Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how DinnerClue ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information about you when you use our website at dinnerclue.app or, when launched, our mobile app (together, the "Service").

We take privacy seriously. We don't sell your data. We collect the minimum we need to make the Service work and keep it improving. If anything here is unclear, email us at hello@dinnerclue.app.

Who we are

DinnerClue is an independent project based in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of UK GDPR, the data controller is the operator of DinnerClue. To exercise any of your rights or ask any privacy-related question, contact us at hello@dinnerclue.app.

What information we collect

Pre-launch website (current). If you sign up for our launch notification list, we collect:

• Your email address
• The date you signed up

Mobile app (once launched). When the DinnerClue app is available, we will additionally collect:

• Account information (your name and email from Apple Sign-In or Google Sign-In)
• Your stated preferences (household size, allergies, equipment, cuisines you avoid, cooking confidence, pantry staples)
• Your recipe interactions (which recipes were suggested, accepted, rejected, or cooked)
• Your shopping list contents
• Optional ratings and notes you choose to add
• Basic device information (operating system version, app version) for crash reporting and compatibility

We do not collect location data, contacts, photos, or any other personal information beyond what is necessary for the Service to function. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

Why we collect it (legal bases)

• Consent — for email newsletter signups and any optional features.
• Performance of a contract — to provide the Service you've signed up for (recipe suggestions, shopping list, your account).
• Legitimate interests — for service improvement, security, and fraud prevention, balanced against your privacy rights.

Who we share it with

We share your information only with the third-party service providers we need to run the Service. Each is bound by their own privacy policy and applicable data protection law:

• Buttondown — newsletter email delivery (email addresses only)
• Vercel — website hosting
• Supabase — database and authentication (when app launches)
• Anthropic — recipe selection via Claude API (we send the inputs we need to generate a suggestion; we do not send your account identity)
• Apple and Google — sign-in providers and app distribution

Some of these providers process data outside the UK, including in the United States. Where this is the case, we rely on UK-recognised safeguards such as the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses.

We do not sell your personal data to anyone, for any purpose, ever.

How long we keep it

• Email subscribers: Until you unsubscribe, plus a short period to handle any unsubscribe disputes.
• App accounts: Until you delete your account, plus up to 30 days for backup retention. After that, your personal data is permanently removed.
• Anonymised analytics: Retained indefinitely in aggregate form for service improvement.

Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction — ask us to correct any inaccurate information
• Deletion — ask us to delete your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability — receive your data in a portable format
• Object — object to certain uses of your data
• Withdraw consent — for anything you previously consented to (e.g., unsubscribe from emails)
• Complain — lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk

To exercise any of these rights, email hello@dinnerclue.app. We respond within 30 days.

Cookies and tracking

Our pre-launch website uses no analytics cookies and no third-party tracking pixels. Once the app launches, we may use minimal first-party analytics to understand which features are used; we will update this policy and request your consent where required before any such tracking is enabled.

Children

DinnerClue is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it.

Security

We use industry-standard security practices to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), encrypted data at rest with our service providers, and strong authentication. No system is perfectly secure, but we take this seriously and will notify affected users in the event of a meaningful breach.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the Service evolves. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email (if you've subscribed) and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact us

Any questions? Email hello@dinnerclue.app and we'll get back to you.