Places - Parks and regions you bookmark
• Study Progress - Flashcard results, streaks, and spaced repetition scheduling data
• Trait Contributions - Votes on species characteristics (e.g., "nocturnal", "migratory")
• Photo Reactions - Your reactions to species photos

How We Use Your Information

• To provide and improve the Alkas service
• To sync your wildlife observations from iNaturalist
• To track your study progress with spaced repetition
• To personalize species recommendations
• To send important account-related emails

Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share anonymized, aggregated data (like popular species in a region) but never individual user data. Your bookmarks, life list, and study progress are private by default.

Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure authentication via Supabase Auth, and database-level access controls.

Your Rights

You can export your data, update your profile, or delete your account at any time. Account deletion removes all your personal data from our systems.

Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising cookies.

Contact

For privacy questions or concerns, contact us at [email protected].