Effective date: 10 October 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how the ExploreWAW Android application (“ExploreWAW”, the “App”, “we”, “us” or “our”) accesses, uses, stores and shares information when you use the App.
ExploreWAW is a travel guide and trip-planning application designed to help users discover places, attractions and routes along the Wild Atlantic Way and other areas covered by ExploreWAW.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact:
Email: explorewaw@gmail.com
Website: https://explorewaw.com
This Privacy Policy applies specifically to the ExploreWAW mobile application.
The ExploreWAW website is a separate service and has its own privacy policy:
1. Accounts and Anonymous Identification
ExploreWAW does not require travellers to create a conventional account using a name, email address or password.
To support certain App features, ExploreWAW uses Firebase Authentication to create a technical anonymous user identifier automatically.
This anonymous identifier allows the App and our backend services to distinguish one App installation or user session from another without requiring you to provide your identity.
The anonymous identifier may be used in connection with features such as:
- Traveller reviews and moderation
- Reporting inappropriate or incorrect content
- ExploreWAW Plus subscription entitlement
- Protecting App services from misuse
The anonymous identifier is not intended to identify you by name.
Firebase Authentication may also process technical information such as IP addresses and user-agent information for authentication, security and abuse-prevention purposes.
2. Location Information
ExploreWAW may request access to your device location when you choose to use location-based features.
Location may be used for features including:
- Near You, to show places of interest near your current location
- Calculating distances between you and places of interest
- Optional automatic detection of places you have visited while the App is open
- Starting or planning routes from your current location
- Opening nearby searches or navigation using an external mapping application
Location access is optional.
ExploreWAW does not continuously track your location in the background.
Automatic visited-place detection operates only while the relevant App functionality is active and uses your location to determine whether you are near a place of interest.
Where possible, location calculations such as determining nearby places may be performed on your device.
However, if you use route-planning functionality, coordinates for the selected start point, destination and route stops may be transmitted to a routing service in order to calculate a route. If you choose your current position as the route start, this may include your current location.
ExploreWAW does not use your location for advertising or to build an advertising profile.
You can deny or revoke location access at any time through your Android device settings. Features that require your current location may not work if permission is denied.
3. Maps and Routing
ExploreWAW displays OpenStreetMap geographic data using Leaflet mapping technology. The app’s map tiles are delivered from maps.explorewaw.com and road-route calculations are sent to routing.explorewaw.com, an ExploreWAW-controlled OSRM service. Both services are hosted on Google Cloud infrastructure.
Normal in-app map use therefore does not request tiles from the public OpenStreetMap tile service or routes from the public OSRM demo server. Requests to ExploreWAW’s map/routing infrastructure may include standard connection information such as IP address, user-agent information, requested map tile coordinates and, when a route is calculated, the geographical coordinates needed for that route. These coordinates may include your current location only if you choose to use it as part of the route.
Leaflet library resources may currently be loaded from content-delivery infrastructure, which may receive standard connection information when those resources are requested.
4. Google Maps and Waze
ExploreWAW may allow you to open locations or routes in external navigation applications such as Google Maps or Waze.
When you choose one of these actions, ExploreWAW may pass information such as:
- A destination
- Coordinates of a destination
- Route stops or waypoints
- A nearby-search request
to the mapping application that you selected.
For example, choosing navigation may open a location in Google Maps or Waze, and choosing a nearby restaurant search may open the relevant search in Google Maps.
Once information is transferred to another application, the privacy policy and data practices of that provider apply.
ExploreWAW does not control how Google Maps, Waze or other external applications process information after they are opened.
5. Traveller Reviews
ExploreWAW allows users to submit traveller reviews about places.
When submitting a traveller review, you may choose to:
- Submit it anonymously; or
- Provide a display name to appear with the review
A traveller review may include:
- The text you submit
- A display name, if you choose to provide one
- The place associated with the review
- The anonymous Firebase user identifier associated with the submission
- The date or time of submission
Traveller reviews are submitted to our Firebase backend and may be reviewed before publication.
Approved reviews may be displayed publicly within ExploreWAW for other travellers to read.
If you provide a display name, that display name may therefore become publicly visible with your approved review.
Please do not include sensitive personal information in traveller reviews.
We reserve the right to reject or remove reviews that are inappropriate, misleading, abusive, unlawful, spam, or otherwise unsuitable for the App.
6. Reports
Users may be able to report traveller reviews or other content for review.
When you submit a report, we may store:
- Information about the review or content being reported
- Information supplied as part of the report
- The anonymous Firebase identifier associated with the report
- Technical information needed to process and investigate the report
Reports are used for moderation, security and maintaining the quality of ExploreWAW content.
7. Saved Places, Visited Places and Saved Routes
ExploreWAW allows you to save places, mark places as visited and save route information.
This personal travel information is stored locally on your device rather than being uploaded to our Firebase database as part of your user profile.
Local App information may remain on your device until you remove it, clear the App’s storage or uninstall the App. Depending on your Android device and backup settings, Android’s system backup service may back up and restore some locally stored ExploreWAW app data.
Where the App provides an export function, information is exported only when you choose to perform that action.
8. ExploreWAW Plus and Google Play Billing
ExploreWAW may offer paid functionality through ExploreWAW Plus using Google Play’s billing system.
Payments are processed by Google Play.
ExploreWAW does not receive or store your complete payment-card or bank-account details.
To verify and maintain your subscription, ExploreWAW may process information supplied through Google Play, including:
- The product or subscription purchased
- A Google Play purchase token
- Subscription status
- Subscription expiry information
- Renewal, cancellation or entitlement status
This information may be processed through our backend services and associated with your anonymous Firebase identifier so that the App can determine whether ExploreWAW Plus features should be available to you.
Google processes your actual payment information according to Google’s own privacy policy and Google Play terms.
9. Firebase Services
ExploreWAW uses Google Firebase services to support App functionality.
These include:
Firebase Authentication
Used to create the anonymous technical identifier described above and to secure access to App services.
Firebase Authentication may automatically process technical information such as IP addresses, platform information and user-agent information for security, authentication and abuse prevention.
Firebase Realtime Database
Used for backend App functionality including traveller reviews, moderation information, reports and subscription entitlement information.
Requests to Firebase Realtime Database may include the anonymous Firebase user identifier as well as technical information such as IP address and user-agent information.
Firebase App Check and Play Integrity
ExploreWAW uses security technology designed to help determine whether requests to our backend originate from a legitimate version of the App.
This may involve processing App or device integrity information, security tokens and related technical information.
This information is used for security and fraud or abuse prevention rather than advertising.
Cloud-Based Backend Functions
ExploreWAW uses backend services for functions such as validating ExploreWAW Plus purchases and providing protected App content.
Standard server requests may involve processing technical information such as IP addresses temporarily as part of providing the requested service.
Firebase Cloud Messaging
ExploreWAW includes Firebase Cloud Messaging for optional administrator moderation notifications about pending or reported Traveller Reviews. Ordinary travellers are not subscribed to the administrator moderation topic. Moderation notifications are not designed to contain Traveller Review text or the traveller’s identity. Firebase Cloud Messaging may process technical identifiers and connection information required to deliver notifications.
10. Analytics and Advertising
ExploreWAW does not currently use Firebase Analytics within the App.
ExploreWAW also does not currently use an in-App advertising network such as Google AdMob.
We do not use App location information to create advertising profiles.
The separate explorewaw.com website may use analytics, cookies and advertising technologies as described in the website Privacy Policy. Those website practices do not automatically apply to the ExploreWAW App simply because some photographs, descriptions or other content appear in both the Website and the App.
11. External Websites and Affiliate Links
ExploreWAW may contain links to websites and services operated outside the App.
These may include services relating to:
- Accommodation
- Flights
- Car rental
- Tours and activities
- Restaurants
- Attractions
- Travel services
- Maps and navigation
- Other travel-related products or information
Some links may be affiliate links.
This means ExploreWAW may receive a commission if you follow an eligible link and subsequently make a purchase, without increasing the price you pay.
When you choose an external link, the destination is operated separately from the ExploreWAW App.
That website or service may collect information, use cookies or analytics, or process information according to its own privacy policy.
If you open explorewaw.com from the App, the website Privacy Policy applies to your use of the website:
12. Information You Provide When Contacting Us
If you contact ExploreWAW directly, for example by email, we may receive information including:
- Your email address
- Your name, if you provide it
- The contents of your message
- Technical information you choose to send
- Any other information you voluntarily provide
We use this information to respond to your enquiry, provide support, investigate problems and communicate with you regarding your request.
13. Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect
ExploreWAW does not currently require access to your:
- Contacts
- Microphone
- Camera
- Photos or videos
- SMS messages
- Phone calls
ExploreWAW does not require users to provide their date of birth, postal address or telephone number to use the App.
14. How We Use Information
Information processed through ExploreWAW may be used to:
- Provide App features and content
- Show nearby places when requested
- Calculate routes
- Record and moderate traveller reviews
- Process reports
- Verify ExploreWAW Plus entitlement
- Protect App services from fraud, abuse or unauthorised access
- Diagnose technical issues
- Respond to support enquiries
- Maintain and improve the App
- Comply with applicable laws and legal obligations
We do not sell personal information.
15. Sharing and Service Providers
Information may be transmitted to service providers where necessary to operate ExploreWAW.
These may include:
- Google Firebase
- Google Play and Google Play Billing
- Google Play Integrity
- OpenStreetMap-related map infrastructure
- OSRM routing infrastructure
Information may also be transferred to services such as Google Maps or Waze when you specifically choose to open those services.
We may also disclose information where reasonably necessary to:
- Comply with applicable law
- Respond to valid legal requests
- Protect ExploreWAW, its users or others
- Investigate fraud, abuse or security incidents
- Enforce applicable terms or rights
We do not sell App users’ personal information to advertisers or data brokers.
16. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information under our control.
Firebase services used by ExploreWAW support encryption of data in transit and encryption of relevant stored Firebase data.
Access to backend functionality is restricted using authentication, database security rules and App-integrity protections.
ExploreWAW uses Firebase App Check and Google Play Integrity to help protect backend resources against unauthorised or fraudulent requests.
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
17. Data Retention
Different information is retained for different periods depending on its purpose.
Information stored locally
Saved places, visited-place history and saved routes stored locally remain on your device until they are removed through App/device functionality, App storage is cleared or the App is uninstalled.
Traveller reviews
Pending traveller reviews may be retained while they are reviewed.
Approved traveller reviews may remain available as community content until they are removed or are no longer required for the operation of the service.
Reports
Reports may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to investigate and resolve the reported issue, maintain moderation records, prevent abuse or meet legal obligations.
Anonymous Firebase and subscription information
Anonymous identifiers and associated backend records may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to provide App functionality, maintain subscription entitlement, prevent abuse, resolve disputes and comply with legal obligations.
Correspondence
Emails and support correspondence may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to deal with the enquiry, maintain appropriate business records or comply with legal requirements.
Information that is no longer required may be deleted or anonymised.
18. Data Deletion Requests
You may request deletion of personal information directly controlled by ExploreWAW by contacting:
If your request concerns a traveller review, please provide enough information to identify the review, such as the place, display name if one was used, and the approximate content of the submission.
If your request relates to other backend information, we may request information reasonably necessary to locate the relevant records and verify the request.
Information stored only locally on your device can generally be removed by deleting the relevant information in the App, clearing the App’s storage or uninstalling the App.
Information independently controlled by another provider, such as Google Play, Google Maps or Waze, must be managed through that provider.
19. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights under applicable data protection law.
These may include the right to:
- Request access to personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of personal information
- Request restriction of certain processing
- Object to certain processing
- Request portability of information where applicable
- Withdraw consent where processing depends on consent
- Lodge a complaint with an appropriate data protection authority
To make a privacy request, contact:
20. European Economic Area and United Kingdom
Where the GDPR, UK GDPR or similar legislation applies, ExploreWAW processes personal information only where an appropriate legal basis exists.
Depending on the processing involved, this may include:
- Your consent or permission
- Providing functionality that you specifically request
- Our legitimate interests in operating, securing and improving ExploreWAW
- Preventing fraud and abuse
- Compliance with legal obligations
Location access is controlled through Android permissions and may be withdrawn through your device settings.
21. International Processing
Some service providers used by ExploreWAW, including Google Firebase services, may process information outside the country in which you live.
Where required by applicable data protection law, appropriate safeguards may be used for international transfers.
22. Children’s Privacy
ExploreWAW is intended for users aged 18 and over and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly ask children to provide personal information through the App. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact explorewaw@gmail.com so that we can review the information and take appropriate action.
No change is required to the separate website privacy policy merely because some photos and text are shared between the website and app; the app-specific page should continue to state that the website is a separate service.
23. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when the App, its services, third-party providers or applicable legal requirements change.
When changes are made, the updated Privacy Policy will be published at:
https://explorewaw.com/app-privacy-policy
The effective date shown at the beginning of this policy will be updated where appropriate.
24. Contact
For privacy questions, requests or concerns regarding ExploreWAW, contact:
ExploreWAW
Email: explorewaw@gmail.com
Website: https://explorewaw.com
App Privacy Policy: https://explorewaw.com/app-privacy-policy/
