Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to MyLake ("we," "us," or "our"). MyLake is operated by My Lake Technologies LLC. MyLake is a lake-community platform that helps members share updates, maps, messages, and community safety alerts. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website, progressive web app, and native mobile apps for iOS and Android (collectively, the "Service"). The native apps load the same MyLake experience from our secure servers; they are not a separate product with different data practices.

By using the Service, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use MyLake.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account information: Email address, password (stored securely by our authentication provider), display name, profile photo, and preferences such as theme and notification settings.
• Sign-in providers: If you use Google or Sign in with Apple, we receive the profile information those providers share with us (such as your email and name) according to your choices with that provider.
• User-generated content: Posts, photos, videos, comments, chat and group messages, message reactions, map markers (including comments and photos attached to pins), poll responses, and community verification votes.
• Groups: Group names, membership, and content you share within private groups (maps, messages, and group-only posts).
• Support and feedback: Bug reports, feature requests, content reports, and optional screenshots or browser details you submit through in-app feedback forms.
• Marketing forms: If you request a new lake or contact us without an account, we may collect your name, email, phone number, and message content.

2.2 Location Data

MyLake uses location in several distinct ways. We do not collect background location when the app is closed. Location features require your device or browser permission where applicable.

• Map markers you place: When you add a pin on the map, we store the coordinates and any comment or photo you attach. Public lake pins are visible to other authenticated members of that lake. Group pins are visible only to members of that group.
• Foreground location pings: While you are logged in and the app is open and visible, we may periodically store your last-known GPS coordinates (and optional accuracy and heading) to support lake operations and safety monitoring. We keep only your most recent ping, not a continuous history. Authorized administrators may access these pings for operational purposes. By default, pings are not shown lake-wide to other members.
• Share last location with groups (optional): If you enable "Share Last Location with Groups" in Account → Privacy, members of your groups may see your last app-captured position on the group map when you are not live sharing. You can turn this off at any time.
• Group live location sharing: If you opt in on a group map, we share your live position with other members of that group while sharing is active. Sharing stops when you turn it off, leave the app, or hide the browser tab. Live share data is removed when you stop sharing and is not retained as a long-term location history.
• Community safety alerts (SOS): If you declare a community safety alert, we may attach your GPS coordinates or a location you set manually on the map, along with an optional description. Open alerts may be visible to other authenticated members of the lake community. MyLake does not contact 911 or emergency services on your behalf.

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

• Session and authentication data: Cookies and similar technologies used to keep you signed in and secure your account.
• Device and browser information: When you submit feedback, we may collect user agent strings and basic browser or device metadata to help diagnose issues.
• Server logs: Our hosting providers may log IP addresses, request timestamps, and similar technical data necessary to operate and protect the Service.
• In-app activity signals: Such as last-viewed timestamps for map, feed, and chat sections, used to show unread badges while you use the app.
• First-party product analytics: We record limited product events (for example, taps on Coming up cards or opening a map marker sheet) to understand how features are used and improve the Service. These events are stored on our systems and are not sold to advertisers.
• Local storage: Your browser or app may store preferences locally (for example, theme, live-share consent, or post-login redirect paths).
• Mobile push notification tokens: If you install the MyLake native app and grant notification permission, we store a device push token associated with your account so we can deliver alerts you have opted into (such as crew messages, map activity, and community safety alerts). Tokens are removed when you sign out, delete your account, or unregister the device. We do not use push tokens for advertising.

We do not use third-party advertising or analytics trackers (such as Google Analytics or similar products) in the Service today.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Create and manage your account and profile
• Display maps, feeds, chat, groups, weather, and lake information
• Operate community features including posts, markers, verifications, polls, and announcements
• Honor in-app notification preferences and show unread badges while you use the Service
• Deliver mobile push notifications on native apps when you grant permission and your preferences allow (for example, crew messages and critical community alerts)
• Operate community safety alerts and related messaging within the lake community
• Review reported content and enforce our Terms of Service and community standards
• Respond to support requests, feedback, and lake-expansion inquiries
• Analyze product usage with first-party analytics to improve features and reliability
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our agreements

4. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:

• With other users: Content you post publicly on the lake map or activity feed, open community safety alerts, and your display name and avatar may be visible to other members. Group content is shared only with members of that group. Live location is shared only with group members while you have sharing turned on. Your last-known position may be visible to group members only if you enable Share Last Location with Groups.
• Service providers who help us operate the Service, including:
  • Supabase — authentication, database, file storage, and realtime features
  • Vercel — website and API hosting
  • Google and Apple — sign-in when you choose those providers
  • Mapbox — map tiles (Mapbox may receive IP and device data per their privacy policy)
  • Open-Meteo — weather data for lake coordinates
  • Resend — transactional email (for example, lake requests and operational messages)
  • Apple Push Notification service (APNs) — delivers iOS push notifications when you use the MyLake app on iPhone or iPad
  • Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) — delivers Android push notifications when you use the MyLake app on Android
  • OpenAI — limited processing of lake business and public lake signals to generate daily briefings and related lake intel features (not used to train models on your private chats or personal messages)
  • Payment processors and similar vendors when we use those services
• Administrators: Authorized MyLake staff may access account, content, reports, feedback, and operational location pings to moderate the platform, respond to safety issues, and maintain the Service.
• Legal and safety: When required by law, court order, or government request, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect rights, safety, or security.
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice where required by law.

5. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as needed to provide the Service and meet the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer period is required by law.

• Account and profile data are kept while your account is active.
• User-generated content remains until you or an administrator deletes it, or your account is deleted.
• Foreground location pings store only your last-known position and are overwritten on each update.
• Group live share positions are deleted when sharing stops or becomes stale.
• First-party product analytics events may be retained in aggregate or event-level form for product improvement and operational reporting.
• Push delivery tokens and device metadata are removed when you sign out, delete your account, or unregister the device.
• Feedback, reports, and support records may be retained for moderation and operational purposes.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored using industry-standard security measures. Primary data is hosted through Supabase and our cloud infrastructure providers. While we work to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Access and correction: Update your profile, password, and privacy settings in Account settings.
• Chat discoverability: Turn off "Allow New Chats" in Account → Privacy to hide yourself from chat search.
• Notification preferences: Adjust in-app notification toggles in Account → Notifications. On native apps, you can also disable push notifications in your device system settings.
• Location: Deny or revoke location permission in your browser or device settings. Some features (map pins, live share, and safety alerts) require location to work fully.
• Share last location with groups: Control in Account → Privacy.
• Live location sharing: Opt in only when you choose Share Live on a group map; turn sharing off at any time.
• Deletion: Delete your account in the app under Account → Delete Account (or Account → Privacy → Delete Account). You can also email privacy@mylake.live. Deletion is permanent and removes most associated data, subject to legal and safety retention requirements described below.
• Report content: Use in-app reporting on posts, map markers, and chat or group messages. Contact us if you need additional help.

To exercise other rights (such as data portability), contact us using the information in the Contact section below.

8. Community Safety Alerts

MyLake's community safety alert feature helps members notify others on the lake. It is not a substitute for calling 911 or official emergency services. Before using this feature, you must accept our safety disclaimer. Alert details, including location when provided, may be visible to other authenticated members of the community.

9. Children's Privacy

MyLake is not intended for users under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in and maintain session security
• Remember preferences stored in local storage (such as theme)
• Support progressive web app caching for faster loading in browsers
• Support native app session and authentication when you use the iOS or Android app

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may prevent you from signing in or using certain features.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Last updated" date. Material changes may also be communicated through the Service where appropriate. Your continued use of MyLake after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

For content moderation or abuse reports, you may also use in-app reporting or contact support@mylake.live.