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Signal Ark

Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 7, 2026

1. Overview

Signal Ark is designed to let users explore astronomy, signal candidates, prepared signal packages, and educational case studies. The iPhone and iPad app uses an anonymous user ID to operate access, package history, scan result return, journal sync where enabled, and entitlement status.

2. Data we collect

Signal Ark may collect or store the following service data:

3. Anonymous user identity

Signal Ark does not require email login in V1. The app creates an anonymous user ID so the backend can connect package use, scan results, journal sync, and access status to the same app installation.

4. Payments and Apple

All purchases are handled by Apple through In-App Purchase. Signal Ark does not receive or store credit card information. The website does not sell access, process checkout, use Stripe, use PayPal, or provide external payment links. The backend may store entitlement metadata such as product ID, transaction ID, purchase date, expiration date if applicable, environment, and status.

5. Signal packages and scan results

Users may send small scan or review results back to the Signal Ark database. These results may include package ID, candidate ID, anomaly score, signal-to-noise ratio, drift rate, RFI probability, user classification, and small JSON payloads. No raw telescope files are uploaded from the app.

6. Journal and saved items

If journal sync is enabled, saved packages, candidate IDs, notes, favorite status, and timestamps may be stored so the app can restore saved signal work across sessions or devices where supported.

7. Cosmic Images and Sound Library

The app may display curated astronomy image and sound metadata from public or official sources such as NASA, ESA, Webb/STScI, Chandra, or other educational sources. Signal Ark stores credits, source links, and may load image or audio metadata from the backend. Some audio items are sonifications or data conversions, not original sound recordings.

8. What we do not collect in V1

9. How data is used

Signal Ark uses service data to:

10. Sharing

We do not sell personal data. Aggregated or anonymized signal review results may later be used for research-style summaries, internal analysis, or possible sharing with relevant open-data communities after review. Results may later be exported and reviewed before being shared with relevant open-data communities or research entities.

11. Data retention

Data is retained as long as needed for service operation, scientific or educational review, legal obligations, security, and backup. Some records may be retained longer when needed to maintain entitlement history, prevent abuse, or preserve aggregated review context.

12. Security

Signal Ark uses reasonable protections, including HTTPS, database access controls, and limited data collection. No internet service can guarantee perfect security, but the service is designed to reduce unnecessary personal data and avoid raw telescope file uploads from user devices in V1.

13. Children

Signal Ark is not directed to children under 13.

14. Contact

Questions can be sent to support@signal-ark.space.

15. Legal note

This Privacy Policy is a working template and should be reviewed by a qualified legal professional before publication.