This Privacy Policy explains how the GeoGems mobile application ("the App", "we", "us", or "our") handles your information. By using the App you agree to the practices described here.
GeoGems is a real-world gem-hunting game. Gemstones appear on a map around wherever you are, and you walk to them to collect them, so the App uses your device's location to work at all.
The App reads your device's location to decide which gems appear around you and whether you are close enough to collect one. It also estimates your speed, so it can pause the game when you are moving too fast to be walking or cycling.
Your location is never sent to us or to anyone else. It is used on your device, and the map of nearby gems is stored only on your device, in an ephemeral database whose entries expire after four hours. We have no ability to see where you have been.
The App signs you in anonymously using Firebase Anonymous Authentication, which assigns a random, app-generated ID to your installation. On its own it is not linked to your name, email or Google account.
Signing in is entirely optional, and the game is fully playable without it. Its only purpose is to let your collection survive reinstalling the App or changing phone. If you do sign in, we receive your Google account identifier and the email address on that account, through Firebase Authentication. We use them only to recognise your account and reattach your collection. We do not email you.
To run the leaderboards, we store and publicly display the following, associated with your identifier:
Anything in this list is visible to every other player. Your email address is never shown to other players, even if you sign in. Please do not put personal information in your nickname.
If your device reports that its location is being simulated by a mock-location or GPS-spoofing app, the App records a flag on your profile and stops showing your profile on the public leaderboards. This does not affect your ability to play, and no location data is recorded either way.
If you report another player's nickname, we store the reported nickname, the reason you selected, the reported player's identifier and your own identifier, so we can review the report and prevent abuse of the reporting feature. Reports are not visible to other players.
The App uses Firebase Crashlytics to report crashes, so we can fix them. A crash report includes technical information such as your device model, operating system version, the state of the App when it crashed, and a randomly generated installation identifier. It does not include your location or your Google account details.
What we do not collect: we do not use advertising, we do not use third-party analytics or tracking SDKs beyond crash reporting, we do not collect your contacts, photos or phone number, we do not sell your data, and GeoGems contains no in-app purchases.
We use the information above only to:
We use it for app functionality only. We do not use it for advertising or profiling.
We do not sell your data and we do not share it with advertisers. Your public profile (section 1d) is visible to other players by design. Beyond that, data is processed on our behalf by:
| Service | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Google Firebase (Authentication, Realtime Database, Crashlytics) | Your anonymous or Google-linked identity, your public profile, abuse reports, crash diagnostics |
| Google Maps Platform | Renders the map inside the App, subject to Google's own Privacy Policy |
| Google Play | Distributes the App |
The Realtime Database holding your public profile is hosted in the European Union (europe-west1). Authentication and crash-reporting data are processed by Google on its own infrastructure, which may be outside your country, under Google's Firebase privacy and security terms. Where data is transferred out of your region, it is done under the safeguards Google applies as our processor.
You can delete everything we hold about you from inside the App, at any time:
Open GeoGems → Settings (gear icon, top right) → Delete my data → confirm.
This permanently erases your collection, score and leaderboard entries, both on your device and from our servers, and signs you out. It cannot be undone.
You can also delete your data by contacting us at hello@haasiegames.com. If you have not signed in with Google, your identity is anonymous, so please write from a device that still has the App installed or include enough detail (such as your prospector name) for us to find the right profile. Uninstalling the App removes everything stored on your device, but does not by itself remove your leaderboard entry.
Depending on where you live, you may have rights under laws such as the South African Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) or the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to access, correct, or delete personal data, and to object to processing. You can exercise these by contacting us at the email above.
GeoGems involves walking around in the real world and displays names chosen by other players. It is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with data, contact us and we will delete it.
GeoGems asks you to move through real places. Stay aware of your surroundings, obey traffic rules, respect private property, and never play while driving — the App pauses collection above walking and cycling speeds, but you remain responsible for your own safety.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top. Significant changes may be communicated within the App.
If you have any questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, contact:
Haasie Games (Pty) Ltd
Email: hello@haasiegames.com
South Africa