Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

• Account data: If you create an account, we store your email, username, and authentication details.
• Map interactions: Locories and requests you create or edit, comments you leave, and votes or reports you submit.
• Location data: Coordinates you choose for Locories/requests; if you use Locate me, we use your browser-provided location (with your consent) but do not continuously track you.
• Device and usage: IP address, page URL, browser and device information, referring page, approximate location, and interactions with Locory. Google may process this information when Google Analytics or Google AdSense is active.

How We Use Information

• To operate the map, show relevant Locories and requests, and keep moderation tools working.
• To prevent spam and abuse, including rate limiting and fraud detection.
• To communicate with you about your submissions, reports, or account.
• To improve Locory's features and reliability.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Locory and Google use cookies and similar technologies, such as identifiers and web beacons, to provide the site, measure its use, and serve and measure advertising when ads are enabled.

• Essential cookies: Used for core site functions such as authentication, security protections, and form handling.
• Google Analytics cookies: Used to distinguish users and sessions and understand how visitors use Locory.
• Google advertising technologies: Used to serve ads, limit how often an ad is shown, measure ad performance, and prevent fraud and abuse.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use Locory and to improve its performance and reliability. Google Analytics collects information such as pages viewed, interactions, referring pages, browser and device information, and approximate location derived from an IP address. Google processes this information on our behalf. You can prevent Google Analytics from using your browser data by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Advertising and Google AdSense

When Locory displays ads through Google AdSense, Google uses cookies, web beacons, IP addresses, and other identifiers to serve and measure ads, limit repeated ads, and prevent fraud and abuse.

• Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to Locory or other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to Locory and/or other sites on the Internet.
• Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.

Sharing

• Public content you add (like Locories, requests, comments) is visible to other users.
• We may share information with service providers that help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, email), bound by confidentiality.
• We may disclose information if required by law or to protect Locory, our users, or the public.

Data Retention

We keep submissions and related logs as needed to operate the map, maintain history, and meet legal or security requirements. You can contact us to request removal where feasible.

Security

We use reasonable safeguards (encryption in transit, access controls, monitoring) to protect data. No system is 100% secure, so please use strong credentials and report issues promptly.

Your Choices

• You can browse without logging in; certain actions require authentication.
• You may disable location sharing in your browser if you prefer not to use Locate me.
• You can manage cookies through your browser settings, opt out of Google Analytics with Google's browser add-on, and manage personalized advertising in Google Ads Settings.
• Contact us to request updates or removal of your account or submissions where possible.

Contact

If you have privacy questions or requests, please reach out via our Contact page.