Gavel — Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

Gavel is a social voting app where people weigh in on everyday disputes. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights.

What We Collect

• Anonymous user ID — generated automatically when you first open the app. No real name or personal information is required to use Gavel.
• Votes and comments — the verdicts you cast and any comments you leave on cases.
• Followed cases — cases you choose to follow for updates.
• Push notification tokens — if you opt in to notifications, we store a device token so we can send you updates.
• Email address — only if you choose to sign in with email. Anonymous use does not require an email.

What We Do NOT Collect

• Real names (unless you voluntarily add one to your profile)
• Location data
• Contacts or address book
• Photos or media from your device
• Financial or payment information

Anonymous Authentication

By default, Gavel uses anonymous authentication. You can use the app without creating an account or providing any personal information. An anonymous identifier is created on your device to keep track of your votes and activity.

How We Use Your Data

• To display votes, comments, and verdicts within the app
• To send push notifications you have opted into (e.g., verdict results, replies)
• To improve the app experience and fix bugs

We do not sell your data to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising.

Third-Party Services

• Supabase — database hosting and authentication. Supabase Privacy Policy
• Expo — push notifications and over-the-air app updates. Expo Privacy Policy

Content Moderation

Gavel includes user-generated content. You can report cases or comments that violate our community standards, and you can block users whose content you do not wish to see. Reported content is reviewed by our team. We may remove content or suspend accounts that violate our guidelines.

Data Retention & Deletion

Your account data (votes, comments, followed cases) is stored as long as your account exists.

You can delete your account and all associated data at any time from the Profile tab in the app. Deletion is immediate and permanent — your votes, comments, cases, and all other data will be removed and cannot be recovered.

You may also request data deletion by contacting us at the email below. We will remove your data within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

Gavel is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with data, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or want to request data deletion, contact us at:

gavel.support@gmail.com