Privacy policy

01 A little clarity, first

miarka is a protein-tracking iPhone app made by Steven Szontagh (“we,” “us,” or “our”). This policy covers the app and its website, miarkatracker.com.

Questions or requests? Email hello [at] miarkatracker.com.

02 What your jar keeps

The app stores the information you enter or create: protein logs and their dates, food names and barcodes, portions and nutrition values, saved foods and meals, favorites, body weight, goal type, daily protein goal, optional name and avatar, and photos or cutouts you choose to keep.

It also keeps points and reward records, streaks and freezes, your pet and its growth, outfits and tricks, and preferences such as units, reminders, and appearance. Logs include time-zone information so days and rewards can be calculated correctly.

These records live on your device even without an account. Device backups may also include app data, depending on your Apple and backup settings.

03 Optional accounts and cloud sync

You can use miarka without an account. Signing in enables cloud sync. Google Firebase provides authentication, database and image storage, and server functions for syncing, points, rewards, and account deletion.

You can sign in with Apple or with an email and password. Google sign-in may also appear when available in your version. Every sign-in method provides the same cloud sync and server rewards. The account system processes your account identifier, email address (including an Apple private relay address if chosen), sign-in credentials or provider tokens, and any name shared by your sign-in provider. Firebase handles email/password authentication; passwords are not stored in your jar records.

Signed-in sync includes logs, saved foods, meals, favorites, weight and goal, name and avatar, sand palette, pet settings and progress, earned points, reward ownership, and email preferences. Images attached to synced records are uploaded too. Some device preferences, such as the selected jar style or food icon pack, stay on each phone.

We use this information to provide your account and features, sync across your devices, calculate rewards, prevent abuse, and troubleshoot problems. Signing out attempts to upload pending changes and then clears this phone’s app data; it does not delete the cloud account. If uploads cannot finish, the app warns you before you choose to sign out anyway.

04 Camera, speech, and on-device intelligence

Camera. Barcode detection, package and nutrition-label text reading, and photo cutouts happen on your device. Camera images are not uploaded for product lookups. A photo you choose to save with a food may later sync with your account.

Microphone and speech. Optional meal dictation requires microphone and speech-recognition permission. miarka requires on-device speech recognition and does not save the audio. If it is unavailable for your language or device, you can type instead. Reviewed meal text and ingredients can become saved meal or log data and sync if you are signed in.

Apple Intelligence. On supported devices, Apple’s on-device model helps interpret meal descriptions, read packaging text, and estimate protein. Those model requests stay on your device. Optional avatar and meal artwork creation uses Apple’s Image Playground interface when available; Apple’s notices and privacy terms apply to that interface. Artwork you save may sync like other images.

Photos and permissions. The iOS photo picker shares the photo you select, rather than your whole library. You can change camera, microphone, speech, and notification permissions in iOS Settings. miarka does not access contacts, precise location, or Apple Health data.

05 Services that help miarka work

• Google Firebase / Google Cloud: account authentication, private cloud records and images, points and reward processing, downloadable food icon packs, and operational infrastructure. Requests can include IP addresses, device or app information, timestamps, account identifiers, and error or security logs. See Firebase’s privacy information and Google’s privacy policy.
• Open Food Facts: receives the barcode, product/brand identity read from a package, or product search text needed for a lookup. We do not send the camera image or full package transcript. Product photos are downloaded from that service. Like other internet requests, lookups expose an IP address and request metadata. See Open Food Facts’ privacy policy.
• Apple, and Google if used for sign-in: provide the sign-in or device services you choose under their own terms. Apple also handles App Store downloads and system diagnostics you choose to share. See Apple’s privacy policy.

The app’s built-in USDA food reference data is bundled on the device; using it does not send your search to USDA. Public icon-pack downloads do not include your miarka account credentials.

We may disclose information when legally required, to address security or fraud, at your direction, or in connection with a business transfer subject to applicable privacy obligations. Your jar is not a public profile or social feed.

06 Emails, support, and advertising

News and tips are optional and off by default. If you opt in, we keep your choice and the time of your consent and may use your account email for those messages. You can turn them off in the account section of Profile. Necessary account messages, such as password resets, are separate.

If you contact support, we receive your email address and whatever you send. We use it to answer, investigate, and resolve your request. Please avoid sending health details or other sensitive information that we do not need.

We do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. The miarka app does not include advertising, tracking, or analytics SDKs.

07 This website and browser storage

This miarka website remembers only your animation pause preference in local storage. Its current code does not set advertising cookies or include analytics. Clear your browser’s site data to remove the preference.

Fonts load from Google Fonts, and some character artwork loads from Google Cloud storage. These providers receive the technical information needed for a web request, such as your IP address and browser details. See Google Fonts’ privacy information. A hosting provider may also process ordinary access and security logs.

08 Keeping and deleting information

Local data stays on your device while it is in use. Cloud account data is kept to provide your account until you delete it, subject to retention reasonably needed for legal obligations, security, or disputes.

Deleting an individual log, meal, or favorite removes it from active views. Some records are retained with a deletion marker so the removal can sync to your other devices. Previously saved images may remain stored until account deletion. Individual removal is different from deleting the whole account.

To delete a cloud account, open Profile → Delete account and confirm it’s you: Apple or Google asks you to sign in again, or you enter your password. The deletion process removes your account’s database records and stored images, deletes the authentication account, and clears this phone. For Apple and Google accounts, miarka’s access to that sign-in is also revoked. An internet connection is required. If you cannot complete deletion, contact hello [at] miarkatracker.com for help deleting the account.

Deleting the app alone does not delete your cloud account. To remove local-only data, delete the app from each device; removing just its Home Screen icon or offloading the app does not erase its data. Backups and separately retained provider logs are managed outside that process and may remain for their applicable retention periods. We do not promise that every backup or technical log disappears immediately.

Support correspondence is kept only as reasonably needed to handle the issue and any legal or security obligations. You may ask us to delete it.

09 Your controls and privacy requests

You can edit your logs, meals, favorites, name, avatar, weight, and goal in the app, change units and reminders, and turn your pet off. Widgets use a local shared snapshot of your progress, recent logs, quick-add foods, and pet; information shown on a Lock Screen may be visible to someone who can see that screen. Remove the widget or change your device settings if you prefer.

Depending on applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of your personal information, withdraw consent, object to or restrict processing, or appeal a denied request. California residents may have applicable rights concerning sale, sharing, and sensitive information. We do not sell data or share it for behavioral advertising.

Email hello [at] miarkatracker.com to make a request. There is currently no in-app data-export button. We may verify your identity before responding. We will handle requests under the laws that apply and will not discriminate against you for exercising a protected right. You may also contact your local privacy regulator where that right applies.

10 Security and processing location

We use access controls and service-provider safeguards to protect information. Cloud rules restrict each account’s private records and images to that account, and server functions validate reward operations. No system is completely secure. Keep your device and sign-in credentials protected.

miarka is focused on a United States audience. miarka’s configured database and image storage are in the United States; authentication, support, and infrastructure providers may process technical information in other countries. Applicable provider data-processing terms and safeguards govern those services. Using the app is not a waiver of any privacy rights you have.

11 Younger users

You must be at least 13 to use miarka. Anyone under 18 may use it only with permission and supervision from a parent or legal guardian. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, email hello [at] miarkatracker.com so we can investigate and take appropriate action. Nutrition goals for young people should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.

12 Updates and getting in touch

We will update this policy and the date above when our practices change, with additional notice or consent where required. If you have a question about miarka or this policy, contact hello [at] miarkatracker.com.