Privacy Policy
ShakeViewer respects your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect on the website (shakeviewer.com) and in the iOS app, how it is used, how long we keep it, and your rights. Using ShakeViewer does not require an account.
Summary
| Website | iOS app | |
|---|---|---|
| Account (optional) | Email & password, Sign in with Apple, or Google sign-in; display name; optional profile photo | Email & password, Sign in with Apple, or Google sign-in; optional display name |
| Synced content (signed in) | Bookmarks, saved custom searches, terms-acceptance date | |
| Location | Optional (Near Me); read from your browser, stored only in your browser | Optional, “While Using the App” only; stays on your device |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4, only if you accept analytics cookies (see below) | None |
| Advertising / tracking | None. ShakeViewer does not show ads and never sells your data. We do not share your data with advertisers, and we do not track you across other companies’ apps or websites. | |
Data we collect
Earthquake data requests
Earthquake data is fetched directly from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). No personally identifying information is sent to them beyond your IP address and standard request headers, which any internet request reveals.
Account data (only if you create an account)
- Website: email address, display name, optional profile photo, and either a password (stored hashed by Firebase Authentication), your Apple ID if you use Sign in with Apple, or your Google identity if you use Sign in with Google. With Sign in with Apple, Apple shares your name (if you choose to) and either your email address or a private relay address that forwards to it; we do not receive your Apple ID password. With Google sign-in, Google shares your name, email address and profile picture with us; we do not receive your Google password.
- iOS app: email address, optional display name, and either a password stored hashed by Firebase Authentication or your Apple ID or Google identity if you use Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google (the same information described above).
User content (only if signed in)
Bookmarks of earthquakes, saved custom searches (date range, minimum magnitude, optional map area you drew), and the date and version of the Terms and Privacy Policy you accepted. These sync between the website and the app.
Location
Location is always optional. On the website the Near Me feature reads your approximate coordinates from your browser and stores them only in your browser. In the iOS app location is requested only when you tap “Show my location”, is limited to “While Using the App”, is used on your device to centre the map and calculate distances, and is never uploaded to our servers or shared. Custom-search map areas are drawn by you and are not your device location.
Preferences stored on your device
Theme, map style, filters, fault-line toggle and local search history are stored in your browser’s local storage or in the app’s on-device storage and are not sent to us.
Analytics and cookies (website only)
The website uses Google Analytics 4 (provided by Google LLC / Google Ireland Ltd.) only if you choose Accept in the cookie banner. Until you accept, Google Analytics is not loaded and no analytics cookies are set; we use Google Consent Mode with all storage denied by default. If you accept, we grant analytics storage only — advertising storage, ad personalization, ad user data and Google signals stay off.
What is collected: pseudonymous usage events such as page views, sign-up and sign-in (with the method used: email, Apple or Google), adding a bookmark, running a custom search (minimum magnitude and whether an area was drawn) and changing the language, together with technical data your browser sends (device and browser type, screen size, approximate location derived from your IP address, referrer). IP addresses are not stored by Google Analytics 4. We do not send your name, email address or account ID to Google Analytics.
Cookies: Google Analytics sets first-party cookies named _ga and _ga_<ID> (up to 2 years) to distinguish visits. Your choice itself is stored in your browser’s local storage (sv_cookie_consent), not in a cookie. Firebase Authentication stores your sign-in session in your browser’s local storage; this is strictly necessary for signing in and is not used for analytics.
Opt-out: you can decline in the banner, or change your choice at any time via Cookie settings in the website footer (or the About dialog on mobile). You can also block Google Analytics with your browser’s tracking protection or the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.
Google as processor: Google processes analytics data on our behalf as a service provider/processor under Google’s data processing terms, and data may be transferred to and processed in the United States under Google’s standard contractual clauses. Analytics data is retained for 14 months. See how Google uses information from sites that use its services. The iOS app contains no analytics, advertising or tracking SDKs.
How data is used and who processes it
Account data and synced content are stored in Google Firebase (Firebase Authentication and Cloud Firestore, operated by Google LLC) solely to provide ShakeViewer features such as signing in and syncing bookmarks. Google acts as our service provider and protects this data under its own security and privacy commitments, which provide at least the same level of protection described here. The website is hosted by Netlify, which processes standard server logs (IP address, user agent) to deliver the site. Map tiles are loaded from CARTO/Esri on the website and Apple Maps in the iOS app, which receive your IP address when tiles are requested. All connections use HTTPS.
ShakeViewer does not show ads and never sells your data. We do not rent or share your personal data with advertisers or data brokers, and we do not use it for any purpose other than operating ShakeViewer and the occasional account emails described below.
We may occasionally email account holders about important ShakeViewer news, such as a new app. These emails are rare, every one includes an unsubscribe link, and we never share your email address.
Retention and deletion
Synced data is kept for as long as your account exists. You can delete your account at any time:
- iOS app: Settings → Account → Delete account.
- Website: open your profile (avatar, top right) → Delete account.
Deleting your account permanently erases your bookmarks, saved searches, user record and sign-in credentials from our systems. Data stored only on your device or in your browser is removed when you delete the app or clear site data. See how to delete your account.
Your rights and choices
Creating an account is optional; every earthquake feature works without one. You can withdraw location permission at any time in your browser or iOS Settings, sign out, or delete your account. Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR or CCPA) you may have rights to access, correct, export or delete your data; contact us to exercise them.
Children
ShakeViewer is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect their personal information.
Changes
We may update this policy. The effective date above shows when it last changed; significant changes will be highlighted on the site and in the app.
Contact
Questions or privacy requests: danieltheprompter@gmail.com. See also the Support page.