Introduction

Welcome to Recipe Scout ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience using our mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use Recipe Scout.

By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

Create an Account:

• Full name
• Email address
• Password (encrypted and securely stored)

Use the App:

• Recipe data (titles, ingredients, instructions, notes, tags)
• Recipe images and photos
• Cooking timers and preferences
• Search queries and browsing history within the App
• Voice input data (when using voice-to-text features)

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use the App, we automatically collect:

Device Information:

• Device type and model
• Operating system version (iOS/Android)
• Unique device identifiers
• Mobile network information

Usage Data:

• App features used
• Time and date of access
• App crashes and performance data
• Interaction with recipes and content

Camera and Media:

• Photos you take or select for recipe scanning
• Scanned recipe documents and images
• Images associated with saved recipes

1.3 Information from Third-Party Sources

We may collect information from third-party services:

• Recipe Websites: When you import recipes from external websites, we extract recipe data (ingredients, instructions, images) from those sites
• AI Processing: Recipe images and text may be processed through Google's Gemini AI service for recipe extraction and analysis

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 Core App Functionality

• Create and manage your account
• Store and organize your recipe collection
• Import recipes from websites and documents
• Provide AI-powered recipe search and recommendations
• Enable cooking timers and notifications
• Sync your data across devices
• Process voice-to-text input for hands-free cooking

2.2 App Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns to improve features
• Fix bugs and technical issues
• Develop new features based on user needs
• Optimize app performance

2.3 Communication

• Send important account notifications
• Respond to your support requests
• Provide updates about the App (with your consent)

2.4 Security and Fraud Prevention

• Protect against unauthorized access
• Detect and prevent fraudulent activity
• Enforce our Terms of Service

3. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the App. We confirm that each third-party service provider with whom we share user data is contractually required to provide the same or equal protection of user data as described in this Privacy Policy.

Supabase (Database and Authentication)

• Stores your account information and recipe data
• Provides secure authentication services
• Privacy Policy: https://supabase.com/privacy

Google LLC — Google Gemini AI (Third-Party AI Processing)

• Provider: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
• Data Shared: The following categories of data may be sent to Google Gemini AI depending on which AI feature you use:
  • Smart Search: Your search keywords and dietary preferences
  • Recipe Chat: The recipe you are viewing (title, ingredients, instructions), your chat messages, and conversation history
  • OCR Import: Recipe images you select for scanning
  • Recipe Synthesis: Recipe data from search results, your unit and difficulty preferences
• Purpose: Solely to generate AI-powered responses for the features listed above. Data is not used for advertising, profiling, or to train Google's AI models.
• Consent: Data is shared with Google Gemini AI only after you have explicitly granted consent in the app. You may revoke or re-grant this consent at any time from the Account page within the app.
• Retention: Data sent to Google Gemini AI is processed in real-time to generate responses and is subject to Google's API data handling policies. Recipe Scout does not retain copies of AI request/response data beyond the active session.
• Google Gemini API Terms: https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/terms
• Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

OpenRouter (AI Request Routing)

• Provider: OpenRouter, Inc.
• Role: OpenRouter acts as a routing layer for API requests to Google Gemini AI. When you use an AI feature, your request is forwarded through OpenRouter to reach Google's Gemini models. OpenRouter does not use this data for advertising or profiling.
• Data Shared: The same categories of data described under Google Gemini AI above may pass through OpenRouter's infrastructure as a transit intermediary.
• Consent: Because OpenRouter is used solely as a routing layer to reach Google Gemini AI, the same explicit consent requirement applies — no data is routed through OpenRouter unless you have first granted AI consent in the app. Consent can be revoked or re-granted at any time from the Account page.
• Privacy Policy: https://openrouter.ai/privacy

Google Cloud Platform (Infrastructure)

• Hosts our backend server
• Privacy Policy: https://cloud.google.com/terms/cloud-privacy-notice

Brave Search / Serper (Recipe Search)

• Enables web recipe search functionality using your search queries
• Privacy Policies: https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com/privacy-policy and https://serper.dev/privacy

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
• Government requests
• Protection of our rights and safety
• Prevention of fraud or illegal activity

3.3 Business Transfers

If Recipe Scout is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

3.4 With Your Consent

We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

3.2 AI Data Sharing

What Triggers AI Data Sharing

Data is transmitted to AI services when you actively use one of the following optional AI-powered features and you have previously granted AI consent:

• Smart Search — triggered when you perform an AI-enhanced recipe search
• Recipe Chat — triggered when you send a message in the recipe chat interface
• OCR Import — triggered when you scan a recipe image or document
• Recipe Synthesis — triggered when you request an AI-generated synthesized recipe from search results

Which Services Receive Your Data

When an AI feature is activated, your request is routed through OpenRouter (acting as a transit/routing layer) and delivered to Google Gemini AI (Google LLC) for processing. Both services are subject to the same consent requirement described above.

What Data Is Sent

• Smart Search: Your search keywords, dietary preferences, and difficulty level preference.
• Recipe Chat: The full recipe you are viewing (title, description, ingredients, instructions, nutrition information), your chat messages, and the conversation history.
• OCR Import: The recipe image or scanned document you selected (transmitted as image data).
• Recipe Synthesis: Recipe data from search results (titles, ingredients, instructions, images) and your unit and difficulty preferences.

No personal account information (name, email address, or password) is ever included in AI requests.

Consent Requirement

Before any data is transmitted for AI processing, you must explicitly grant consent through the in-app consent prompt. Until consent is granted, all AI features are unavailable and no data is sent to any AI service.

Managing Your Consent

You can revoke or re-grant AI data sharing consent at any time from the Account page in the app. Revoking consent immediately stops all data from being sent to AI services and disables AI features until consent is re-granted.

Important Safeguards

• Data is used solely to generate AI-powered responses — never for advertising, user profiling, or training AI models.
• Data is processed in real-time; Recipe Scout does not retain copies of AI request or response data beyond the active session.
• Retention of data by Google Gemini AI and OpenRouter is governed by their respective privacy policies and terms of service.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Data Storage

• Your data is stored securely using Supabase's cloud infrastructure
• Recipe data is encrypted in transit using SSL/TLS
• Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text
• Data is stored in secure data centers with industry-standard protections

4.2 Security Measures

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication protocols
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and monitoring

4.3 Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. You may request deletion of your account and data at any time through the App settings.

AI-Processed Data Retention

Data sent to Google Gemini AI for processing (search queries, recipe content, chat messages, images) is transmitted in real-time to generate responses. Recipe Scout does not store copies of AI request or response data beyond the active user session. Data retention by Google is governed by their Gemini API Terms of Service.

5. Your Privacy Rights

5.1 Access and Control

You have the right to:

• Access: View all personal information we have about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and all associated data
• Export: Download a copy of your data in a portable format
• Opt-Out: Decline optional data collection or marketing communications
• Revoke AI Consent: Withdraw or re-grant your consent for AI data sharing at any time from the Account page in the app. Revoking consent immediately stops all data from being sent to AI services until you consent again.

5.2 How to Exercise Your Rights

You can exercise these rights by:

• Using the in-app account deletion feature (Settings → Account → Delete Account)
• Revoking or re-granting AI data sharing consent from the Account page in the app
• Contacting us at: croznoah@gmail.com

5.3 Regional Privacy Rights

For European Union (EU) Users (GDPR):

• Right to data portability
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to object to processing
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

For California Users (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

For Other Jurisdictions:

We comply with applicable privacy laws in your region.

6. Children's Privacy

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The App uses local storage and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Store recipe data locally for offline access
• Maintain your login session
• Improve app performance

You can manage these through your device settings, but disabling them may affect app functionality.

8. Third-Party Links

The App may contain links to external recipe websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the App
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending you a notification (for material changes)

Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

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

12. Data Protection Officer

For EU users, you may contact our Data Protection Officer at:

Email: croznoah@gmail.com

Consent

By using Recipe Scout, you consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.