Privacy

Controller

The controller for personal data under the GDPR is Philipp Volkmer, Germany, email: volkmerp@icloud.com.

This website

The dots website is static. For product analytics on the website we use PostHog (EU Cloud at https://eu.i.posthog.com). We record page views and selected interactions, such as App Store link clicks. We do not use ad networks or session recording. After you consent, PostHog sets a first-party cookie and stores an identifier in local storage so return visits can be recognised reliably. Without consent, no product analytics run. A request for a page may also produce ordinary server logs at the host (such as IP address, time, and the file requested). Those logs are used to deliver and secure the site and are not tied to an account.

The legal basis for product analytics is Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent). You can change your choice at any time through the cookie notice or the Cookies link in the footer. Further information: https://www.posthog.com/privacy

The dots app

dots stores the places, trips, notes, categories, radii, travel stamps, and photos you add on the device. The data stays under your control. It is shared with others only when you share a trip or a place, or when Apple provides services you choose to use.

Location

dots uses your location to show you on the map and to recognise nearby saved places. With Location set to Always, dots may also check location in the background so it can notify you when you enter the radius you set for a place. Without location, the map, nearby alerts, and the passport work only in a limited way.

The legal basis is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (features you request) and, where required, your consent in Apple’s system dialogs.

Notifications

If you allow notifications, dots can send local alerts — for example when you are near a saved place or earn a stamp. Those messages are created on the device. No third-party marketing push service is used.

Photos

Photos you attach to a place are stored with that place on the device. dots does not upload those images to its own servers unless you share a trip or place and the share includes the images.

iCloud and CloudKit

To recognise your Apple account, dots uses CloudKit (container iCloud.de.volkmer.rememberme). It reads a stable user identifier so shared trips can be tied to an owner. Apple processes this data under Apple’s terms. The identifier is not used for advertising.

Sharing trips and places

When you share a trip or a place, a document is sent to the dots broker at https://dots.broker.jpbyte-developer.de. Others open the content through a website link (https://dots.jpbyte-developer.de/share) that launches the app, or through a .rememberme file. Share only what the recipients should see.

The broker stores the document you publish so the link works. It is not used for advertising analytics.

Purchases and dots Plus

dots Plus subscriptions (weekly or yearly) are handled only through Apple. Apple is the contracting party for payment. Philipp Volkmer receives from Apple whether Plus is active, not your full payment details. Apple’s privacy policy applies.

No analytics SDKs

dots does not include third-party analytics, advertising identifiers, or crash reporting to other companies.

Recipients

Recipients may include Apple (App Store, in-app purchases, iCloud/CloudKit, system map and location services), the operator of the share broker at the address above when you share, and PostHog for product analytics on the website (processing in the EU Cloud). Transfers to third countries follow Apple’s terms and may occur when you use Apple services.

Retention

Local app data remains until you delete it in the app or remove the app from the device. Shared documents remain on the broker while the link is valid or until you end the share, where the app allows that. Website server logs are deleted according to the host’s retention period. Website analytics data in PostHog is deleted according to the retention settings configured there.

Your rights

You have the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection, where the legal conditions are met. You can withdraw system permissions (location, notifications) in Apple Settings at any time for the future. You can change website analytics consent through the cookie notice or the Cookies link in the footer.

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement.

Obligation to provide data

You do not need to provide personal data to use the website. You can use the app without an account with Philipp Volkmer. Some features require system permissions, which you may refuse.

Automated decisions

There is no automated decision-making, including profiling, within the meaning of Article 22 GDPR.