AquaGo Explorer Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 24, 2026

Last Updated: July 24, 2026

AquaGo Explorer ("AquaGo" or the "Service") is operated in Taiwan by Chao Pei Ru, an individual developer ("we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, process, use, retain, and share information when you use AquaGo, and the choices and rights available to you.

Please read this Policy before using AquaGo. If you do not agree to the data processing necessary for a feature, please do not use that feature.

1. Scope

This Policy applies to the AquaGo iOS app, AquaGo's official website, customer support, and related backend services.

Third-party services may be governed by their own privacy policies. Activities conducted through a third-party service or website may also be subject to that third party's terms and privacy practices.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account and Sign-In Information

AquaGo currently supports Sign in with Apple only. Depending on your Apple authorization and settings, we may receive and retain:

• the user identifier provided by Apple;
• your name;
• your email address or an Apple private relay email address;
• your internal AquaGo user UUID;
• account creation and sign-in timestamps.

Apple may provide certain information only when you authorize AquaGo for the first time.

2.2 Photos and Identification Data

When you select a photo from your library or take a photo and submit it for identification, we may collect and retain:

• the selected or captured image uploaded as a JPEG;
• AI-generated marine-life identification results and related content;
• timestamps associated with the identification request and result;
• the internal AquaGo user UUID associated with the identification record;
• other technical identifiers necessary to maintain the identification record.

Before upload, the app recompresses and re-encodes the image. This process removes the original EXIF metadata from the image file, including its original capture time, camera or device model, and embedded GPS metadata. We do not upload the complete original EXIF metadata to our backend.

2.3 Location Information

If you permit the app to access location information, or if a selected photo contains GPS information that the app can read, the app may separately obtain and transmit:

• latitude and longitude; and
• a place name derived from or associated with the location.

This information is retained with the corresponding identification record. If you do not provide location permission and the selected photo does not provide readable location information, the record may not contain location data.

2.4 Camera, Photo Library, and Location Permissions

Depending on the features you use, AquaGo may request access to your camera, photo library, and location. You can change these permissions in iOS Settings.

Where supported by iOS, you may authorize access to your full photo library or selected photos only. Refusing camera, photo, or location permission may prevent the related capture, selection, identification, or location-display feature from working, but does not affect unrelated features.

2.5 Feedback and Error Reports

When you use the in-app feedback or error-reporting feature, we may retain:

• the feedback you provide;
• device model;
• iOS version;
• AquaGo app version;
• technical information associated with the error or issue;
• submission time and handling status.

This information is stored in a separate feedback record and is not part of the photo-identification record.

2.6 Subscription Information

AquaGo subscriptions and payments are processed through Apple's App Store and In-App Purchase system. We do not directly receive or retain your complete credit-card or bank-account information.

To display and manage Premium access, the app may process your subscription plan, subscription status, and expiration date. Apple's processing of payment and transaction information is governed by Apple's own terms and privacy policy.

2.7 Customer Support Information

When you contact hello@aquago-app.com, we receive your email address, message content, attachments, and any other information you voluntarily provide.

3. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

• create, authenticate, and maintain AquaGo accounts;
• receive photos and provide AI-generated marine-life identification results;
• retain and display identification history;
• display location associated with an identification record;
• manage Premium features and subscription access;
• maintain the security, stability, and operation of the Service;
• investigate and correct errors;
• respond to customer-support and data-rights requests;
• prevent abuse, fraud, or violations of Service rules;
• analyze, test, and improve AquaGo features;
• after providing the required notice and obtaining the required consent, evaluate and improve AquaGo's marine-life identification systems and AI models;
• comply with legal obligations and resolve legal disputes.

4. AI Identification and Model Improvement

To provide identification results, uploaded photos and related data are transmitted to the AI, cloud, and backend services we use for processing.

Before you first use the identification feature, the app displays a notice and asks you to confirm whether you agree to the processing of photos and identification data. If you do not agree, AquaGo cannot receive the photo or provide an identification result.

Uploaded photos and identification results are also currently retained to build a dataset that may be used in the future to evaluate and improve AquaGo's marine-life identification features and AI models. You may contact us as described in "Your Rights and Choices" to request that we stop using your data for future improvement or permanently delete the relevant photos and records.

You retain your rights in the photos you upload. You grant us permission to store, reproduce, transmit, and process those photos to the extent necessary to provide, maintain, protect, and improve AquaGo. When the relevant photo is permanently deleted, we will stop using the deleted source file for future training or improvement. However, if a photo was already used to train or evaluate a version of an AI model before you requested deletion, that training or evaluation is already complete — we cannot remove or reverse that data's contribution to the already-trained model, and deleting the source photo will not and cannot undo the effect it already had on that model. Aggregated statistical results that were lawfully created and cannot reasonably be traced back to an individual are likewise unaffected by deletion.

AI-generated identification results may be incomplete or incorrect. They are provided for exploration and general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for diving safety, medical decisions, determining edibility, or deciding whether to touch or interact with marine life.

5. Service Providers and Sharing

We do not sell personal data, and we do not share it for third-party advertising.

We may provide necessary information to the following service providers in order to operate AquaGo:

• Apple — authentication, App Store subscriptions, and In-App Purchases;
• Vercel — website and backend infrastructure and photo Blob storage;
• Google Cloud and the Google Gemini API — cloud computing and AI identification processing;
• OpenRouter — AI model access or routing used by AquaGo's backend;
• Gmail — receiving and handling customer-support emails.

These providers process information according to the services they provide and our configurations. Information may be stored or processed outside Taiwan. Where reasonably practicable, we select providers that maintain appropriate security and data-protection measures.

We may also disclose necessary information:

• when required by law, court order, or a lawful request from a competent authority;
• to protect the rights, property, or safety of users, us, or others;
• to investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
• in connection with a transfer, reorganization, or succession of the Service, subject to applicable law and continued protection of the information.

6. Retention

Unless you request deletion or the law requires otherwise, AquaGo currently retains the following on a long-term basis:

• uploaded photo Blobs;
• AI identification results;
• latitude, longitude, and place name, if provided;
• the server-side creation time of the identification record;
• the internal UUID associated with the identification records.

Feedback and error-report information is generally retained for two years after the case is closed or the last interaction. We may retain it longer where necessary to address security incidents, disputes, or legal obligations.

Customer-support emails are generally retained for two years after the matter is closed or the last interaction. We may retain them longer where necessary to handle follow-up requests, disputes, security incidents, or legal obligations.

Subscription-related information is retained as necessary to maintain subscription access, address disputes, and comply with legal obligations.

7. Deleting an Identification, Deleting an Account, and Permanently Deleting Backend Data

7.1 Deleting an Identification in the App

When you delete an identification record in the app, it is removed from your account interface. This action does not currently automatically delete the corresponding photo Blob, AI identification result, location, timestamp, or other identification data retained in the backend.

7.2 Deleting Your Account

When you delete your AquaGo account in the app, we clear data directly associated with your Apple account, such as the Apple user identifier, name, and email address, so that the original internal AquaGo UUID is no longer directly linked to that account information.

The internal UUID and historical identification records associated with it remain retained. Records previously associated with the same account therefore remain linkable to one another through that internal UUID. Because photos, location information, or other content may still indirectly identify a person in some circumstances, we describe this process as removing direct identifiers or de-identification, and do not represent that the remaining information is necessarily anonymous in all circumstances.

Deleting your AquaGo account does not automatically cancel an Apple App Store subscription. You must separately manage or cancel the subscription through Apple.

7.3 Requesting Permanent Deletion of Backend Data

To request permanent deletion of photos, identification results, location information, internal UUID, feedback information, or other related data retained in the backend, email hello@aquago-app.com and provide sufficient information for us to locate and verify the relevant account and records.

We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before processing a deletion request. After verification, we will process the request within the period required by applicable law and notify you of the estimated completion date based on the circumstances. We may delay deletion to the limited extent required by law or necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims, and will explain the reason where appropriate.

Permanent deletion cannot be reversed.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Subject to applicable law, you may request to:

• inquire about or access your personal data;
• receive a copy;
• supplement or correct it;
• stop its collection, processing, or use;
• withdraw consent;
• delete personal data;
• ask questions or make a complaint regarding our processing.

To submit a request, email hello@aquago-app.com. We may request reasonable account or identity verification information to prevent unauthorized access to or deletion of data.

You may also manage photo, camera, and location permissions in iOS Settings. Withdrawing a permission or consent necessary for a feature may prevent that feature from working, but does not affect processing lawfully completed before the withdrawal.

9. Children and Minors

AquaGo is not specifically directed to children. We do not knowingly ask children under 13 to independently provide personal data or create an account.

Children under 13 may not independently create an account or use the Service. Anyone who has not reached the age of majority where they live should have a parent or legal guardian review and agree to this Policy and should use AquaGo under their guidance.

If you believe a child has provided information without appropriate consent, contact us at hello@aquago-app.com. Once confirmed, we will take appropriate steps to address or delete the information.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures designed to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction. However, no internet transmission or electronic-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

If a security incident occurs for which applicable law requires user notification, we will notify affected individuals by email, in-app notice, or another appropriate method.

11. International Processing

AquaGo's service providers may process or store information outside Taiwan. Data-protection laws in those locations may differ from those where you live. We take reasonable measures to protect information processed internationally in accordance with applicable law and this Policy.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect changes in features, technology, service providers, or legal requirements. The latest revision date will be displayed on this page.

If a change materially affects your rights or introduces a new collection, sharing, or use purpose, we will provide notice through the app, website, email, or another appropriate method. Where consent is required by law, we will request it separately.

13. Contact Us

Data Controller/Operator: Chao Pei Ru

Location: Taiwan

Email: hello@aquago-app.com

Contact us at the email address above if you have questions about this Policy or AquaGo's data practices, or if you wish to exercise your data rights.