Privacy Policy
Last Updated: July 2026
At Runnars, your privacy matters. We’re committed to protecting your personal and pet-related data, and to being transparent about how we collect, use, and store it.
1. Information We Collect
We collect limited information to make the app function properly and improve your experience:
- Account Information: Email, username, and profile photo (if provided).
- Pet Data: Pet name, breed, age, weight, and health activity details.
- Activity Data: Walk duration, distance, GPS location (only during active walks), and performance insights.
- Device Information: Type of device, app version, and crash logs (to improve app reliability).
2. Location Data
Prominent Disclosure: Runnars accesses your precise GPS location during walk sessions. This section explains what is collected, when, why, and how it is protected.
What We Collect
When you start a walk session, Runnars collects the following location data:
- Precise GPS coordinates — your latitude and longitude throughout the walk.
- Route path — the sequence of GPS points that make up your walk route.
- Distance traveled — calculated from your GPS track.
- Walk start and end location — the first and last point of each session.
When We Collect It
Location data is collected only during an active walk session — from the moment you tap "Start Walk" to the moment you end the session. We do not collect your location in the background, when the app is closed, or at any other time.
Why We Collect It
- Tracking your route — to display your walk map and route history.
- Measuring distance — to calculate how far you and your pet walked.
- Verifying walk completion — to confirm activity and calculate your reward earnings fairly.
- Preventing fraudulent activity — to protect the integrity of the rewards system for all users.
How We Protect It
Location data is transmitted over encrypted connections (TLS) and stored in secured databases accessible only to authorised Runnars systems. We apply access controls that limit which internal processes can read location records.
Third-Party Sharing
Your location data is never sold, rented, or shared with advertisers or third-party marketing platforms. It is not used to build advertising profiles about you. It may be shared only with infrastructure service providers (such as cloud hosting and mapping services) under strict data processing agreements to provide the service.
How to Revoke Access
You can revoke location permission at any time in your device settings:
- iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Runnars → Never
- Android: Settings → Apps → Runnars → Permissions → Location → Deny
*Note: Removing location permission will prevent you from starting walk sessions, as location is required to track routes and calculate rewards.
3. Fitness & Motion Data
Prominent Disclosure: Runnars accesses your device's motion sensors and fitness activity during walk sessions. This section explains what is collected, when, why, and how it is protected.
What We Collect
During an active walk session, Runnars accesses the following data from your device's motion sensors and the platform's health framework:
- Step count — the number of steps taken during the session.
- Cadence — your walking pace (steps per minute).
- Motion activity type — whether you are walking, running, or stationary.
- Distance (sensor-derived) — distance estimate from the pedometer sensor.
On iOS we use the Motion & Fitness framework (Core Motion). On Android we use the Activity Recognition API. We do not access heart rate, sleep data, menstrual health, medical conditions, or any other health categories.
When We Collect It
Fitness and motion data is collected only during an active walk session. Sensor access begins when you tap "Start Walk" and ends when the session is completed. The app does not read fitness data in the background or outside of walk sessions.
Why We Collect It
- Activity verification — to confirm that you are genuinely walking and not stationary.
- Reward calculation — step count and distance are used to calculate earned rewards fairly.
- Walk statistics — to display your personal walk summaries (steps, pace, distance).
- Preventing fraud — to ensure that rewards reflect real physical activity.
Third-Party Sharing
Fitness and motion data is never sold, rented, or shared with advertisers or third-party analytics platforms for advertising purposes. It is not combined with other data sources to build a profile of your health or habits outside the app.
How to Revoke Access
You can revoke permission at any time in your device settings:
- iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Motion & Fitness → Runnars → Off
- Android: Settings → Apps → Runnars → Permissions → Physical Activity → Deny
4. How We Use Your Information
We use your data to:
- Enable walk tracking and wellness insights
- Improve app performance and personalization
- Support community interactions like challenges, comments, and messaging
- Provide customer support and technical updates
We do not sell or share your personal or pet data with third-party advertisers.
5. Data Security
Your data is stored securely using modern encryption standards. Only you control what’s visible publicly (for example, when joining challenges or sharing posts).
6. Third-Party Services
We may use trusted third-party services such as Firebase, Google Maps, or analytics tools to improve app performance and location tracking. These providers comply with data protection standards (e.g., GDPR).
7. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as it is necessary to provide the Runnars service, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
| Data Category | Retention Period | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Account information | Duration of account + 30 days after closure | Required to provide the service |
| Walk GPS location data | 12 months from the date of each walk | Reward verification & walk history |
| Fitness & motion data | 12 months from the date of each walk | Reward verification & walk history |
| Pet profiles | Duration of account + 30 days after closure | Required to provide the service |
| Reward & transaction records | 7 years from the date of each transaction | Financial and legal compliance |
| Community posts & comments | Duration of account, or until deleted by user | Community feature functionality |
| Customer support communications | 2 years from the date of last contact | Service quality & dispute resolution |
| App usage analytics | 90 days, rolling | Service stability & improvement |
| Authentication tokens | 90 days, or until sign-out | Security & session management |
After Retention Periods Expire
When a retention period ends, data is either permanently deleted from our systems or irreversibly anonymised so that it can no longer be linked to you. Anonymised, aggregated data (for example, total steps walked per city) may be retained indefinitely for service improvement purposes.
Account Closure
When you close your Runnars account, the deletion process begins within 7 days. Most personal data is permanently deleted within 30 days. Reward and transaction records subject to legal retention obligations are retained for the periods specified above, after which they are deleted.
8. Your Right to Delete Your Data
You have the right to request the permanent deletion of your personal data from Runnars systems at any time, regardless of where you live.
How to Submit a Deletion Request
Option 1 — Delete your account in the app:
Go to Profile → Account Settings → Delete Account and confirm. This initiates automatic deletion of your account and associated data.
Option 2 — Submit a written request by email:
Send an email to privacy@runnars.com with the subject line "Data Deletion Request". Include the email address associated with your Runnars account.
What Happens Next
- Identity verification — We may send a confirmation to the email on file before processing. This takes up to 48 hours.
- Deletion — Once confirmed, deletion is completed within 30 days.
- Confirmation — You will receive an email when the process is complete.
What Gets Deleted
- Account profile — your name, email address, and profile photo.
- Pet profiles — all pet names, breeds, and photos you have added.
- Walk history — your GPS routes, step data, and walk session records.
- Community content — your posts, comments, and shared walks.
- Reward balance — your accumulated points and redemption history (note: unspent rewards are forfeited upon account deletion).
What May Be Retained
Certain data may be retained after a deletion request where we have a legal obligation to do so. This is limited to:
- Financial and transaction records — retained for up to 7 years to comply with financial regulations. These records are kept in a restricted archive and are not used for any other purpose.
- Fraud prevention records — if an account was suspended for fraudulent activity, a minimal record may be kept to prevent re-registration.
We process all deletion requests within 30 days of identity verification. If you do not receive a confirmation within that period, contact us at privacy@runnars.com.
9. Privacy Contact
For any questions about your data, retention practices, or deletion requests:
Email: privacy@runnars.com
Response time: Within 5 business days
For general product support, you can also contact us at support@runnarsapp.com.
