1. Who we are
This privacy policy describes how the "Travelling in Time" iOS application ("the app", "we", "us") handles information when you use it. The app is published by the developer of record listed on the App Store page, based in the United Kingdom. The data controller for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is the same entity.
If you have any questions about this policy, contact us at privacy [at] travellingintime [dot] com.
2. What we collect
We do not run any servers of our own, and we do not collect, store, or transmit personal data to ourselves or to any analytics company. Everything below stays on your device:
- Precise location (latitude and longitude) — used only while the app is open and in use, to decide which nearby historical content to play and to draw the map. Location is processed on the device and is sent only to Apple Maps for map rendering and routing. It is never uploaded to us and never stored on any server we control.
- In-app progress — coins earned, quizzes answered, locations you've visited. Stored locally on your device using standard iOS storage (and iCloud if you have that enabled).
- Game Center Player ID — if the player signs in to Game Center, Apple provides us with an anonymous identifier used to sync achievements and leaderboard positions. This sign-in is optional and managed entirely by Apple; we never see the child's Apple ID, email, or real name.
- On-device AI interaction log — on supported iPhone and iPad models, the app uses Apple's on-device Foundation Models to generate age-appropriate quiz questions and narration. A rolling log of the last 10 interactions is stored locally per child and can be viewed or wiped at any time from Settings → Privacy → "What does the AI do?". Prompts and responses never leave the device.
We do not collect device fingerprints, usage analytics, behavioural events, or crash reports. The app contains no third-party analytics or crash-reporting SDKs of any kind.
3. What we do NOT collect
- Your name, phone number, email address (unless you write to us — see §9).
- Your contacts, photos, microphone, or calendar.
- Your location when the app is closed or in the background.
- Your browsing history, advertising identifier, or social-media profile.
- Any data used to build an advertising profile of you or your child.
4. Location data & Apple Maps
The core feature of the app is location-triggered storytelling. To make that work, iOS must be allowed to share your position with the app. This is handled entirely by iOS's permission system — you can revoke location access at any time under Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Travelling in Time.
Map tiles, place names and routing are provided by Apple Maps. Apple's own privacy policies apply to the map rendering layer; we do not send your location to any third-party mapping service.
The app's historical content — the stories, quizzes and base imagery — is bundled inside the app, not fetched from a server we run. To enrich a place, the app may fetch that place's public Wikipedia article summary and images from Wikimedia. That request contains the place name and the historical site's own coordinates (for example, the location of a monument) so the correct article can be found — your device's GPS position is never sent to Wikipedia, and no account or identifier is sent. As with any web request, Wikimedia receives your device's IP address; their privacy policy governs how they handle it.
5. Children's privacy
Travelling in Time is rated 9+ and designed for children to use under parental supervision. In line with Apple's guidelines and the UK Age-Appropriate Design Code:
- The app itself requires no account, no profile creation, and no sign-in to our servers. Game Center sign-in is optional and handled entirely by Apple — we never see the child's Apple ID, email, or real name.
- There are no behavioural advertisements and no third-party ad SDKs.
- There is no chat, messaging, or user-generated content. Game Center leaderboards display only the Game Center nickname chosen by the player's Apple account; we don't collect or store these nicknames on our own servers.
- External links (e.g. to the App Store, email) sit behind a parent gate.
- Gruesome historical tales are curated for age-appropriateness and gated behind parental consent plus a declared age of 9 or over.
- The app is paid-up-front on the App Store. There are no in-app purchases, subscriptions, or loot boxes.
If you believe a child has sent us personal information and you would like it removed, contact privacy [at] travellingintime [dot] com and we will delete it promptly.
6. How long we keep data
We hold no personal data on any server, so there is nothing for us to retain. Your in-app progress and AI interaction log live on your device and are removed when you delete the app. Support emails you send us are kept for up to 24 months so we can follow up on related issues.
7. Third-party services
We keep the list short on purpose:
- Apple — App Store distribution, Apple Maps, Game Center (achievements and leaderboards), and on-device Apple Intelligence for age-appropriate quiz and narration content. Governed by Apple's own Privacy Policy.
- Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation) — the app fetches public Wikipedia article summaries and images to enrich historical places, as described in §4. No personal data or GPS position is sent.
- Our website host — serves this marketing website only. It plays no part in the app and receives no data from it.
We do not share your data with advertisers, data brokers or analytics networks.
8. Your rights under UK GDPR
Because we do not store a personal profile of you, most GDPR rights apply trivially. You still have the right to:
- Ask what (if any) personal data we hold on you.
- Ask us to correct or delete it.
- Object to processing, or ask us to restrict it.
- Lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
To exercise any of these rights, email privacy [at] travellingintime [dot] com and we will respond within one calendar month.
9. Contact
Questions, requests, or complaints: privacy [at] travellingintime [dot] com.
10. Changes to this policy
We'll revise this policy if the way the app handles data changes. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be announced on this website and, where appropriate, inside the app.