Privacy Policy
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Who we are
Explore Desk (the “App”) and its companion website (the “Website”, together with the App, the “Services”) are operated by Ma Com & Creations LP, a Limited Partnership registered in Scotland under company number SL037155, with its registered office at 5 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AN, United Kingdom (the “Company”, “we”, “us”).
Contact
Contact: contact@exploredesk.app
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data the Services process, why, and what rights you have, in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. If you are located in the European Union, the EU GDPR also applies to our processing of your data.
What Data We Collect
You can browse the map and view places without an account. To add a place or contribute a review, rating, or photo, you need to create an account.
Account data. When you create an account, we collect your email address and the password you choose, which is stored in hashed (encrypted) form. You may also choose to add a name to your profile. This is optional: if you add one, it is displayed alongside your reviews and contributions.
Location data. With your permission, the App accesses your device’s GPS location solely to center the map on your current position and show nearby places. This location is used locally on your device, in real time, and is not stored or transmitted to our servers. If you deny or disable location access, you can still use the App by searching or browsing manually; some convenience features (like auto-centering) will be limited.
User-generated content. When you add a place or submit a review, rating, or photo, we collect that content along with your account and the date and place it relates to, so it can be displayed and moderated.
Technical data. Basic technical information necessary for the App to function (device type, operating system version, app version). This is not linked to your identity.
We do not currently use third-party analytics, advertising, push notification, or crash-reporting tools. If this changes in a future version, this Policy will be updated accordingly before such tools are activated.
Why We Process This Data (Legal Basis)
| Purpose | Legal basis | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Creating and managing your account | Performance of a contract | Necessary to provide the App’s account-based features — no separate permission needed beyond agreeing to these Terms. |
| Centering the map on your position | Consent | You actively grant location permission via a device prompt, and can withdraw it anytime in your device settings without losing access to the rest of the App. |
| Displaying and moderating places, reviews, ratings and photos you submit | Performance of a contract / legitimate interest | Partly the service itself (showing what you publish), partly our legitimate interest in keeping the App trustworthy (e.g., removing fake reviews). |
| Basic app functioning | Legitimate interest | No separate consent is needed for essential technical operations (e.g., loading place data), as long as this remains proportionate and expected by users. |
Who We Share Data With
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with:
Google Maps, which provides the map. To display the map, Google Maps may receive your device’s location (if you allow it) and technical information such as your IP address, under Google’s Privacy Policy. This information is not stored by us.
Other users of the App can see the places, reviews, ratings, and photos you choose to publish, along with your name if you chose to add one, but not your email address or other account details.
The Website is hosted by OVH, with servers located in France. The App’s backend (the database of places, ratings, and content) is is hosted by Supabase, with servers located in Frankfurt, Germany (European Union).
Data Retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to keep certain records longer for legal reasons. Places, reviews, ratings, and photos you have published may be retained in anonymized form (no longer linked to your identity) to preserve the usefulness of the map for other users, unless you request their removal. Since location data used to center the map is not stored, there is nothing to retain regarding your real-time position.
Your Rights
Even though we hold very little personal data, you still have rights under data protection law:
- Request information about any data we might hold about you;
- Request correction or deletion of any data;
- Object to processing;
- Lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO, ico.org.uk), or, if you are in the EU, with your local data protection authority.
To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@exploredesk.app.
Children’s Privacy
The App is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under this age. If you believe a child has created an account or submitted data to us, contact us at contact@exploredesk.app and we will delete it.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical measures to protect the Services. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
Cookies (Website)
The Explore Desk website may use essential cookies required for the site to function correctly. We do not currently use advertising or analytics cookies. If this changes, we will update this section and request your consent where required.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the App evolves, in particular if new features, such as in-app purchases, are introduced in a future version.
Contact
For any question about this Privacy Policy, contact us at contact@exploredesk.app.