SeaScribe Privacy Policy
Effective Date: June 11, 2026
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), located at 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103,
operates the SeaScribe mobile application (the “App”). This Privacy Policy explains
how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use SeaScribe.
Information We Collect
Information you provide: Observer name and email address entered
when creating an observer profile, and all survey and observation data you record
during use of the App.
Location: GPS coordinates, altitude, heading, and speed — collected
only during active surveys when you grant location permission. This data is used solely
to geotag observation records and is not used to track individuals outside of survey
sessions.
Photos: Images taken with your device camera, stored locally on
your device and associated with survey records. Camera access is optional and is only
used when you initiate a photo capture action during a survey.
Audio recordings: Recordings made with your device microphone,
stored locally and associated with survey records. Microphone access is optional and
is only active when you initiate a recording action during a survey.
Device information: Device model, platform, OS version, and
manufacturer — collected only if you choose to submit a bug report through the App.
How We Use Your Information
We use collected information only to:
- Record and geotag wildlife observation data
- Generate survey exports and reports
- Diagnose technical issues when you submit a bug report
We do not use your data for advertising, analytics services, or any purpose
unrelated to your survey work.
Data Storage
All survey data, photos, and audio recordings are stored locally on your
device only. SeaScribe does not upload or transmit your data to any external
server except when you explicitly choose to export it using the App’s export features.
Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise share your personal information with third
parties. The only time data leaves your device is when you choose to export it —
you control who receives that data. When you share data with third parties, their
own privacy policies apply to how they handle it.
Data Retention and Deletion
Data remains on your device until you choose to delete it. You can delete individual
observations, surveys, photos, and audio recordings within the App at any time.
Uninstalling the App removes all locally stored app data from your device. BRI does
not retain any of your data on external servers.
Permissions
Location: Required to record GPS coordinates with observation data.
Access is requested as “while in use” only — SeaScribe does not access your location
when the App is in the background outside of an active survey. You can disable location
access in your device settings at any time; however, GPS coordinates will not be
recorded with observations if location is disabled.
Camera and Microphone: Optional. Camera access is used only when
you initiate a photo capture during a survey. Microphone access is used only when you
initiate an audio recording during a survey. You can revoke these permissions in your
device settings at any time.
Children’s Privacy
SeaScribe is intended for professional use by wildlife researchers and field
surveyors. The App is not directed at children under 13. All data entered in the App
is stored locally on the device only and is never transmitted to BRI.
Security
We implement reasonable technical measures to protect data stored on your device.
However, no method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee
absolute security of your information.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We will notify users of material changes to this Privacy Policy by updating the
effective date at the top of this page and posting the updated policy both here and
within the App. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your
acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact Us
For questions, concerns, or data deletion requests regarding this Privacy Policy,
please contact us:
276 Canco Road
Portland, ME 04103
Phone: 207-839-7600
Email: bri@briloon.org
