Earth 91

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 9 August 2026
Effective for the Earth 91 mobile application (Android package com.earth91.app; iOS bundle identifier com.earth91.app when released) and this website at earth91.mercury91.com.

This policy is written for Google Play and Apple App Store listing requirements. It describes current product behaviour. It is not legal advice. If Australian Privacy Act obligations or store questionnaires change, we will update this page and the “Last updated” date.

1. Who we are

Alphesda Interactive Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia) operates Earth 91 and related Mercury 91 products. In this policy, “we”, “us”, and “our” mean Alphesda Interactive Pty Ltd. “You” means the person using Earth 91 or this website.

Privacy contact: connect@alphesda.com

2. Our privacy approach

Earth 91 is designed as an offline-first field application. Core features (offline maps, route recording, place journals, and local backup/export) store data in the application sandbox on your device. We do not require an account for those core features.

We do not sell personal information. We do not use Earth 91 for cross-context behavioural advertising. We do not operate an advertising SDK in the app.

3. Information the app processes on your device

When you use Earth 91 features, the following categories of information may be created or stored on your device:

Category Examples Purpose
Location Precise GPS coordinates, accuracy, timestamps while viewing current location or recording a track Show your position on offline maps; record and replay routes you start
Photos and videos Images and videos you attach to place journal entries Store field media with places you create
Audio Voice notes you record for place journal entries Store spoken notes with places you create
User content Place titles, plain-text notes, track names, imported/exported GPX or GeoJSON, local backup archives Journal, organise, and port your field data
Files and maps PMTiles map packs (bundled, imported, or downloaded), checksums, pack metadata Render offline maps and validate map files
App settings Recording profile preference and similar local settings Remember how you configured recording and maps

Location history, notes, and media are sensitive personal data. On-device storage is protected by the operating system sandbox and device encryption. The current release does not add a separate encryption layer on top of SQLite and media files beyond that platform protection.

4. Permissions

Earth 91 requests permissions only for features you use:

  • Location (foreground): show current position on the map and support recording while the app is open.
  • Location (background): continue a route you explicitly started while the screen is locked or the app is backgrounded. On Android this uses a foreground service with a persistent notification.
  • Photos / media library: attach photos or videos you choose to place journal entries.
  • Microphone: record voice notes you choose for place journal entries.
  • Files / storage access (as required by the platform): import map packs or portable files you select.

You can deny permissions. Map viewing remains available without location access. Recording and media features require the relevant permission. You can revoke permissions in system settings at any time.

5. Information sent over the network

5.1 Default offline operation

Completed local actions do not depend on a network round trip. Tracks, places, notes, and attachments are not uploaded to our servers in the current release.

5.2 Optional map catalog (Firebase)

If you use the optional map catalog, the app may contact Google Firebase (Cloud Firestore and Cloud Storage) in project earth-91 to:

  • Fetch public map-pack catalog metadata
  • Download map-pack binary files you choose to install

That traffic is for delivering public map content. It is not used to upload your GPS tracks, place journals, photos, videos, voice notes, or backup archives.

When the catalog is used, standard network and Firebase processing may include device and connection metadata typical of HTTPS requests (for example IP address, timestamps, and request headers) as processed by Google’s infrastructure. See Firebase privacy information.

5.3 This website

Visiting earth91.mercury91.com is hosted on Vercel. Hosting providers may process server logs such as IP address, user agent, referrer, and request path for security, reliability, and abuse prevention. This marketing site does not require an account and does not intentionally set advertising cookies.

Pages may load fonts from Google Fonts. That request can expose your IP address and browser details to Google according to Google’s policies.

5.4 App stores and payments

If you buy Earth 91 through Google Play or (when available) the Apple App Store, the store processes purchase and account information under the store’s own privacy policy. We do not receive or store your full payment card numbers.

6. How we use information

We use information processed by Earth 91 to:

  • Provide offline maps, route recording, place journaling, import/export, and local backup on your device
  • Deliver optional map catalog metadata and map packs you request
  • Operate and secure this website
  • Respond to privacy or support requests you send us
  • Comply with law and protect against abuse or security incidents

We do not use your on-device journal or track data for advertising profiling.

7. Sharing

We share information only as follows:

  • Service providers: Google Firebase for optional map catalog delivery; Vercel for hosting this website; Apple and Google for app distribution and paid purchases.
  • Legal requirements: if required by law, regulation, or valid legal process.
  • Business transfers: if Alphesda Interactive Pty Ltd is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer, information related to Earth 91 may transfer under appropriate confidentiality protections, with notice where required.

We do not sell personal information and do not share it for cross-context behavioural advertising.

8. Retention and deletion

  • On-device data: retained until you delete it in the app (for example deleting a track, place, attachment, or map pack), clear app storage, or uninstall the app.
  • Local backups and exports: files you create remain under your control wherever you save or share them.
  • Map catalog cache: the app may cache catalog metadata locally for offline resilience; you can clear it by clearing app data or uninstalling.
  • Website logs: retained by the hosting provider for a limited operational period (typically on the order of weeks to a few months) unless a longer period is needed for security investigation.
  • Email you send us: retained as needed to handle your request and our legitimate business records.

Future optional cloud backup (not enabled for journal data in the current release) will only occur if you explicitly enable it. If that feature ships, we will update this policy before or at launch with retention, export, and deletion details.

9. Security

We use platform sandboxing, permission prompts, input validation, parameterized database access, checksums for map and backup files, and least-privilege request patterns. No method of electronic storage or transmission is perfectly secure. Protect your device with a strong lock screen and keep the operating system updated.

10. International processing

Alphesda Interactive Pty Ltd is based in Australia. Optional Firebase catalog traffic and website hosting may be processed in Australia, the United States, and other countries where those providers operate. Where personal information is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate contractual and technical safeguards offered by those providers.

11. Your rights and choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of personal information, or to complain to a regulator.

  • On-device controls: delete tracks, places, attachments, and map packs in the app; use export/backup features you choose; revoke permissions in system settings; uninstall to remove app sandbox data.
  • Contact us: email connect@alphesda.com. We aim to respond within 30 days.

Australia

We voluntarily align with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) where applicable. You may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you have a concern we cannot resolve.

European Economic Area and United Kingdom

If GDPR or UK GDPR applies, our lawful bases include providing the service you request (contract / steps at your request), legitimate interests (security and website reliability), and consent where we rely on it. You may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority or the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.

United States (including California)

We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. Residents with applicable state privacy rights may contact us to exercise rights to know, delete, or correct personal information we hold (for example email correspondence or website logs). On-device journal and track data is controlled on your device and is not held in our cloud in the current release.

12. Children’s privacy

Earth 91 is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us (for example by email), contact connect@alphesda.com and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

13. App Store and Google Play disclosures

When completing Apple App Privacy and Google Play Data safety forms, declare data types consistent with this policy, including:

  • Precise location (app functionality; on-device; not used for tracking)
  • Photos and videos (app functionality; on-device)
  • Audio (app functionality; on-device)
  • Files and documents / map packs (app functionality)
  • Optional network access for map catalog download (not for uploading journal or track content)

Store privacy policy URL for listings: https://earth91.mercury91.com/privacy/

14. Open map data attribution

Offline map content derived from OpenStreetMap is subject to the Open Database License (ODbL). Earth 91 displays © OpenStreetMap contributors attribution on the map. See openstreetmap.org/copyright.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect product, legal, or provider changes. We will post the updated policy at this URL and revise the “Last updated” date. Material changes affecting store disclosures will be reflected in Google Play Data safety and Apple App Privacy forms as required.

16. Contact

Alphesda Interactive Pty Ltd
Melbourne, Australia
Privacy and support: connect@alphesda.com