Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 29, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information the Saint Charles Oktoberfest mobile app (“the App”) collects, how it is used, and your choices. The App is provided by the Saint Charles Oktoberfest (“we,” “us,” “our”). By using the App you agree to this policy.

The short version

• We do not ask for your name, email, phone number, or any account login.
• Your identity in the App is an anonymous random device ID generated on your phone. We can’t tie it to you personally.
• If you post to the Community Wall, the content you write (and any photo you attach) is public to other App users.
• You can delete everything you’ve posted, and your device’s identity, from inside the App at any time.

Information we collect

We collect only what’s needed to run the App’s features:

• Anonymous device identifier. When you first open the App, it generates a random identifier (a UUID) stored on your device and on our server. This is how the App recognizes your device across sessions. It is not linked to your real-world identity, your Apple/Google account, or any advertising profile.
• Display name (optional). If you choose to set a display name (for example, to post on the Community Wall), we store the name you enter. You can change or clear it at any time. Please don’t use your full legal name if you prefer to stay anonymous.
• Content you create. Posts, comments, and any photos you choose to attach to a post are stored on our server and shown publicly within the App.
• Push notification token. If you allow notifications, your device provides a push token (issued by Apple/Google via the Expo push service) that we store so we can send you festival alerts. You can turn notifications off at any time in your device settings.
• Basic technical info. We store your device platform (iOS/Android) and the App version to help with support and compatibility.

We do not collect your precise location, contacts, browsing history, or any advertising identifiers, and we do not track you across other apps or websites.

How we use information

• To show the festival schedule, announcements, ads, and Community Wall.
• To let you post, comment, and attach photos, and to display that content to other users.
• To send you push notifications you’ve opted into (festival updates, announcements, and—if you are staff—operational alerts).
• To keep the Community Wall safe (see “Content moderation” below).
• To respond to messages you send us through the in-app Contact / Lost & Found form.

Content moderation

To keep the Community Wall appropriate for a public, family-friendly event, posts and comments may be automatically screened for objectionable content before or shortly after they appear. This screening is performed using a third-party AI service (Anthropic). The text you submit may be sent to that service solely for the purpose of evaluating whether it violates our community guidelines. Content that violates the guidelines may be hidden or removed.

You can report objectionable content from within the App. Reports are reviewed and acted on by festival staff.

Sharing of information

We do not sell your information. We share information only with the service providers that make the App work:

• Push delivery — Expo / Apple Push Notification service / Google Firebase Cloud Messaging, to deliver notifications you opt into.
• Content moderation — Anthropic, to screen submitted text as described above.
• Hosting — our website host, which stores the App’s data.

We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety of festival attendees.

Your choices and rights

• Edit or clear your display name any time in the App’s Settings.
• Delete your content and identity. The App includes a “Delete my account” option (Settings) that permanently removes your posts and comments and forgets your device’s identity. This cannot be undone.
• Notifications. Turn push notifications on or off in your device’s system settings at any time.
• Photos. The App only accesses photos you specifically choose to attach to a post.

Children’s privacy

The App is intended for a general festival audience. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Because posting is anonymous and optional, we encourage parents to supervise younger users.

Data retention

We keep content and device records for as long as needed to operate the App. When you delete your account in the App, your posts and comments are removed and your device identity is forgotten. Some records may persist briefly in backups before being overwritten.

Security

We use reasonable technical measures to protect the information we store. Device authentication uses an opaque token stored securely on your device; we store only a hashed form of it on our server. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to protect your information.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We’ll post the updated version with a new “Last updated” date. Continued use of the App after changes means you accept the updated policy.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Reach us through the App’s Contact us form (Settings → Contact us / Lost & Found) or by email at anthonydtiller@gmail.com.

Saint Charles Oktoberfest
Saint Charles, Missouri