gather

Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 2026

gather ("we", "our", or "us") is a personal relationship management app that helps you stay close with the people who matter most. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only what's needed to make the app work:

Account information — your name and email address, provided when you sign up via Google or email/password.
Contact information — names, phone numbers, emails, birthdays, and notes about the people you choose to add to your gather contacts list.
Google Calendar data — if you choose to connect your Google Calendar, we access your calendar events (read-only) to identify your available time windows. We store only busy/free time blocks — not event titles, descriptions, or attendees.
Profile information — your weekly schedule, interests, and writing style preferences that you optionally provide to personalise suggestions.

2. How We Use Your Information

To suggest the best times to reach out to your contacts based on your schedule.
To find mutual free windows when planning hangouts with friends who are also on gather.
To generate personalised message drafts and activity suggestions using AI.
To send invitations on your behalf when you choose to invite someone.

3. Google Calendar Data

gather's use of Google Calendar data is limited to the following:

We request read-only access to your primary Google Calendar.
We use calendar data solely to identify your free and busy time windows for the purpose of suggesting hangout times.
We store only anonymised busy/free blocks — never event titles, locations, descriptions, or attendee information.
We do not share your calendar data with any third parties.
You can disconnect your Google Calendar at any time from the Profile tab, which immediately deletes your stored calendar data.

Our use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Your data is only shared in the following limited circumstances:

With other gather users — only your busy/free availability blocks are visible to friends who plan a hangout with you. Your event details are never shared.
Service providers — we use Firebase (Google) for authentication and database storage, and operate within their privacy and security standards.

5. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored securely using Google Firebase, which provides industry-standard encryption at rest and in transit. We follow security best practices to protect your information from unauthorised access.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access and export your data at any time.
Delete your account and all associated data by contacting us.
Disconnect Google Calendar integration at any time from the Profile tab.
Opt out of AI-generated suggestions at any time.

7. Children's Privacy

gather is not intended for use by children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We'll notify you of significant changes by posting a notice in the app. Continued use of gather after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:
hello@heygather.app