Privacy
Policy

1. Who we are

Strange Skies provides a public UAP observation map, case archive and reporting service. For privacy questions or requests, contact info@strangeskies.app.

This policy is written to describe the current product. It should be reviewed by a qualified privacy professional before public release and whenever the service or its providers change.

2. Information we collect

Account information

• Your username and securely hashed password.
• Account identifiers, creation time, trust and report activity.

Sighting reports

• The date and time, description, object characteristics and other observation details you submit.
• The exact observation location you provide and a less precise public location derived from it.
• Photos, videos and associated file information that you choose to upload.
• Comments, corroborations and reports of inappropriate or inaccurate content.

Generated and contextual information

• Weather and astronomical context associated with the submitted place and time.
• Automated analysis and possible conventional explanations. This output is contextual analysis, not a factual identification.

Website waitlist

• Your email address and the source of the signup when you ask to be notified about release.

Technical information

Our infrastructure may process ordinary connection and security information such as IP address, request time, device or browser type and error logs. We use this to deliver and protect the service, diagnose faults and prevent abuse.

3. Why we use it

• To create and secure your account and keep your reports associated with it.
• To receive, display and manage sighting reports and evidence.
• To show approximate report locations on public maps while retaining the exact submitted point for analysis and administration.
• To enrich reports with real weather, astronomical and automated analytical context.
• To operate moderation, safety, fraud-prevention and support processes.
• To send release information when you have joined the waitlist.
• To meet legal obligations and establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

Depending on the activity, we rely on performing our agreement with you, your consent, our legitimate interests in operating and protecting the archive, and compliance with legal obligations. You may withdraw waitlist consent at any time by contacting us.

4. What becomes public

Strange Skies is designed as a public case archive. A published case may show its case number, approximate location, reported time, witness statement, observation attributes, evidence, contextual data and analysis. Your exact submitted coordinates and password hash are not intended for public display.

Do not include your home address, another person’s private information, faces, vehicle registrations or other identifying details unless you have a lawful reason and permission to share them. Public material may be copied or preserved by third parties outside our control.

5. Providers and data transfers

We use specialist providers to run the service. Current categories and named providers include:

• Cloudflare for API hosting, media storage, security and automated analysis.
• Neon for managed PostgreSQL database hosting.
• Mapbox for maps and location lookup.
• Open-Meteo for weather context associated with reports.
• Google Fonts on this website for font delivery.

These providers may process information in countries outside the UK. Where required, appropriate legal transfer mechanisms and safeguards should be used. We do not state that we sell personal data.

6. Retention

Account information is kept while your account is active and for a limited period afterwards where reasonably needed for security, dispute resolution or legal compliance. Waitlist email addresses are kept until release communications are complete, you unsubscribe, or the list is retired.

Because reports form a public research archive, deleting an account may result in a report being removed, anonymised, or retained without its account association where there is a legitimate archival, safety or legal reason. We assess each request and explain the result. Security logs and backups are retained for limited operational cycles.

7. Security

Passwords are stored as one-way hashes rather than readable passwords. We use access controls, encrypted network connections and managed infrastructure. No online service can guarantee absolute security, so please use a unique password and contact us if you suspect unauthorised access.

8. Children

Strange Skies is intended for adults and is not designed for children. Please do not create an account or submit personal information if you are under 18. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

9. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights to access, correct, erase, restrict or obtain a copy of your personal data, and to object to particular processing. Where processing relies on consent, you can withdraw that consent.

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. Contact info@strangeskies.app. We may need to verify your identity. You can also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.

10. Changes

We may update this policy when the product, providers or law changes. The latest version and update date will remain available on this page. Material changes may also be communicated in the app or by another appropriate method.