Privacy Policy

Introduction

Smokies App, LLC (“SmokiesApp,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices available to you when you use SmokiesApp.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Email address
• Display name
• Apple or Google sign-in information
• Community posts, comments, reactions, reports, and feedback
• Profile photos
• Business listing information
• Business verification documents
• Coby conversations

Information Collected Automatically

• App version
• Device type and operating system
• Device name (where applicable)
• Push notification token
• Product usage events
• Crash diagnostics
• Search activity
• Approximate analytics zones

Guest Users

Some information is collected from all users, including guests. If you later create an account, certain guest activity may be associated with your account.

Location

With your permission, SmokiesApp uses your location while you are actively using location-enabled features.

We do not use background location tracking.

We retain only your most recent known location to support nearby content, deal redemption, and Coby. We do not maintain a continuous location history.

Photos

Uploaded profile and community photos are processed to remove metadata such as GPS information before storage.

Hike log photos remain on your device unless you choose to share them.

Device Permissions

We may request:

• Location (while using the app)
• Camera
• Photo Library
• Notifications

We do not request microphone or contacts access.

Coby

Coby processes your chat messages, conversation history, current location (when relevant), and trip information to generate responses.

Coby also draws on community updates and tips shared by other users, so that recent, relevant local information can be surfaced to the people who need it. Community content used this way is subject to moderation and recency limits, and is shown with the author’s display name unless they posted anonymously.

Coby conversations may be retained in pseudonymized form, including after account deletion, to improve, evaluate, troubleshoot, and develop Coby. Third-party AI providers are not permitted to use those conversations to train their general-purpose AI models.

How We Use Information

We use information to:

• Operate the Services
• Authenticate users
• Personalize recommendations
• Deliver notifications
• Moderate content
• Improve Coby
• Detect fraud and abuse
• Provide customer support
• Comply with legal obligations

How We Share Information

We share information only as described here. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Service providers that help us run the Services, under contracts that limit their use of your information:

• Supabase (authentication and database)
• Microsoft Azure, including Azure OpenAI, and OpenAI (application backend, database, image storage, AI assistant processing, and content-safety moderation)
• PostHog (product analytics)
• Sentry (crash, performance, and diagnostic reporting for the app and our backend)
• Google Analytics (website analytics)
• Google (maps, sign-in, and business location data) and Apple (sign-in)
• Expo, Apple Push Notification service, and Firebase Cloud Messaging (delivering notifications)
• Resend (sending email)
• Vercel (website hosting)

Other users and the public. Content you post to the community feed, including photos and the general area you tag, along with your display name and profile photo, is visible to others in the app and may appear on our website and in our marketing, including on our social media pages. Content you post may also be surfaced to other users through Coby when it is relevant and timely, as described above.

Partners you choose to visit. When you tap an outbound booking or partner link, including links to partners such as Stay22 and Viator, that third party receives the request and any information contained in the link.

Legal and safety. When required by law or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users, the public, or SmokiesApp.

Business transfers. In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to this Policy.

We Do Not Sell or Share Your Personal Information

SmokiesApp does not sell your personal information and does not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, as those terms are used under California and other US state privacy laws.

We do not use advertising identifiers, advertising SDKs, or third-party advertising trackers, and the app does not track you across other companies’ apps or websites.

Because we do not sell or share your information, there is nothing for you to opt out of in that respect, but you may still exercise the rights described below.

Sensitive Information

Precise geolocation is treated as sensitive personal information under some laws. We use it only to provide the features described in this Policy, such as nearby content and deal redemption, and not to infer characteristics about you or for advertising.

Analytics and Cookies

We use analytics to improve the Services.

Analytics uses coarse geographic zones rather than precise GPS coordinates.

On our website, analytics tools use cookies or similar local storage. For details and your choices, see our Cookie Policy.

We use analytics in aggregate to improve the Services. We do not use it to build advertising profiles, and we do not sell it.

Affiliate Links

Some links are affiliate links. SmokiesApp may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Data Retention

Account and content. We keep your account information and the content you post while your account is active.

Coby conversations. Your chats with Coby are stored so you can return to them and so we can operate and improve the assistant. You can delete conversations in the app.

Location. We retain your most recent known location to power location features and overwrite it as you move. Individual posts keep the general area you tagged.

Analytics. We retain analytics data only as long as needed for the purposes described, after which it is aggregated or deleted.

Business verification evidence. Documents you upload to verify business ownership are retained only as long as needed to review and support your claim, and to keep a record of the decision.

Account Deletion

When you delete your account, your profile, preferences, push tokens, saved items, and last known location are deleted.

Community posts, comments, reactions, community tips, deal redemption logs (with precise location removed), referral attribution, and Coby conversations are retained in pseudonymized form, no longer linked to your name or account, to preserve the integrity of the community.

A limited trust-and-safety record is retained for up to two (2) years for abuse prevention, legal compliance, and enforcement of our Terms.

Feedback submitted through the app may also be retained for support, product improvement, and legal recordkeeping.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You can:

• Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Delete your account and associated data from within the app (Profile → Delete Account), or by contacting us. When you do, your profile and personal information are removed, though content you posted may remain in pseudonymized form as described under Account Deletion.
• Correct inaccurate information, and delete your own posts and comments at any time.
• Request a copy of your information in a portable form by contacting us.
• Manage location, notifications, and photo permissions through your device settings, and opt out of non-essential communications by contacting us or using the unsubscribe link in our emails.

To make a request, email privacy@smokiesapp.com. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights. You may use an authorized agent to submit a request, and we may need to verify your identity before we act.

California and Other US State Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended by the CPRA) and similar laws in Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and other states.

These can include the rights to know or access, delete, correct, and obtain a portable copy of your personal information, and to appeal a decision about your request.

We describe the categories of personal information we collect, and the purposes for collecting them, in the sections above. As noted, we do not sell or share personal information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@smokiesapp.com.

Children’s Privacy

The Services are not directed to children under 13, and you must be at least 13 years old to use them.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Where Your Information Is Processed

We are based in the United States and process information here.

If you access the Services from outside the United States, you understand that your information will be processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your location.

Third-Party Links and Services

The Services link to third-party sites and services, for example business websites and booking or deal-redemption pages.

We are not responsible for their privacy practices, and this Policy does not apply to them.

Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

Contact

Smokies App, LLC

4500 Wilson Avenue
Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Privacy requests and questions: privacy@smokiesapp.com

General inquiries: hello@smokiesapp.com