ScanBuyBye

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 2026  ·  Effective immediately upon use

⚠️ Beta Notice: ScanBuyBye is currently in beta. Features, data handling, and this policy may change as the app evolves. We will notify users of material changes.

1. Who We Are

ScanBuyBye is a barcode scanning app that helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions by checking products against personal boycott and support lists. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use the ScanBuyBye mobile app and website.

By using ScanBuyBye, you agree to the collection and use of information described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account information — When you create an account, we collect your email address, display name, and a securely hashed password. This is stored in Firebase Authentication and Firestore.

Boycott and support list data — The companies, countries, brands, and products you add to your lists are stored in Firebase Firestore linked to your account. This data is used to power the app's scan checking features.

Scan history — Scan events (barcode, product name, store name, result) are stored locally on your device only. They are not uploaded to our servers unless you explicitly contribute product data.

Product contributions — If you submit or edit product information (name, brand, company, country, category, tags), that data is stored in Firebase Firestore and is associated with your user account. This data remains in our database even if you delete your account. See Section 7 for details.

Device and usage data — We collect anonymous analytics data (via Google Analytics/Firebase Analytics, if enabled) such as feature usage, crash reports, and session duration. This data does not identify you personally. You can disable analytics in Advanced Settings.

Purchase data — If you purchase the "Remove Ads" upgrade, the transaction is processed by Google Play. We only receive a confirmation of the purchase — we do not store your payment details.

3. App Permissions

ScanBuyBye requests the following Android permissions. We only request what is necessary.

CAMERA

Required. Used exclusively to scan product barcodes through your device's camera. We do not record video, capture images, or access your camera at any other time. The camera is only active while you are on the scanner screen.

ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION  ·  ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION

Optional. Used to detect your country so we can show relevant store recommendations and location-aware features. Your precise location is never stored or transmitted to our servers. Location detection can be disabled at any time in Advanced Settings.

INTERNET

Required. Used to connect to Firebase (product database, authentication, your boycott list) and to serve advertisements via Google AdMob.

ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Required. Used to check whether a network connection is available before making requests, to handle offline states gracefully.

BILLING

Required for purchases. Used to process the one-time "Remove Ads" in-app purchase through Google Play Billing. We do not have access to your payment information.

WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Optional. Used only when you choose to export your boycott or support list to a JSON file saved to your device's Downloads folder. We do not access any other files on your device.

4. How We Use Your Information

To provide and improve the app's core features (scanning, list management, product data)

To authenticate you and sync your boycott/support lists across devices

To show store recommendations relevant to your support list

To moderate community-contributed product data and review edits

To detect and prevent abuse, spam, or fraudulent activity

To improve product data quality through community voting and moderation

To send password reset emails when requested

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Advertising

ScanBuyBye uses Google AdMob to serve advertisements to users who have not purchased the "Remove Ads" upgrade. AdMob may collect and use data to serve personalised ads in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy. You can purchase the one-time "Remove Ads" upgrade to disable all advertising permanently.

6. Third-Party Services

ScanBuyBye uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

Firebase (Google) — Authentication, database, analytics. Firebase Privacy

Google AdMob — Advertising. Google Privacy Policy

Google Play Billing — In-app purchases

ML Kit (Google) — On-device barcode scanning. No data leaves your device.

Open Food Facts — Some product data is sourced from the open database at world.openfoodfacts.org

7. Data Retention and Account Deletion

You can delete your ScanBuyBye account at any time from the Profile screen in the app. When you delete your account:

Your login credentials and profile are permanently removed from Firebase Authentication

Your personal boycott and support lists are removed from our database

Your scan history stored locally on your device is not affected

⚠️ Important: Product data, edits, and contributions you have submitted to the ScanBuyBye community database are not deleted when you delete your account. Community-contributed product information (names, brands, company data, tags, etc.) becomes part of the shared database and remains to benefit other users. If you have concerns about specific contributions, contact us at the email below.

8. Data Security

We use Firebase's industry-standard security infrastructure to protect your data. Your password is never stored in plain text — Firebase Authentication handles all credential management securely. We use Firestore security rules to ensure users can only access their own personal data.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

9. Children's Privacy

ScanBuyBye is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes through the app or by posting a notice on this page. Your continued use of ScanBuyBye after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@scanbuybye.com

Website: scanbuybye.com