Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 3/10/2025

Welcome to the KOT mobile application (the “App”), operated by KOT (“we,” “our,” or “us”). KOT is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the App. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the App, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide to Us

  • Account Information: When you create an account within the App, we may collect personal information such as your username, email address and profile picture. We do not directly collect or store any payment information (e.g., credit card numbers) or identity verification data. All in-app purchases, subscription payments, and any identity verification required for billing are managed solely by the App Store (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play Store) under its own terms and privacy policies.
  • Uploaded Content: When you upload fish photos (“User Content”) for species identification, the photos, metadata (including timestamps, geolocation data, camera information), and any associated comments or notes you provide will be collected by KOT’s servers.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • Device Information: We may collect information about your mobile device, such as device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
  • Usage Data: We may collect information about how you use the App, such as the frequency of use, the pages or screens you view, and other usage data.

1.3 Location Data

  • Location Services: In order to provide species identification and location-based features, we may request access or permission to track location-based information from your mobile device. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings. However, disabling location data may limit certain features of the App.

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 To Provide and Improve Our Services

  • We process your fish photos (including associated metadata) to identify fish species or other requested services.
  • We analyze your usage data and feedback to improve the performance and functionality of the App.

2.2 Data Storage

  • Local Storage: By default, your catch data (photos and associated details) is stored locally on your device.
  • Cloud Storage (Premium Feature): If you purchase an in-app upgrade with access to Cloud Storage, your data will be stored both locally and securely in our cloud servers, enabling synchronization across devices and other premium features.

2.3 Data Sharing: Private by Default

  • By default, we do not share your fishing data (including photos, timestamps, or locations) with any other users, the KOT community, or external researchers. Your data remains private and is not publicly visible or accessible to anyone other than you and KOT’s internal systems.

2.4 Optional Opt-In for Citizen Science and “Bragging Rights”

  • Contribute your Data to the KOT Map (Opt-In only): You may choose to opt in to contribute your anonymized catch data into a time-delayed public display of that anonymized catch data. This allows other users, researchers and policy makers to benefit from your catch data.  Only if you explicitly opt in will your data (anonymized or as otherwise specified in the App) be shared for these purposes.  If you opt-in, your catch data will be published at a minimum of 7 days after you log each catch, in the interest of keeping your location private while you are physically present in the catch location.

Important: Even if you do not opt in to any sharing features, your data (photos, location, timestamp) will still be transmitted to KOT’s servers. However, it will remain accessible only to you and KOT internally unless you explicitly choose otherwise.

2.5 Internal Research and Potential Anonymized Data Use

  • Regardless of your opt-in status, KOT may internally analyze aggregated and anonymized usage patterns and identification outcomes to improve the App’s functionality, machine learning models, and to inform our internal decision-making. This anonymized data does not include personally identifiable information or specific location data tied to you.

2.6 Communications

  • We may send you administrative or account-related messages (e.g., updates to this Privacy Policy, App maintenance, account notifications).
  • With your consent, we may send you marketing and promotional communications. You may opt out of receiving these communications by following the unsubscribe instructions contained in each email or by adjusting your account settings.

3. Photo Rights and Ownership

  • Your Rights: You retain ownership of any photo you upload to the App. You are free to use your photos for any purpose in accordance with your rights as the original content owner.
  • KOT’s Rights: By uploading any photo, you grant KOT a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the content for purposes including, but not limited to, species identification, research, publications, policy decisions, and promotional use.
  • Non-Exclusive License: This license does not diminish your ownership of the photos. You simply grant KOT permission to use the photos in the manner described above.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

4.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

  • Hosting and storage providers
  • Analytics and crash reporting services

These third parties have access to your personal information only to perform tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency). We may also disclose your information where we believe it necessary to:

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Protect or defend the rights, safety, or property of KOT, our employees, or others
  • Prevent wrongdoing in connection with the App

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that deal. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our App if your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Payment and Identity Verification

Any payment processing (for premium features or in-app purchases) and identity verification (if required for billing or age verification) are handled directly by the App Store (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play Store). KOT does not receive or store your financial information, nor do we process any identity documents for verification. The App Store may provide us with a confirmation of your purchase or subscription status “in the background,” but we do not collect your payment details. Please review the App Store’s own privacy policy for more information on how it handles your payment and identity data.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, including providing the App and related services to you, or for our internal research and anonymized data practices. If you close your account or request deletion of your data, we will remove your personal information or anonymize it within a reasonable period, except as required by law or as needed to protect our legal interests.

7. Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, theft, or misuse. However, no method of data storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Children’s Privacy

The App is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If we become aware that a user under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to remove such information and terminate the account as required by applicable law.

9. Your Choices and Rights

9.1 Default Privacy Setting

By default, your data remains private to you and KOT’s internal systems. We do not share or publicly display any of your catches, photos, or specific fishing locations.

9.2 Opt-In for Sharing

  • Sharing your data with the wider community: You can opt in to share anonymized data with KOT in order to contribute your catch data to a combined, community-wide fish catch map. This setting is off by default and will only be activated if you explicitly choose to enable it in the App settings.

9.3 Marketing Communications

If you no longer wish to receive marketing emails or push notifications, you can opt out via the unsubscribe link in the emails or your device settings for push notifications.

9.4 Access, Update, or Delete Your Information

You have the right to access, update, or request deletion of the personal information we hold about you by contacting us at the email address provided below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make material changes, we will post a notice on the App prior to the change becoming effective and update the “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the App following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of such changes.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

KOT Privacy Team
support@KOTfish.com