Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

The Open Circle is a peer-support and wellness-education community app. We are not a therapy practice, a medical provider, or a crisis service. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

2. Information we collect

Account & profile information

When you create an account we collect your email address (used to sign in) and the display name, bio, and interests you choose to add to your profile. This information is stored securely on our backend so your profile follows you across devices.

Information kept only on your device

Your journal reflections, community posts, saved resources, discussion RSVPs, signed agreements, notification preferences, and Face ID sign-in credential are stored only on your device using your browser's local storage. This data is never transmitted to our servers and is not accessible to us.

Information we do not collect

• We do not collect health, medical, or clinical records.
• We do not track your location.
• We do not use advertising identifiers or track you across other apps or websites.
• We do not sell your data to anyone.

3. How we use your information

• To create and manage your account and sign you in.
• To display your display name and profile in the community.
• To sync your profile across devices when you sign in.
• To operate, maintain, and improve the app's community features.

4. Face ID & face data

We do not collect, receive, store, or process any face data. Face ID sign-in is optional and uses your device's built-in authentication system (Apple's Face ID / Touch ID through the standard WebAuthn passkey interface). Your face scan, face map, face images, and any other biometric data are created and kept entirely by Apple inside your device's Secure Enclave. They are never transmitted to us, and we have no technical ability to access them.

What the app receives: only a yes/no result — whether your device confirmed it was you — plus a random, non-biometric credential identifier. That identifier contains no face data and cannot be used to recognize or reconstruct anyone's face.

Use: solely to unlock your own account on that one device. Sharing: no face data is shared with us, with any third party, or with any advertiser or analytics provider — because none is collected. Storage: the credential identifier is stored only in your device's local storage; no face data or biometric template is stored on our servers or anywhere off your device. Retention & deletion: the credential identifier is retained on your device only for as long as you keep Face ID enabled, and is deleted immediately when you turn off Face ID, delete your account, clear the app's data, or delete the app. Apple's own face data retention is governed by Apple and is never available to us. Face ID is always optional — you can sign in with your email and password instead.

5. Data sharing

We do not share your personal information with third parties for advertising or marketing. We may use a trusted hosting and authentication provider to securely store your account and profile information. We only disclose information when required by law or to protect the safety of our community.

6. Data retention & deletion

Your profile information is kept for as long as your account is active. You can delete your account at any time from the Profile page — this removes your profile from our servers and signs you out. On-device data (journal, posts, etc.) is cleared from your device when you delete your account or clear your browser data.

7. Children & age

The Open Circle is intended for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

8. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your account information, including secure, encrypted authentication. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information using reasonable safeguards.

9. Not a health or crisis service

The Open Circle is a peer-support and wellness-education community, not therapy, medical treatment, or a crisis service. If you are in crisis or an emergency, contact your local emergency services or a crisis line (such as 988 in the US). Do not rely on this app for urgent help.

10. Your privacy choices

You can review and edit your profile information at any time from the Profile page. You can sign out, or delete your account entirely. Because we do not track you or sell data, there is no advertising profile to opt out of.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will note the updated date above. Continued use of the app means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact

Questions about this privacy policy or your data? Contact us at hello@theopencircle.app.