1. Who we are
flat walks is operated by thinkersth ltd (“we”, “us”). We are responsible for the personal information we process to provide the app and this website. Contact us at hi@thinkersth.com for privacy questions or to exercise your rights.
2. Information used by the app
- Account information: when you sign in with Apple or Google, Firebase Authentication handles your sign-in. We receive an account identifier and the name, email or relay email that your provider makes available. We store your profile name, distance-unit preference and account timestamps.
- Location and direction: with your device permission, the app uses your location to centre the map and choose your starting point. It uses compass direction to show where you are facing. Tracking is stopped when the app moves into the background in the current app version. You can instead enter a starting place manually.
- Searches and routes: place queries and selected results are processed to find locations and plan walks. Place search uses Apple’s MapKit services on iOS. Google Maps displays the map and processes map requests, which may include the area you view and technical information. Centre-on-location requests can therefore reveal your approximate or precise area to the map provider.
- Local preferences and recent places: your selected city, units, preferences and up to five recently selected places per city are saved on your device. Recent places include their names and coordinates. They are not a saved GPS movement history. Signing out does not necessarily erase these local preferences.
- Membership: Apple handles in-app payments. The app checks transaction information, including the product, expiry, verification status and an opaque account-linked token, to determine access. We do not receive your full card details. Your profile may include an administrator-controlled complimentary-premium flag.
- Support and technical information: if you email us, we receive what you send. Our service providers may process IP addresses, device information, security records and error information when delivering their services.
3. Why we use this information
We use information to provide sign-in, show maps, find places, calculate routes, remember preferences, manage membership, prevent misuse, respond to support requests and process account deletion. Where UK or EU data-protection law applies, we rely on performance of our contract for requested services, legitimate interests for necessary security and support, legal obligations where applicable, and consent where required. Your device’s permission controls access to location; you can change it in iOS Settings at any time.
4. Service providers and sharing
Our app uses Google Firebase for authentication, account storage and account-service functions; Google Maps for map display; and Apple services for iOS place search, Apple sign-in and in-app purchases. Google sign-in is also available. These providers process information under the applicable service arrangements and their own privacy notices, including Google’s Privacy Policy and Apple’s Privacy Policy. The website’s hosting infrastructure processes requests and technical logs to deliver and protect the site.
We may disclose information when necessary to comply with law, protect rights or security, or transfer the service in a business transaction subject to appropriate safeguards. The current website does not include an advertising pixel, analytics script, mailing-list form or marketing-cookie integration. Our app code does not include an advertising SDK. Third-party platform processing is described in those providers’ notices.
5. Storage, international transfers and retention
Information may be processed in countries other than where you live by our service providers. Where applicable law requires it, transfers must use recognised safeguards, such as contractual protections, or another lawful mechanism. Contact us for information about the arrangements relevant to your account.
We retain your account profile while needed to provide your account. We retain support, security and transaction-related records only as needed for their purpose, applicable legal obligations and legitimate dispute handling. Specific retention can depend on the record and provider. Local recent places remain until replaced, cleared through device/app controls or removed with the app, subject to operating-system backup behaviour.
6. Your choices, rights and deletion
You can change location permission in iOS Settings and edit your profile name and units in the app. To request account deletion, open Settings → Your profile → Delete account and complete any required sign-in confirmation. This sends a deletion request to the account service. You can also email hi@thinkersth.com; we may need to verify your identity. Signing out is not the same as deleting your account. Deleting your account does not cancel an Apple subscription; cancel it separately in your Apple Account subscription settings.
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to processing, receive a portable copy, or withdraw consent without affecting earlier lawful processing. You can complain to your local data-protection authority, including the ICO where applicable. Contact us to make a request.
7. Children and security
The service is not designed for children. If you believe a child has provided personal information without appropriate authorisation, contact us. We use access controls and reasonable technical measures to protect information, but no service can guarantee absolute security.
8. Website storage and changes
The landing page does not itself set marketing cookies or save your route-preview interactions. Hosting and security infrastructure may use technical information necessary to serve and protect the website. Following a link to another service subjects your visit to that service’s practices.
We may update this policy as the service changes. The date at the top identifies the latest version. We will provide further notice of material changes where required.