Bluestocks Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 11, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Bluestocks (the "App" or "Service"), operated by HODL Media Inc. ("we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information when you interact with our iOS, Android, or web application.

We value your privacy and strive to protect your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection regulations, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) for California residents, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Union and the UK, and other relevant privacy laws in jurisdictions where we operate.

By using Bluestocks, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our App.

2. Information We Collect

Non-Logged-In Users

Local Watchlists: If you do not log into the App with your Bluesky account, your watchlist data is stored locally on your device. We do not upload it to our servers.

Logged-In Users

  • DID and Handle: When you log into your existing Bluesky account through Bluestocks, we collect and store your Decentralized Identifier (DID) and handle.
  • Watchlist: We sync your watchlist to our servers to allow you to access your custom Bluestocks watchlist across devices and combine relevant Bluesky posts with your watchlist in one feed.

Automatically Collected Data

Analytics (Google/Firebase): We use Google Analytics / Firebase to collect standard usage data such as IP addresses, approximate location, device IDs, operating system version, crash reports, and interactions with the App. This information is used to help us understand user behavior, diagnose technical issues, and improve the service.

We do not sell this information to third parties or share it with ad networks.

No Sensitive Data

We do not collect sensitive personal data (e.g., health information, religious or political beliefs, biometric data).

Children

We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13 (or 16, depending on applicable local law). If you are under the applicable age threshold, please do not use our App. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under that age without parental consent, we will delete it as soon as possible.

3. How We Use Your Information

Service Provision:

To provide core App functionality (e.g., syncing your DID, handle, watchlists, integrating Bluesky feeds, etc.).

Analytics and Improvements:

To analyze usage trends, track crash reports, and enhance the user experience. We rely on legitimate interest as our legal basis in the EU/UK for using analytics tools like Google Firebase.

No Advertising:

We do not show personalized ads. Our planned revenue model is based on subscriptions. We do not share your data with ad networks.

Legal Compliance:

We may use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (EU/UK Residents)

If you are located in the European Union or the United Kingdom, our legal basis for collecting and using your personal data is:

  • Legitimate Interests: We process basic analytics data to maintain and improve our Service and ensure security and performance.
  • Performance of a Contract: We process your DID and handle to provide the functionalities you request, such as syncing your Bluesky account and watchlists.

You have the right to object to our processing on the basis of legitimate interest at any time (see Your Rights below).

5. Data Retention

  • Active Users: We store your DID, handle, and any synced watchlists for as long as your account is active.
  • Inactive Accounts: If your account becomes inactive, we retain your data for a reasonable grace period (e.g., 6 to 12 months) to allow for reactivation. After that period, we may delete or anonymize the data.
  • Local Data for Non-Logged-In Users: Watchlists are stored on your device until you uninstall the App or clear the data.

6. Data Sharing and Transfers

Service Providers:

We use Google Analytics / Firebase to collect standard usage data. Your data may be processed on Google's servers, which could be outside your country of residence.

We rely on Google's standard contractual clauses or other legally approved mechanisms to ensure adequate protection for EU/UK data transfers.

Within HODL Media Inc.:

Our servers are located in the United States, and our database/cache server is located in the EU. We implement appropriate safeguards to ensure your data is protected.

Legal Requirements:

We may disclose your data if we believe it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect our rights, or investigate potential violations of our terms or policies.

No Sale of Personal Data:

We do not sell personal data to third parties, including advertisers.

7. Security

We take commercially reasonable measures to protect your information, including:

  • Encryption in Transit: All data is transmitted over SSL/TLS (HTTPS).
  • Encryption at Rest: We use standard encryption protocols for our databases.
  • Access Controls: Restricted access to personal data to authorized personnel with a legitimate need to know.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Children's Privacy

Bluestocks is not intended for individuals under 13 (or 16 in certain jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under these ages. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us at [email protected], and we will promptly delete it.

9. Your Rights

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA):

  • Right to Know: You can request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal data we have collected about you.
  • Right to Delete: You can request that we delete personal data we have collected from you.
  • Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell or share your personal data for advertising purposes.

EU/UK Residents (GDPR):

  • Right to Access, Rectification, Erasure, Restriction, Objection, and Portability.
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: You can contact your local supervisory authority if you believe we are unlawfully processing your data.

How to Exercise Your Rights:

  • Contact Us: Email us at [email protected] with your request. We will verify your identity (e.g., via your DID) and respond in accordance with applicable law.
  • Timeframe: We typically respond within 30 days (or the timeframe required by law).

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by an in-app message or through other appropriate means. Please review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our data practices. Your continued use of Bluestocks after any update indicates your acceptance of our revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at:

HODL Media Inc.
1052 High Street, 94301 Palo Alto, California
Email: [email protected]