JourneyMate privacy policy

This policy describes JourneyMate releases with product analytics enabled and configurable crash reporting.

Effective date: September 7, 2026
Operator: Vincent Ge
Privacy contact: vge2606@gmail.com

JourneyMate is an experimental travel information app. It does not require a JourneyMate account. Preferences are stored locally, while maps, place search, weather, official advisories, product analytics, and crash reporting when enabled use online services as described below.

Information stored on your device

JourneyMate stores your selected country, home nationality, travel mode, location preference, welcome-flow status, and related app preferences using local storage. It also stores source-fetch timestamps, any reference data you choose to download, and update-attempt/download timestamps, and may use system network caches. The analytics SDK stores installation/session identifiers and queued events locally before transmission; crash reports may also be stored when that collection is enabled. This version does not provide an account or cloud preference sync.

You can change your choices in Settings. Deleting the app removes its local app data; device backups and any information you shared outside the app are managed separately by the relevant service.

Optional reference data updates

The app includes reference numbers, embassy details, and phrases that can be read offline. If an update source is configured, choosing Pull latest in Settings requests a shared static reference-data package from that host. This is an explicit download, not a background update or an upload of your travel preferences or local reference cache. No JourneyMate account is required.

The configured host receives ordinary request and network metadata, such as your IP address, request time, requested URL, and request headers. That host may retain access logs under its own policies. Builds without a configured update source make no reference-download request.

The app validates an update before saving it locally. Saved reference data remains available offline; an unavailable source or failed update leaves the existing reference data in place. If the build has no configured update source, Pull latest reports that downloads are unavailable and makes no update request. Content dates and source details are shown separately from device download and attempt times; downloading data does not independently verify its contents.

Website hosting and support email

The support and privacy website is hosted on GitHub Pages. GitHub records visitors' IP addresses for security, including visits made without signing in. Reference packages downloaded from this site are also served by GitHub, which processes the associated request metadata under its policies. These pages do not add analytics, advertising, cookies, forms or tracking scripts. See GitHub Pages data handling and GitHub's privacy statement.

Support email is handled through Gmail. When you email the published address, Google processes and stores the message and related information as the email provider under Google's privacy policy. The operator receives the details and attachments you choose to send. You can request deletion of that correspondence using the same address.

Location and online features

Location access is optional. You may pick a country manually instead. With your permission, JourneyMate requests your location while you use the app. It does not request background location or continuously record your movements.

Coordinates may be sent to Apple's location/geocoding, Maps, and WeatherKit services to resolve a place, search nearby, display maps, or fetch weather information. Map searches can include a geographic region and service category. Opening directions sends the selected destination to Apple Maps. These are online requests, so it would be inaccurate to say your position never leaves your device. Apple's processing is governed by its own privacy terms.

For travel advisories, JourneyMate can request public information from the U.S. Department of State, GOV.UK, or the Government of Canada. A destination can appear in the request URL, and the provider receives ordinary network information such as your IP address. Selecting an official source link opens that provider's website. Network and website providers apply their own processing and retention policies.

Analytics and diagnostics

JourneyMate sends its existing feature-use events to PostHog Cloud in the United States at https://us.i.posthog.com. Usage collection starts when this release launches. We use this information to understand which parts of JourneyMate are used and improve the app.

The app also includes automatic crash-reporting capability. It requires the PostHog project's crash-autocapture setting to be enabled. That project setting is currently off, so automatic crash collection is inactive while usage analytics remains enabled. If crash collection is enabled, we use those reports to investigate crashes and technical problems, as described below.

Feature-use events record actions such as opening Quick info, choosing a tool or service category, opening a telephone prompt, viewing or playing a bundled phrase, and opening directions. Event properties can include the selected service/category or phrase identifier and whether location was chosen or used. They do not include the selected telephone number, precise coordinates, home nationality, or text you enter. The app also sends technical context such as app and operating-system versions, device model, screen dimensions, language, time zone, and network type.

The SDK assigns a random installation identifier and session identifiers, which can link events and diagnostics from the same installation. These identifiers are not your name or email, but the records are not fully anonymous. JourneyMate has no account login and does not create PostHog person profiles or join these records to your support email. When crash collection is enabled, reports include technical exception types, stack traces, and diagnostic context; crash free-text messages and recent-action breadcrumbs are removed before transmission. Those reports may be queued on the device and sent later, including after the next launch.

Session replay, automatic screen and interaction recording, automatic lifecycle events, surveys, push-notification capture, and feature-flag event capture are disabled. The app requests that PostHog disable IP-based location enrichment for each event. PostHog still receives ordinary network metadata when handling the request; disabling enrichment does not mean the network request has no IP address. JourneyMate does not use these records for advertising, share them with data brokers, or record your screen, microphone, or calls.

Analytics and diagnostic records are stored in the operator's PostHog project under the project's and service's retention settings. This release has no in-app analytics switch. Stopping use of or removing the app stops future app collection; it does not erase records already received. Contact vge2606@gmail.com about access or deletion. Because records use installation identifiers rather than account details, locating particular records may require information identifying that installation. See PostHog's privacy policy for the provider's processing and data controls.

Apple may process App Store or TestFlight diagnostics and feedback according to your Apple settings and the applicable Apple terms. Information you voluntarily send through TestFlight or support may be made available to the app operator.

Calls, speech, and copied information

Choosing Call passes the selected number to the native telephone interface. You must confirm in the system interface before a call is placed. Apple and your telephone provider handle any completed call.

Phrase playback uses the device's speech synthesis and available system voices. The app does not record your microphone. Copy actions place the selected text, address, coordinates, or number on the system clipboard. Information you paste or share elsewhere is then handled by the recipient app or service.

Support and retention

If you contact us, we receive the contact information and message or attachments you choose to provide. We use those details to respond and investigate the reported issue. Avoid sending exact location, sensitive information, or private phone numbers in screenshots unless necessary for your request.

We retain support messages and attachments for as long as needed to respond to your request and follow up on the reported issue. You can request deletion by email. We delete correspondence when it is no longer needed, unless retention is required for legal obligations or resolving a dispute. Gmail and Apple may retain their own service records under their policies. Contact vge2606@gmail.com to request access, correction, or deletion of information you have provided to the operator, subject to applicable law and any relevant service limitations. If you post feedback in a public forum, others may see it; use the private contact for personal matters.

Your choices

• Decline location or change permission in iOS Settings.
• Select a country manually and browse bundled or saved reference data offline.
• Choose whether to request a reference-data download using Pull latest.
• Choose whether to open maps, official websites, a telephone prompt, or copy text.
• Choose what to include in support or TestFlight feedback.

The app is a general travel reference, not a service specifically designed for children. Its App Store age rating is determined separately through Apple's content questionnaire. This policy makes no “all ages” or “no data transmitted” claim.

Changes and contact

We will update this page when the app's privacy practices change. Questions about this policy can be sent to vge2606@gmail.com for Vincent Ge. Support page: JourneyMate support.