Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Smart Family Tree ("the App," "we," "our," or "us") is a genealogy app for iPhone that lets you document, visualize, and preserve your family history. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information in connection with your use of the App.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Smart Family Tree stores your data in your personal iCloud account and syncs it across your Apple devices. We never see, collect, or have access to your data. The privacy risks associated with traditional cloud apps — such as unauthorized server access or third-party data sharing — do not apply here.

2. Information We Do NOT Collect

Smart Family Tree does not collect, store, transmit, or process any of the following:

• Personal identifiers (name, email address, phone number)
• Device identifiers (IDFA, device ID, advertising ID)
• Location data (GPS, IP-based location, or otherwise)
• Usage data, analytics, or app behavior telemetry
• Crash reports sent to external servers
• Contacts, calendar, or any other system data
• Biometric data

We do not operate any servers that receive your data. Your family tree data is stored in your personal iCloud account and is never accessible to us.

3. Data You Enter & How It Is Stored iCloud Synced

All information you enter into Smart Family Tree — including family member names, dates, photos, videos, life events, and personal notes — is stored using Apple's SwiftData framework and synced to your personal iCloud account via CloudKit. This means your family tree is automatically available across all your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) signed in with the same Apple ID.

This includes:

• Names, nicknames, and gender information of family members
• Birth dates, memorial dates, and other life event dates
• Profile photos and photo galleries attached to members or events
• Personal notes ("Favorite Memory") and life event descriptions
• Family relationship data (parents, partners, children)
• GEDCOM files you import

This data is stored in your private iCloud container, protected by Apple's end-to-end encryption, hardware encryption on each device, and your Apple ID credentials. Your iCloud data is governed by Apple's iCloud Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. We have no ability to access, view, or modify your data.

4. Photos & Media

Smart Family Tree requests access to your Photo Library only when you choose to add a photo to a family member's profile or life event. This access is:

• Triggered solely by your explicit action (tapping a photo-add button)
• Limited to reading photos you specifically select
• Not used to scan, index, or analyze your photo library in the background

Photos you select are stored within the App's data store and synced to your private iCloud container along with the rest of your family tree data. They are not shared with us or any third party.

You can revoke photo library access at any time in Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.

5. GEDCOM Import & Export

Smart Family Tree supports importing and exporting genealogy data in the GEDCOM file format.

• Import: When you import a GEDCOM file, its contents are processed locally on your device and stored in the App's on-device database. The file is not sent to any server.
• Export: When you export a GEDCOM file, it is generated entirely on your device. You choose how to share it (AirDrop, Messages, Mail, Files, etc.) using iOS's standard Share Sheet. We do not receive or have access to the exported file.
• PDF Export: PDF files generated from your family tree are created on your device and shared via the iOS Share Sheet. We do not receive or have access to these files.

6. In-App Purchases

Smart Family Tree offers a one-time in-app purchase to unlock unlimited family members. This transaction is processed entirely by Apple through the App Store and is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy (apple.com/legal/privacy).

We do not receive, store, or process any payment information. We do not have access to your Apple ID, billing details, or purchase history. Apple handles all aspects of the transaction.

7. Third-Party Services

Smart Family Tree does not integrate any third-party SDKs, analytics platforms, advertising networks, crash reporting services, or social media frameworks. There are no third parties that receive data from your use of this App.

8. iCloud Sync

Smart Family Tree uses Apple's CloudKit framework to sync your family tree data across all your Apple devices that are signed in to the same Apple ID. This sync happens automatically and privately through your personal iCloud account.

Key facts about iCloud sync in Smart Family Tree:

• Your data is stored in a private CloudKit database associated with your Apple ID — not a shared or public container.
• We cannot access, view, or retrieve your iCloud data. Only you can.
• Sync requires an active iCloud account and internet connection. If iCloud is unavailable, the App continues to work with the locally cached data on your device.
• You can disable iCloud for Smart Family Tree at any time in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Smart Family Tree. Data already on your device will remain; sync to other devices will stop.
• iCloud data usage is governed by Apple's iCloud Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy at apple.com/legal/privacy.

9. Children's Privacy

Smart Family Tree is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Smart Family Tree is a tool for adults to document family history, and adults may choose to include information about younger family members within their own family tree data — this data is stored in the user's private iCloud account and is never transmitted to us or any third party.

If you believe a child under 13 has used the App in a way that raises privacy concerns, please contact us at the address below.

10. Data Security

Your family tree data is protected by multiple layers of security:

• Device security: Data on your device is protected by hardware encryption and your device passcode or biometric lock (Face ID / Touch ID).
• iCloud security: Data synced via iCloud is protected by Apple's security infrastructure, including encryption in transit and at rest.
• No third-party access: We operate no servers and have no access to your data.

We strongly recommend keeping your Apple ID secure with a strong password and two-factor authentication, and keeping your device's operating system up to date.

11. Data Deletion

You are in full control of your data at all times.

• To delete a family member: swipe to delete in the Members list or use the edit button.
• To delete a family tree: go to Manage Smart Family Trees, swipe, and delete.
• To delete all App data from your device and iCloud: delete the App from your device, then go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage and remove the Smart Family Tree data.

We have no copy of your data and cannot access or restore it. Deletion from iCloud is permanent and cannot be undone by us.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.