Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

A. Information You Submit

Ghost Atlas, Death Atlas, and Unsolved Atlas allow users to submit locations, cases, or related information for review. Depending on the application and submission form, a submission may include:

• An optional name or display name
• An email address, when requested by the form
• A location or case title, category, and address or location description
• City, state, country, latitude, and longitude
• Dates associated with a location, person, event, or case
• A story, summary, description, or other written content
• Source links and supporting references
• Your acknowledgments concerning public sources, review, or use of the submission

Unsolved Atlas currently collects case details, coordinates, an optional event date, a summary, a source link, and an optional submitter name. Its submission form does not request an email address.

We use submission information to review and manage entries, document sources, prevent abuse, and, when contact information is provided, request clarification. Submissions are stored using our database service provider, Supabase.

Submission credit: If a form identifies an optional name field as being for submission credit, a name or display name you choose to provide may appear with an accepted entry as attribution. You may leave that field blank if you do not want credit. Otherwise, we do not publish submitter names without separate permission. Submitter email addresses are not displayed publicly.

Accepted case or location details, summaries, source links, and authorized submission credits may be published in our apps or related services. Submissions are not automatically published. We may edit, accept, reject, or remove submitted material at our discretion. Please do not submit private contact information or other sensitive personal information about yourself or others.

B. Location Information

Ghost Atlas does not currently request or display your device's current location. When you choose directions, the app may open a third-party mapping application, which handles location access under its own privacy policy.

Death Atlas may request access to device location while the app is in use to display your position, improve map navigation, or assist with directions.

Unsolved Atlas requests foreground location permission when you choose Locate. If you grant permission, it uses your device's location to display your position and center the map. You can browse cases without granting this permission. Unsolved Atlas does not request background location access, and its current Locate feature does not upload your device's coordinates to our case or submission database.

Black Tides Software does not use device location to build advertising profiles or sell precise location data. Mapping providers may process information needed to deliver maps and location features. Mapbox may also process map usage or telemetry information under its own privacy documentation and settings.

You can manage or revoke location permission through your device settings. Directions opened in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or another app are governed by that service's privacy policy and permissions.

C. Favorites and Local Storage

Unsolved Atlas stores your favorites, including saved case or location details, locally on your device. Favorites do not require an account and are not synchronized to Black Tides Software's servers.

You can remove favorites within the app. Locally stored data may also be removed by clearing the app's data or uninstalling it, depending on your device and backup settings. Device backups or restoration may preserve or restore app data under your platform provider's policies.

D. Advertising Information

Some Black Tides Software apps, including Unsolved Atlas, display advertisements through Google AdMob. Formats may include banner ads and app-open ads displayed when returning to an app.

Depending on your device settings, consent choices, region, and Google's ad-serving mode, Google and its advertising partners may process information such as:

• Device or advertising identifiers
• IP address and general device information
• Ad impressions, clicks, and interactions
• App interaction and performance information
• Diagnostic and fraud-prevention information

Google may serve personalized, non-personalized, limited, or technical ads depending on the app's configuration, applicable requirements, and your privacy choices. Non-personalized ads may still involve technical information used for delivery, measurement, security, and fraud prevention.

Where applicable, an app may present a consent message or provide ad privacy settings so you can review or change your choices. You can also manage advertising permissions through your device or platform settings. Black Tides Software does not sell personal information directly.

E. Subscriptions and Purchases

Some apps may offer optional subscriptions or one-time purchases, such as lifetime ad removal. Available products vary by app. Unsolved Atlas does not currently offer subscriptions or in-app purchases.

Transactions are processed by Apple through the App Store or by Google through Google Play. Black Tides Software does not receive or store your full payment card number or banking information.

In apps that use RevenueCat, it may process an app-user identifier, purchase history, subscription status, entitlement status, product information, and related technical data needed to manage purchases or premium access.

F. Technical, Usage, and Diagnostic Information

We and our service providers may process technical information needed to operate, secure, and improve our services. Depending on the app and provider, this may include:

• App version and operating system
• Device type and identifiers
• App launches and feature interactions
• Crash logs, performance data, and diagnostic information
• Network information, including IP addresses, and security information used to prevent abuse or fraud

This does not mean that every app records every type of information listed above. Information handled by third-party services depends on their functionality, configuration, and your available settings.

2. How We Use Information

• Provide, operate, maintain, and improve our apps
• Review and manage user-submitted locations and cases
• Respond to questions, corrections, and support requests
• Display maps, source links, advertisements, and directions
• Store favorites and provide other requested features
• Manage purchases, subscriptions, and premium access where offered
• Diagnose crashes and performance issues
• Protect users, services, and databases from fraud, abuse, or misuse
• Comply with legal and platform requirements

3. How Information Is Shared

We do not sell personal information directly. We may share or permit access to information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: Companies that provide hosting, databases, mapping, purchase management, advertising, diagnostics, security, or technical services.
• Published submissions: Accepted case or location information and submission credits as described in Section 1A.
• Legal requirements: When disclosure is reasonably necessary to comply with law, legal process, or a valid government request.
• Safety and protection: To investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, or threats to rights and safety.
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, financing, or sale of business assets.
• With your direction or consent: When you ask us to share information or otherwise authorize disclosure.

4. Third-Party Services

Our apps may use or link to Google AdMob, Mapbox, Supabase, RevenueCat, the Apple App Store, Apple Maps, Google Play, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and other public source websites.

These services operate under their own terms and privacy policies. Their practices may differ from ours. Opening a source link or directions may take you to a separate website or application.

• Google Privacy Policy
• Apple Privacy Policy
• Mapbox Privacy Policy
• Supabase Privacy Policy
• RevenueCat Privacy Policy

5. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including providing services, reviewing submissions, maintaining business and security records, resolving disputes, and meeting legal obligations.

Submission records may be retained while under review and after acceptance or rejection when needed to document an entry's source, prevent duplicate or abusive submissions, or respond to later questions. Published case or location information may remain available as part of our reference content.

You may request deletion of personal information associated with a submission or support request by contacting support@blacktidessoftware.com. We will review requests subject to applicable requirements and any information we must retain.

Local favorites remain on your device until you remove them or app data is cleared, subject to your device's backup and restoration settings. Third-party services apply their own retention practices.

6. Data Security

We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information. No system of storage or transmission is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children's Privacy

Our apps are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that a child under 13 has submitted personal information, we will take reasonable steps to delete it. Please contact us if you believe this has occurred.

8. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information we maintain about you
• Request correction or deletion of personal information
• Object to or restrict certain processing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Use available in-app ad privacy settings to review or change advertising choices
• Use device or platform settings to manage advertising identifiers and permissions
• Grant, deny, or revoke location permission
• Remove locally saved favorites
• Opt out of applicable Mapbox telemetry through available Mapbox attribution or telemetry controls
• Cancel subscriptions through your Apple ID or Google Play account where subscriptions are offered

To make a privacy request, email support@blacktidessoftware.com or use our Support page. We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.

9. International Data Processing

Our service providers may process information in the United States and other countries. These locations may have privacy laws different from those where you live. Where required, appropriate safeguards are used for international data transfers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our services or practices change. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through an app, website notice, or other appropriate means.

11. Contact Us

Black Tides Software LLC
Email: support@blacktidessoftware.com
Support: https://www.blacktidessoftware.com/support.html

Contact us with questions about this policy, privacy requests, submission-credit concerns, or requests to correct personal information associated with a submission.