Goyova
be there when it happens

Last updated: April 2026 | Version 1.2


This Privacy Policy explains how Goyova ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the Goyova mobile application. By using Goyova, you agree to the practices described in this policy.


This policy is available at: goyova.com/privacy


1. WHO WE ARE


Goyova is a mobile application that helps users discover natural events and wildlife spectacles worldwide.


Contact: support@goyova.com


For EU/EEA users, we act as the data controller for personal data processed through the app.


2. WHAT DATA WE COLLECT AND WHY


We collect only what is necessary to provide the app's features.


Location data (GPS)

Permission required: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION (Android) / Location (iOS)

Why: To calculate distances between you and natural events and to show nearby spectacles on the map.

How: GPS coordinates are processed on your device. We do not store your precise location on our servers. If you deny location permission, the app works but cannot show distance-based results.


Device identifier

A random anonymous ID is generated when you first open the app and stored locally on your device. This ID:

  • Tracks your votes on community posts (to prevent duplicate votes)
  • Prevents duplicate reports
  • Is not linked to your name, email, or real identity

    • This identifier is considered pseudonymous personal data under GDPR.


    Camera and photo library

    Permission required: Camera / Photo Library

    Why: Used only when you choose to add photos to a community post. We never access your camera or photos without your explicit action of tapping "Add photo." You can use the app fully without granting this permission.


    Community posts, photos, locations, and dates

    When you voluntarily submit a visit report, we store on our servers:

  • Your comment text (up to 280 characters)
  • Your selected visit month and year
  • The date of your visit (as entered by you)
  • The location of your visit (as entered by you — this is a place name you provide manually, not your current GPS position unless you choose to share it)
  • Photos you choose to upload

    • Photos submitted with a location are displayed on event pages alongside the location label you provide. This location is visible to all app users.


    All uploaded photos are automatically stripped of EXIF metadata (including any embedded GPS coordinates from your camera) before storage — the only location data associated with your photo is what you explicitly enter yourself.


    Push notifications (optional)

    If you sign in and enable alerts, we store a push token linked to your account to send you seasonal notifications about events you have saved. You can disable this at any time in your device settings.


    3. WHAT WE DO NOT COLLECT


    We do not collect:

  • Your name (unless you create an account)
  • Browsing history outside the app
  • Contacts or calendar data
  • Payment or financial information
  • Microphone data
  • Any data when the app is not in use

    • 4. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING (GDPR)


    For users in the EU, EEA, and UK, we process your data on the following legal bases:


  • Location data: Legitimate interest (providing core app functionality — distance calculations)
  • Device ID: Legitimate interest (preventing abuse of community features)
  • Community posts, photos, locations, and dates: Your explicit consent (you choose to submit them)
  • Push notifications: Your consent (you opt in via alert settings)

    • You may withdraw consent for community features at any time by requesting deletion of your posts. You may withdraw consent for push notifications by disabling them in your device settings.


    5. HOW WE USE YOUR DATA


  • Location: to calculate distances and show events near you
  • Device ID: to deduplicate votes and reports
  • Community posts, photos, locations, and dates: to display your visit report to other app users, including the location and date you provide so other users understand when and where the event was observed
  • Highly-voted community photos with verified locations: may be promoted as the main event photo and used to update event location accuracy
  • Push tokens: to send seasonal alerts you have opted into

    • We do not use your data for advertising. We do not sell your data to any third party. We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.


    6. DATA SHARING AND THIRD PARTIES


    We share data only with the service providers necessary to operate the app. All providers are contractually prohibited from using your data for their own purposes.


    Supabase Inc. (supabase.com)

    Role: Database storage and file hosting

    Data shared: Community posts, photos, push tokens

    Location: United States

    Safeguard: EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) apply under Supabase's Data Processing Agreement


    Cloudflare Inc. (cloudflare.com)

    Role: API hosting and content delivery

    Data shared: Your IP address is processed by Cloudflare when you use the app. We do not store IP addresses on our own servers.

    Location: Global CDN


    CARTO (carto.com)

    Role: Map tile rendering (the dark map background)

    Data shared: Your IP address and device information are transmitted to CARTO's servers when your device loads map tiles. We do not send them any additional personal data.

    Location: Global CDN


    OpenStreetMap / Nominatim (openstreetmap.org)

    Role: Place name geocoding (when you search for a location in the app)

    Data shared: The place name you type in the search box and your IP address are transmitted to Nominatim's servers to process your search.

    Location: Global


    Expo (expo.dev), Apple (APNs), Google (FCM)

    Role: Push notification infrastructure

    Data shared: Push tokens are transmitted through Expo's service and then via Apple's Push Notification Service (APNs) or Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to deliver alerts to your device. This applies only if you have enabled alerts.

    Location: United States


    PostHog (posthog.com)

    Role: Product analytics

    Data shared: Anonymous usage events (screens viewed, features used, app version, device type). No personal data is collected. No cookies are used. You cannot be identified from this data.

    Location: EU servers — data does not leave Europe


    Unsplash (unsplash.com), Pexels (pexels.com), Pixabay (pixabay.com)

    Role: Photo content providers for event images

    Data shared: Your IP address and device information are transmitted to these providers's servers when your device loads event photos directly from their content delivery networks. We do not send them any additional personal data. These providers process this connection data subject to their own privacy policies.


    7. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS


    Our primary infrastructure (Supabase) is located in the United States. If you are in the EU, EEA, or UK, your data is transferred to the US under Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) as approved by the European Commission, providing adequate safeguards for your data.


    Other third-party providers listed in Section 6 may also process data outside the EEA. Where this occurs, it is subject to those providers' own transfer mechanisms and privacy policies.


    8. DATA RETENTION


    Device ID: Retained locally on your device until you clear app data or uninstall. Not stored on our servers.


    Community posts, photos, locations, and dates: Retained on our servers indefinitely until you request deletion, content is removed through moderation, or we close the service. If your photo is promoted to a main event photo, the location and date data associated with it is retained as part of the event record.


    Push tokens: Retained while your account is active. Deleted when you delete your account.


    We do not retain your GPS location data on our servers at any time.


    9. YOUR RIGHTS


    All users have the right to:

  • Request deletion of your community posts, photos, and associated location and date data at any time by emailing support@goyova.com
  • Choose not to provide location or date when submitting a photo if the feature is marked optional
  • Opt out of push notifications at any time via device settings
  • Use the app without submitting any community content

    • EU, EEA, and UK users additionally have the right to:

  • Access: request a copy of data we hold about you
  • Rectification: correct inaccurate data
  • Erasure: request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interest
  • Restriction: request we limit processing of your data
  • Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing

    • To exercise any right, email: support@goyova.com

    We will respond within 30 days (EU: within 1 month as required by GDPR Article 12).


    Supervisory authority: If you are in the EU/EEA/UK and believe we have not handled your data correctly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority. UK users may contact the ICO at ico.org.uk.


    10. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY


    Goyova is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted data through our app, please contact us immediately at support@goyova.com and we will delete it promptly.


    Users aged 13-17 may use the app but should do so with parental awareness. We do not collect sensitive data from any user regardless of age.


    The app is rated 12+ on the Apple App Store and Teen on Google Play Store due to user-generated content features.


    11. SECURITY


  • All data is transmitted over HTTPS/TLS encryption
  • API credentials are stored in encrypted server-side environment variables, never in the app code
  • Row-level security is enforced on our database
  • EXIF metadata including GPS is stripped from all uploaded photos before storage
  • Community posts are moderated and auto-hidden if reported by multiple users
  • File type and size validation is applied to all photo uploads

    • 12. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS (CCPA)


    California residents have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • The right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used
  • The right to delete personal information
  • The right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
  • The right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

    • To exercise these rights, email: support@goyova.com


    13. APP STORES


    Goyova is distributed via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Apple Inc. and Google LLC are not parties to this Privacy Policy and are not responsible for our data practices. Apple and Google may collect their own data subject to their respective privacy policies.


    14. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY


    We may update this policy from time to time. The version number and date at the top will reflect the latest revision. For material changes we will notify users via in-app notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.


    15. CONTACT


    Goyova

    Email: support@goyova.com

    Website: goyova.com

    Last updated: April 2026 | Version 1.2


    Please read these Terms carefully before using Goyova. By downloading, installing, or using the app, you agree to be bound by these Terms.


    1. ABOUT THE APP


    Goyova is a mobile application that helps users discover natural events, wildlife spectacles, and seasonal phenomena worldwide. Features include maps, event information, trip planning tools, community visit reports, and push alerts.


    2. LICENCE TO USE


    Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to download and use Goyova for your personal, non-commercial purposes.


    You may not:

  • Copy, modify, or distribute the app or its content
  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the app
  • Use the app to create a competing product or service
  • Remove any copyright or proprietary notices

    • This licence is granted by Goyova, not by Apple or Google. Apple and Google have no obligation to provide support, maintenance, warranty, or liability for the app.


    3. APP STORE TERMS


    Your use of Goyova downloaded from the Apple App Store is also subject to Apple's Usage Rules in the App Store Terms of Service. Apple is a third-party beneficiary of these Terms and may enforce them against you.


    Your use of Goyova downloaded from Google Play is also subject to Google Play's Terms of Service.


    4. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION


    Basic features are available without an account. An account (email and password) is required to sync alert preferences across devices. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure. Notify us immediately of any unauthorised use at support@goyova.com.


    5. USING THE APP


    You may use Goyova for personal, non-commercial purposes only. You agree not to:


  • Use the app for any unlawful purpose
  • Attempt to reverse engineer or tamper with the app or its API
  • Scrape or systematically download event data
  • Attempt to access other users' data
  • Use automated tools to submit posts, votes, or reports
  • Impersonate any person or entity
  • Interfere with or disrupt the app's servers or networks

    • 6. COMMUNITY CONTENT — OWNERSHIP


    You retain full ownership of all photos, comments, and other content ("User Content") you submit to Goyova. Goyova does not claim ownership of your User Content.


    7. COMMUNITY CONTENT — LICENCE TO GOYOVA


    By submitting User Content, you grant Goyova a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicensable licence to:


  • Display, store, and distribute your User Content within the app
  • Show your visit location and date alongside your photo to other users
  • Promote the app using your content on social media and other marketing channels (with attribution where practical)
  • Promote your photo as the main event photo for an event if it is highly rated by the community

    • This licence exists only to operate and improve the app. We will never sell your photos to third parties or use them in paid advertising without your explicit written consent under the Contributor Programme (Section 8).


    Photo promotion: If your photo is selected as the main event photo, it will be displayed prominently to all users. You may request its removal at any time by emailing support@goyova.com and we will remove it within 30 days.


    Representations: You confirm:

  • The content is yours and you have the right to share it
  • It does not infringe any third-party copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right
  • It does not contain identifiable people without their consent
  • The location and date are accurate to the best of your knowledge

    • Responsibility: You are solely responsible for your User Content. Goyova is not liable for any User Content posted by users.


    8. CONTRIBUTOR PROGRAMME (OPTIONAL)


    Goyova may in future offer an optional Contributor Programme allowing users to make their photos available for commercial licensing to third parties such as publishers, tour operators, and media companies.


    This programme is entirely opt-in. Participation requires:

  • A separate, explicit agreement with Goyova
  • Your confirmation that you hold all rights to the photo including any necessary model or property releases for identifiable people or private property shown
  • Your agreement to Goyova's revenue sharing terms at the time of enrolment

    • By default, your photos are NOT enrolled in any commercial licensing programme. Joining the Contributor Programme does not affect your ownership of your photos.


    EU/EEA/UK users: Commercial licensing of your photos under this programme requires a separate, explicit consent which satisfies the requirements of GDPR Article 7 and cannot be bundled with acceptance of these Terms.


    9. CONTENT STANDARDS


    You agree not to post content that:


  • Is sexually explicit, pornographic, or obscene
  • Depicts violence, gore, or self-harm
  • Harasses, threatens, or abuses any person
  • Is discriminatory based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age
  • Infringes copyright, trademark, or any other intellectual property right
  • Contains another person's personal information without their consent
  • Is spam, phishing, or unsolicited promotional material
  • Is deliberately false, misleading, or defamatory
  • Violates any applicable law or regulation

    • We reserve the right to remove any content without notice and without liability. Repeat violations may result in your device being permanently blocked.


    10. ACCURACY OF EVENT INFORMATION


    Event information is provided for general guidance only. Natural events are inherently unpredictable. We do not guarantee any event will occur at the described time, place, or intensity.


    We are not responsible for any travel, financial, safety, health, or other decisions made based on information in the app. Always verify current local conditions before travelling. Wildlife encounters involve inherent risks — follow local guidelines and regulations at all times.


    11. THIRD-PARTY BOOKING AND LINKS


    The app may display links to third-party tour operators, booking platforms, and external websites. We are not responsible for any third-party service, content, or privacy practices. We may receive an affiliate commission when you book through a link in the app — this does not affect the price you pay and is disclosed where applicable.


    12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY


    The Goyova app, its name, logo, design, code, and original content are owned by Goyova and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws worldwide. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our prior written permission.


    13. INDEMNIFICATION


    You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Goyova and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:


  • Your use of the app
  • Your User Content
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any third party's rights

    • 14. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES


    THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.


    WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE APP WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.


    15. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY


    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, GOYOVA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL) ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE APP, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.


    OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM (OR $10 IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE ANY PAYMENTS).


    16. FORCE MAJEURE


    Goyova is not liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, government actions, internet or infrastructure failures, or actions of third-party service providers.


    17. MODERATION AND TERMINATION


    We reserve the right to remove any content, suspend or block any device or account, or discontinue the app at any time, with or without notice, for any reason including breach of these Terms.


    Upon termination, your licence to use the app ends immediately. Sections 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 18 survive termination.


    18. CONSUMER RIGHTS (EU/UK)


    If you are a consumer in the EU or UK, nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights. EU consumers may use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.


    19. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES


    These Terms are governed by the laws of Australia. However, mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence may also apply and are not excluded by this clause.


    We encourage resolving disputes informally first — email us at support@goyova.com. If unresolved, disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Australia, except where mandatory local law requires otherwise.


    20. CHANGES TO TERMS


    We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via in-app notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.


    21. CONTACT


    Goyova

    Email: support@goyova.com

    Website: goyova.com