Legal
Privacy
Policy.
We built Incipit to be useful, not to collect your data. Here's exactly what we collect, why, and what we never do.
Last updated: July 2026
The short version: We collect only what the app needs to work. We don't sell your data. We don't show ads. Incipit is free, with no purchases of any kind. What you're reading is a private thread by default, separate from the public bookshop map. You can request deletion of your content at any time.
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide:
- Bookshop nominations and reflections — shops you nominate, and the reflections you contribute to the community map. These are stored on our servers and may appear publicly, without your name attached.
- Your shelf — what you're reading, have read, or intend to read. A book is not the same as the shop that sold it, so this thread is tracked independently and stays private to you by default.
- Pursuits and journal entries — the intentions and reflections you log. These are private to you by default and never shared.
Information collected automatically:
- Location data — only when you use Discover to find nearby bookshops, and only with your explicit permission. Never stored on our servers. See Section 3.
- ∂ lens preference — stored locally on your device only. Never transmitted to our servers or linked to any identity.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information only to provide and improve the app:
- Display community nominations and reflections to other users
- Find bookshops near your location when you request it
- Fix bugs and improve performance
- Respond to support and data requests
We never use your information to serve ads, sell it to third parties, or build advertising profiles.
3. Location Data
- When we access it: Only when you actively use Discover — never in the background.
- What we do with it: Your coordinates are used to find nearby bookshops. We do not store your location history on our servers.
- Your control: Revoke location permission at any time in Settings → Incipit → Location. Your shelf, pursuits, and reflection features work fully without location access.
We never track your location in the background. Location is accessed only for the specific request you make, and only when you initiate it.
4. Data Storage & Security
Community data and pursuits are stored using Supabase, with encrypted storage and row-level security — meaning only you can access your own private data.
- All data transmitted over HTTPS/TLS
- Row-level security policies protect your private content
- Your ∂ lens preference never leaves your device
5. Third-Party Services
We do not use advertising SDKs, social media trackers, or analytics services that collect personal information.
6. Your Rights & Choices
- Access — view all your contributions inside the app at any time.
- Deletion — contact us to request removal of content you have submitted. Because submissions are anonymous by default, we may ask you to verify ownership.
- Location — revoke permission at any time in iOS/Android Settings → Incipit → Location.
7. Children's Privacy
Incipit is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 is using the app, please contact us and we will address it promptly.
8. Changes to This Policy
If we make significant changes to this policy, we will notify you through the app before changes take effect. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact Us
Questions, data requests, or concerns — we read everything and respond personally.