The Craic

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Craic. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Username, password, and optional profile details (bio, interests, profile photo)
• Community Photos: Photos you choose to send to the public Community Photos page, plus the account reference and consent record needed to publish, moderate, and remove them
• Profile Preferences: Age, gender, distance preferences, and interest selections
• Communications: Messages and interactions with other users

Uploaded profile photos are checked for clear face presence by a model running on our server. This check does not identify who is in the photo.

Community photos are separate from profile photos. The app asks for confirmation before each photo is sent. After you send it, the photo appears on the public website. The public page does not show your username or map location. Embedded location details are removed before publication.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data: With location permission, we use coordinates supplied by your device for nearby features. Your operating system lets you choose precise or approximate location; not all map pins are approximate.
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, and app version
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app, features used, and time spent

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide and maintain our location-based social networking service
• Show you nearby users based on your preferences and location
• Enable connections and communications between users
• Improve and personalize your experience
• Ensure safety and security of our platform
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Location Privacy

Your location privacy is our priority:

• Ghost Mode: You can hide your location from other users at any time
• Auto Ghost Mode: When enabled, can stop sharing your map location after you move around 100 metres while backgrounded; the server uses a 105-metre threshold for GPS variation. Closing the app alone does not necessarily turn on Ghost Mode.
• Background Protection: With background location permission, the app may continue updating location. Last-active coordinates remain stored for nearby-interest and group push notifications after the app closes, separate from in-person handshake connections.
• You Control Visibility: Your settings affect identifiable visibility, but anonymous red pins may still be shown to nearby users

Identifiable blue and purple pins show the coordinates supplied by your device exactly as received. Anonymous red pins do not guarantee anonymity: a place or movement pattern may still identify someone.

Anonymous red pins are displayed displaced by up to 200 metres from supplied coordinates, except when the viewer is within 50 metres of the pin or three pins of any colours are all pairwise within 50 metres; in those cases the red pin remains exact.

A location's active expiry does not necessarily end map visibility: if Ghost Mode is off, expiry or closing the app can create a stale red pin visible for up to another hour. Fixed venue locations are intentionally locked and do not expire automatically; they remain stored and may remain visible until the venue unlocks or changes its location, changes visibility, or deletes its account.

Encrypted safety buffer: The app keeps the latest location point it has already received in an encrypted safety buffer for eligible safety or legal review for up to 72 hours. Ghost Mode does not pause this buffer, and it is not used for maps, discovery, or notifications. An applicable report or verified legal request may place a scoped hold on a point. After expiry or case closure, the live database deletion pause is 30 days; coordinate-free safety audit records may be retained for 24 months. See the Full Privacy Policy for details.

5. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information:

• With other users as part of the app's social features (based on your visibility settings)
• Public Community Photos: A photo is visible to anyone on The Craic's public website after the sender confirms in the app. Authorised administrators can remove it. Visitors may save or copy a photo; removing it from our site cannot remove copies already made. To request removal, contact nickthecraic@gmail.com.
• With service providers who assist in operating our app
• Authorised administrators can access stored account and location data, including last-active coordinates not visible to other users
• When required by law or to protect rights and safety

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures including:

• Encrypted password storage using industry-standard hashing
• Secure authentication with JWT tokens
• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Regular security reviews and updates

7. Data Retention

Account and location records, including last-active coordinates, may remain stored while your account is active even after map visibility ends. Ghost Mode and map expiry are not database deletion. Account deletion removes associated active records, including community photos submitted by that account from the active service. A community photo may otherwise remain public until it is removed by an administrator or following a request. Visitors may retain copies they have saved, and provider-held backups may follow separate retention schedules. Safety-case records may remain only while an applicable report or verified legal hold requires them, under the retention periods described in the Full Privacy Policy. Backup and provider-copy purge times have not been verified, so we cannot promise a universal deletion deadline. You can request account deletion.

After one hour without a location update, we store one approximate location in a 3 km grid cell for up to 28 days to target social events and similar Craic activities. Craic event notifications can be turned off in the Profile screen.

The city name from your latest eligible location may also be retained for up to one year for city-level notifications; city-centre coordinates are not linked to your account. Ghost Mode or account deletion removes the city record.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and download your personal data
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account and associated data
• Control your location sharing and visibility
• Opt out of certain data collection

9. Children's Privacy

The Craic is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us at:

Email: nickthecraic@gmail.com

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using The Craic mobile application or website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the App or website.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use The Craic. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years or older and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

3. Account Registration

To use The Craic, you must create an account with a unique username and password. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Providing accurate and complete information
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use The Craic to:

• Harass, bully, or threaten other users
• Post false, misleading, or deceptive content
• Impersonate another person or create fake profiles
• Spam or send unsolicited promotional content
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Collect or harvest user data without consent
• Interfere with the App's functionality or security

5. User Content

You retain ownership of content you post. You are responsible for having the rights and permissions needed to share it and for ensuring it follows our guidelines and applicable law.

If you send a photo through the Community Photos feature, the app shows the username and city label that will appear with it and asks you to confirm before sending. An exact photo-map marker may appear inside the app for up to two hours; public website photos show no coordinates and have embedded location metadata removed. The photo is published on The Craic's public website without prior review. You grant The Craic a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, and distribute that photo as needed to operate the feature. We may remove content. You can request removal at nickthecraic@gmail.com. Visitors may copy or save public photos, so removing a photo from our site cannot remove copies others have already made.

6. Location Services

The Craic uses location services to enable its core features. By using the App, you consent to the collection and use of your location data as described in our Privacy Policy. You can control your visibility using Ghost Mode.

7. Digital Handshake

The Digital Handshake feature is designed to verify in-person connections. Users are responsible for their own safety when meeting others. We recommend meeting in public places and exercising appropriate caution.

8. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these Terms. You may delete your account at any time through the App settings.

9. Disclaimers

The Craic is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee the accuracy of user profiles or the behavior of other users. You use the App at your own risk.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Craic and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the App.

11. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

12. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: nickthecraic@gmail.com

Application Information

App Name: The Craic

Developer: The Craic

Available on: Google Play Store

1. Zero Tolerance Policy for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE)

The Craic maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) of any kind. We are fully committed to preventing, detecting, removing, and reporting any child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or exploitative behavior on our platform. Any user found violating this policy will be immediately and permanently banned, and reported to the appropriate authorities.

2. Age Requirement

The Craic is strictly for users aged 18 and over. During registration, all users must confirm they are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly allow minors to use our service. Any user discovered to be under 18 will have their account immediately terminated.

3. Prohibited Content and Behavior

The following is strictly prohibited on The Craic and will result in immediate account termination and reporting to authorities:

• Any content depicting, promoting, or distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
• Any attempt to groom, solicit, or exploit minors
• Sharing, distributing, requesting, or possessing CSAM
• Any discussion, promotion, or glorification of sexual activity with minors
• Creating accounts to contact, groom, or target minors
• Any behavior that sexualizes or endangers children

4. Detection and Prevention Measures

The Craic employs the following measures to prevent CSAE on our platform:

• 18+ self-confirmation during registration; users must confirm they are 18 or older. This is not identity or age-document verification.
• In-app reporting mechanism allowing users to flag concerning content or behavior directly from any user profile
• Review of all reported content by our moderation team
• Immediate account suspension and investigation for any CSAE-related violations
• Permanent bans for confirmed violations with no appeals

5. In-App Reporting Mechanism

The Craic provides an in-app mechanism for users to report child safety concerns:

• Navigate to any user's profile within the app
• Tap the "Report User" button
• Select "Inappropriate" or provide details about the child safety concern
• Submit the report for immediate review

All reports are reviewed promptly and appropriate action is taken, including:

• Immediate removal of violating content
• Permanent account termination for offenders
• Mandatory reporting to NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) in the United States and equivalent authorities in other jurisdictions
• Full cooperation with law enforcement investigations

6. Law Enforcement Cooperation

The Craic fully cooperates with law enforcement agencies investigating CSAE. We will:

• Respond promptly to all valid legal requests
• Preserve evidence as required by law
• Report all confirmed CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as required by U.S. law
• Cooperate with international law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations

7. Compliance with Child Safety Laws

The Craic complies with all applicable child safety laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

• U.S. federal laws requiring reporting of CSAM to NCMEC
• COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)
• Applicable state and international child protection laws
• Google Play Child Safety Standards policy

8. Child Safety Point of Contact

For child safety concerns, questions about our child safety practices, or to report CSAE:

Child Safety Contact Email: nickthecraic@gmail.com

For immediate concerns about a child's safety, please also contact your local law enforcement or report directly to:

• NCMEC CyberTipline: www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline
• Local law enforcement emergency services