Privacy Policy

PicGent is an iOS app that lets you search your own photos by describing them in words. This policy explains what data we handle and why. The short version: your photos are processed on our servers only long enough to generate search embeddings, then discarded. Search runs locally on your device.

Information we collect

• Account email — provided at sign-up, used to create and authenticate your account.
• Photos — transiently, for embedding only. When you perform sync, the app uploads the photos you have granted access to so our model can compute a numeric embedding (a vector representing the image’s visual content). We return the embeddings to your device and discard the photos from our servers immediately after. We do not retain, view, share, or train on them.
• Usage and diagnostics — anonymous product-analytics events, performance, and crash data, used to improve the app.
• Connection metadata — IP address, timestamps, app and iOS version. Standard server logs, used only to operate the service.

What we do not do

• We do not store your photos after embedding.
• We do not view or human-review your photos.
• We do not use your photos to train AI models.
• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not share photos or embeddings with advertisers or data brokers.
• Search runs on your device, not on our servers.

How your photos are handled

1. You grant photo access through iOS — either a limited selection you pick, or your full library. Only the photos you allow are read.
2. The app uploads those photos over TLS, and our service computes an embedding for each.
3. The embeddings are returned to your device and stored locally.
4. The uploaded photos are deleted from our servers. From then on, search runs on-device against the embeddings — no further uploads unless you re-index.

Embeddings live in your app’s local storage. Deleting the app removes them with the app’s data.

How we use what we collect

• Email: account creation and authentication.
• Usage and diagnostics: measuring feature adoption and fixing bugs.
• Photos: computing embeddings — nothing else.

Service providers

We use a small number of vendors that process data on our instructions and under contract:

• Cloud infrastructure — hosts the embedding service.
• Product analytics — collects the anonymous usage events described above.

Data retention

• Photos: discarded from our servers immediately after embeddings are returned.
• Embeddings: on your device only.
• Account info: retained while your account is active; removed within 30 days of account deletion, except where legally required to retain.
• Usage/diagnostics: retained in aggregate or pseudonymous form for up to 24 months.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal information, to object to or restrict processing, and to withdraw consent. Email support@picgentsearch.com to exercise these rights. California residents have additional rights under CCPA/CPRA; we do not sell or “share” personal information as defined by California law.

Security

Photos are uploaded over TLS and deleted after embedding. Account data is encrypted at rest. No system is perfectly secure, but PicGent is designed to hold as little of your data as possible.

Children

PicGent is not directed to children under 13 (under 16 in the EEA/UK), and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. Contact us if you believe a child has provided us with personal data and we will delete it.

International transfers

We may process data outside your country, including in the United States. Where required, we use Standard Contractual Clauses or other appropriate safeguards.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. Material changes will be announced in the app or by email, and we’ll update the “Last updated” date above.

Contact

Questions or requests about this policy or your data: support@picgentsearch.com.