Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MyAmbits ("we," "our," or "us") operates the MyAmbits mobile and web application (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service. Please read this policy carefully. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you create an account, we may collect:

• Name and display name
• Email address
• Profile photo (if provided)
• Phone number (for emergency contacts)
• Authentication credentials (managed securely via Google Firebase)

2.2 Location Data

Our Service relies on location data to function. We collect and process:

• Real-time GPS coordinates — used to show nearby places, provide weather information, and power the "Walk Me Home" safety feature
• Approximate location — used for friend proximity features and area-based recommendations
• Location history — temporarily stored during active "Walk Me Home" sessions for safety tracking; automatically deleted after session completion

You can disable location sharing at any time through your device settings or the in-app "Location Sharing" toggle. Some features may not function without location access.

2.3 Usage Data

We automatically collect:

• Device type and operating system
• App interaction data (features used, pages visited)
• Crash reports and performance data
• Ambit conversation data (processed but not permanently stored)

2.4 Ambit Personalization Preferences

If you choose to personalize the Ambit assistant, we collect and store the preferences you provide so your recommendations can be tailored to you:

• Taste preferences (e.g. cuisines you like or want to avoid, vibe, budget, how you get around)
• Dietary preferences — including options such as vegetarian, halal, or kosher, which you may consider sensitive as they can relate to health or religious practice. You provide these only if you choose to; they are never required.
• An optional, per-conversation "mood" you type in to tune a single set of results (not stored)

These preferences are stored in your account (readable only by you) and are sent to our AI provider (Anthropic) with your Ambit requests so it can tailor recommendations. You can view, change, or delete them at any time from the "Personalize Ambit" screen, and clearing them removes them from your account. Setting preferences is entirely optional — the Ambit works without them.

2a. Contacts and Phone Number Data

Phone number verification. When you verify your phone number during onboarding, we store the verified E.164-formatted number privately (readable only by you) on our servers so your friends can find you if they have your contact. This step is entirely optional — you can skip it and still use the app normally.

Contacts matching. If you tap "Find friends from contacts" in the Add Friends screen, MyAmbits requests permission to read your device's contacts. When permission is granted:

1. Each phone number in your contacts is normalized (to E.164 format) on your device only.
2. Each normalized number is hashed (SHA-256) on your device only.
3. Only the hashes — not the actual numbers, names, or any other contact data — are sent to our servers.
4. Our server checks whether any of those hashes match MyAmbits users who opted into discoverability (via phone verification).
5. We return only the matched user IDs; we do not store your contact list on our servers.

What we do not do. We never upload raw phone numbers from your contacts, contact names, emails, or any other contact field. We do not retain the hashes you send us after the match lookup completes.

Your controls. You can revoke contacts permission in iOS Settings → MyAmbits → Contacts at any time. You can delete your verified phone number by signing out or deleting your account.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Show you relevant nearby places, restaurants, and points of interest
• Enable social features (friend discovery, proximity alerts, pings)
• Power the "Walk Me Home" safety feature and emergency contact notifications
• Provide personalized AI-powered recommendations via the Ambit
• Display real-time weather and contextual information
• Send important service notifications
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse

4. Third-Party Services

We integrate with the following third-party services:

• Google Maps Platform — for maps, place discovery, directions, and geocoding. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy
• Google Firebase — for authentication, real-time database, and analytics. Subject to Firebase Privacy Policy
• Anthropic (Claude AI) — for Ambit conversations and personalized recommendations. Your messages, approximate location/weather context, and (if you set them) your Ambit personalization preferences — including dietary preferences — are sent with each request so Ambit can respond and tailor results. Data is processed server-side and not stored by Anthropic beyond the request lifecycle
• Google Weather API — for real-time weather data based on your location

These services may collect information independently. We recommend reviewing their respective privacy policies.

5. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data in these cases:

• With your consent — when you choose to share your location with friends or emergency contacts
• For safety — during active "Walk Me Home" sessions, your location is shared via a tracking link with your designated emergency contacts
• Legal requirements — if required by law, subpoena, or governmental request
• Service providers — with third-party services listed above, solely to provide the Service

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), secure authentication via Firebase, and server-side API key management. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

• Account data is retained as long as your account is active
• Location data from "Walk Me Home" sessions is deleted within 24 hours of session completion
• Ambit conversations are not permanently stored
• You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time

7a. How to Delete Your Account

You can permanently delete your MyAmbits account and all associated data directly from the app:

1. Open the app and go to the Profile tab
2. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings section
3. Tap Delete Account
4. Confirm the deletion in the dialog that appears

Deleting your account will permanently remove your profile, safety history, friends list, vibes, check-ins, preferences, and emergency contacts. This action is irreversible. If you need assistance, contact us at support@myambits.com.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification — correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion — request deletion of your personal data
• Portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Restriction — restrict the processing of your data
• Objection — object to the processing of your data
• Withdraw consent — withdraw consent for location tracking at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@myambits.com.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

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. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

• Email: support@myambits.com
• App: MyAmbits