PRIVACY POLICY

Vestige (“we”, “us”) provides a location-aware audio guide app that narrates stories about the places around you as you walk. This policy explains what data we collect, why, and the choices you have. Questions: support@getvestige.co.uk.

Account data. When you sign up (email, Google, or Apple) we store your email address, a display name, and a unique user ID that identifies your account. Sign-in is handled by Google Firebase Authentication.

Location data. The app uses your device’s precise location while a listening session is active — including in the background if you grant background location permission — to trigger stories about nearby places. Your location is sent to our servers to generate relevant narration. We do not build a permanent log of your movements; location is used to drive the session and to record which general areas (cities) you have explored.

Listening activity. We store which stories you have heard, your listening preferences (interests, tone, voice), and progress through story arcs, so narration stays coherent and unrepeated.

Content you create. If you record and upload a community story, we store the audio and its metadata, attributed to your account.

Purchases. Subscriptions are processed by Apple or Google; we receive confirmation of your subscription status but never your payment details.

Advertising. The free tier is supported by audio ads. Our advertising partners may process an advertising device identifier to limit ad repetition and measure performance. This is considered “tracking.”

To trigger stories about nearby places without you holding the phone, Vestige requests “Always” (background) location permission. When a listening session is active, proximity triggering continues while the app is in the background and while your phone is locked — this is what lets a story start as you approach a landmark with the phone in your pocket. You can grant only “While Using” location, or revoke location access entirely, in your device settings; background triggering will not work without “Always” permission.

On the free tier we play occasional audio ads. On iOS, we show Apple’s App Tracking Transparency prompt before any advertising identifier is used — if you decline, ads are not personalised using that identifier. You can change this at any time in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking (turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track,” or toggle Vestige individually). Upgrading to a paid subscription removes ads entirely.

To generate narration relevant to where you are; to operate, personalise, and improve the service; to process subscriptions; to serve and cap advertising on the free tier; and to keep the service safe and lawful.

Service providers who process data on our behalf: Amazon Web Services (hosting and storage), Google Firebase (authentication), OpenAI (story and audio generation — your location context, not your identity, is included in generation requests), and payment platforms (Apple, Google). We do not sell your personal data.

We keep your data while your account is active. You can permanently delete your account and all associated data — stories, listening history, uploads, and gamification progress — at any time. Deletion is irreversible.

Two ways to delete: from the Account screen in the app (immediate), or on the web at getvestige.co.uk/delete-account. Signing in on the web deletes your account immediately; if you can no longer sign in, you can request deletion by email there and we will complete it within 30 days.

Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, correct, export, or erase your personal data, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To erase your data, use the in-app deletion flow or getvestige.co.uk/delete-account; for anything else email support@getvestige.co.uk. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

Vestige is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their data.

If we make material changes to this policy we will update this page and note the new date above.