Plain-language summary: Jellyfish collects your name, phone or email, location while the app is open, and the venues you check into. We use this to power the app's core features (live crowd levels, your crew, recommendations). We don't sell your data. We anonymize presence before it ever shows up to other users. You can delete your account and all your data anytime from Profile → Settings → Delete account.
Contents
1. Who we are
"Jellyfish," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Jellyfish, Inc., a Delaware corporation operating the Jellyfish mobile application and website at wejellyfish.com. Headquartered in San Diego, California.
This policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose information about users of our services. It applies to the Jellyfish iOS and Android apps, our website, and any related communications.
2. What we collect
Information you provide
- Account information: name, phone number, email address, optional profile photo, and the answers you provide to the vibe-quiz (vibe, drink, music genres, cuisines, crew style, etc.).
- Optional profile fields: tagline, city, hometown, college, high school, profession.
- User content: pulse reports (busyness slider submissions you make at venues), favorite venues, plans you create, plan invitees, comments and chat messages, friend requests.
- Subscription information: if you subscribe to Jellyfish Pro, we receive transaction status and product identifiers from Apple or Google. We never see your credit card number.
Information collected automatically
- Device data: device model, OS version, language, time zone, and app version.
- Usage data: screens you view, features you use, and how long you use them. We use this to improve the product.
- Approximate location: see Location data below.
- Diagnostic logs: crash reports and error traces, scrubbed of personally identifying information.
3. Why we collect it
We collect data only to operate and improve the service. Specifically:
- To show you live crowd levels at nearby venues.
- To populate your map and discovery feed with venues you'd actually like.
- To let you check in, post pulse reports, and earn points.
- To enable crew presence (showing approved friends where you are tonight, when you've opted in).
- To process Pro subscriptions through Apple or Google's billing systems.
- To send transactional messages — receipts, security alerts, invite notifications.
- To detect and prevent abuse, fraud, and spam.
- To improve the app — fix bugs, prioritize features, tune recommendations.
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your data with advertisers for cross-app targeting.
4. Location data
Jellyfish needs your location to power its core features. We ask for two permissions on iOS and Android:
- While in use: we read your coarse location while the app is open so we can show nearby venues and let you check in. We don't store this — it's used in real time and discarded.
- Always (background): optional. If you grant it, we use a geofence to detect when you arrive at and leave a venue. This powers automatic check-ins and your "live presence" status. You can revoke this at any time in OS settings.
Presence shared with other users is anonymized in aggregate. Other users see "12 people are here" — they never see which 12. Your crew (mutual friends you've approved) can see your specific venue if you've opted in to crew presence.
5. When we share data
We share data only in these specific cases:
- With your crew: approved friends can see your name, photo, and (if opted in) which venue you're at right now.
- With venue owners: if a venue claims its listing, we share aggregated anonymous crowd data — never individual identifying information.
- With service providers: companies we use to run the service (see Third-party services). They process data on our behalf under contract and may not use it for their own purposes.
- For legal reasons: if we believe in good faith we are required to do so by law, court order, or to protect users from harm.
- In a corporate transaction: if Jellyfish is acquired or merges with another company, we'll notify you and your information may transfer subject to this policy.
6. Third-party services we use
The following companies process some user data on our behalf:
- Twilio — SMS verification codes and transactional texts.
- Apple App Store / Google Play Store — subscription billing for Jellyfish Pro.
- RevenueCat — subscription state management.
- Anthropic Claude — powers the smart-search and concierge features. Search queries are sent to Anthropic but not associated with your account.
- Google Places + BestTime.app — venue metadata and historical busyness forecasts.
- Sentry — crash reporting (PII scrubbed).
- Cloud hosting — Railway (backend), Vercel (website).
7. How long we keep data
We retain your account data for as long as your account exists. When you delete your account, we delete your profile, your check-ins, your pulse reports, and your social connections within 30 days. Aggregated, anonymized analytics may be retained longer but cannot be tied back to you.
We may retain limited information to comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records for billed transactions) for as long as required by applicable law.
8. Your rights and how to exercise them
You have the right to:
- Access the data we have about you.
- Correct any inaccurate information.
- Delete your account and all associated data.
- Export your data in a machine-readable format.
- Object to certain processing or restrict it (e.g., turn off background location).
- Withdraw consent for any optional data use at any time.
To exercise these rights, use Profile → Settings → Privacy controls in the app, or email us at privacy@wejellyfish.com. We respond within 30 days.
If you live in California: you have additional rights under the CCPA, including the right to know what personal information we've collected and the right to opt out of any "sale" of personal information (we don't sell personal information, period). To exercise these rights, contact privacy@wejellyfish.com.
If you live in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland: our lawful basis for processing your information is contract (operating the app you signed up for) and legitimate interests (improving the service). You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
9. Children
Jellyfish is intended for adults 18 and over. Many of our partner venues are 21+. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has signed up, contact us at privacy@wejellyfish.com and we'll delete the account.
10. Security
We use industry-standard practices to protect your data: TLS encryption in transit, encrypted databases at rest, scoped access controls, and routine security reviews. No system is perfectly secure, but we take this seriously and notify users promptly in the event of a confirmed breach affecting their data.
11. Changes to this policy
When we make material changes to this policy, we'll notify you via in-app notice and email (if you've provided one) at least 30 days before they take effect. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent change.
12. Contact us
Privacy questions? Email privacy@wejellyfish.com.
For other inquiries: hello@wejellyfish.com.
Mail: Jellyfish, Inc. · San Diego, CA · USA
Note for review: this is a working draft of our privacy policy. Before App Store submission, the founder is having this reviewed by a lawyer for jurisdictional accuracy. If you're reading this and notice something inaccurate, email privacy@wejellyfish.com.