Privacy Policy

Group Pick ("we", "us") helps groups vote on where to eat and what to do. We built it to work without accounts — most of what you do is anonymous. This policy explains what we collect and why.

What we collect

Anonymous game data. When you create or vote in a pick, we store the game's options, your yes/no votes, and an anonymous, randomly-generated "seat" identifier saved in your browser's local storage. This seat ID isn't linked to your name, email, or any personal identity — it only lets you keep your place in a game.

Location (only when you create a pick). To find places near you, we use the location you choose on the map — the spot you search for, or your device's location if you allow it — and send those coordinates to Google's Places API to look up nearby options. We don't track your location in the background or keep a location history.

Account info (only if you sign in). Signing in is optional and only used to unlock photos and to save the picks you've created. If you sign in with Google, we receive your Google account identifier and email address via Firebase Authentication. You can use the entire app without signing in.

Technical data. Like most websites, our hosting provider automatically logs basic request information (such as IP address, browser type, and timestamps) for security and to keep the service running.

How we use it

• To run the voting game and show results.
• To fetch and display nearby places and their photos and reviews.
• To save your created picks if you're signed in.
• To keep the service secure and working.

We do not sell your data, show ads, or use it for advertising or profiling.

Third-party services

Group Pick relies on a few services that process data on our behalf:

• Google Cloud / Firebase — hosting, database, file storage, and optional sign-in.
• Google Places API — place details, photos, and reviews, requested only when a pick is created.
• OpenStreetMap & Nominatim — map tiles and place-name lookups.
• The Movie Database (TMDB) — movie details, if the movies category is used.

These providers have their own privacy policies governing how they handle data.

Data retention

• Options fetched from Google (names, photos, reviews) are stored only while a pick is active and are deleted when a pick is decided or expires — we keep only a non-identifying place reference afterward.
• Cached photos are removed on the same schedule (automatically within about 48 hours).
• The anonymous identifiers in your browser's local storage stay until you clear your browser data.
• If you signed in, you can ask us to delete your saved picks and account data (see Contact).

Cookies & local storage

We don't use advertising or tracking cookies. We store a few small, functional values in your browser's local storage — an anonymous seat ID, a host key for picks you create, and a flag remembering you've seen the intro. Clearing your browser storage removes them.

Your choices

• Use the app anonymously — don't sign in.
• Decline the location prompt and search for a place instead.
• Clear your browser's local storage to remove your anonymous identifiers.
• Contact us to delete account data if you signed in.

Children

Group Pick isn't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes

We may update this policy; we'll revise the "Effective" date above when we do.

Contact

Questions or requests: hello@groupchoose.com.