Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Artology (“Artology,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information when you use the Artology mobile application, visit artology.app, or contact us. Artology is developed and operated by Empty Studio.

If you have questions or want to exercise a privacy right, email us at artologyapp@gmail.com.

1. Information We Handle

1.1 Your collection

Artology lets you create a personal record of art that matters to you. Depending on how you use the app, your collection may include:

Artwork titles, creators, dates, media, dimensions, styles, institutions, sources, and descriptions
Notes and other text you add
Photos and related photo metadata
Visit records, venues, dates, and locations
Edits you make to suggested artwork information

Your saved collection is stored in the app’s private storage on your device. If device-to-device sync is available and enabled, a copy may also be stored in the private cloud storage connected to your platform account.

1.2 Photos and artwork recognition

When you choose to recognize an artwork, Artology processes the image you take or select and sends it to our service providers so that we can return a suggested identification and supporting artwork information. This may include the artwork image, a cropped or compressed version of it, and technical request data.

Artology does not send your saved notes or the rest of your collection as part of an artwork-recognition request. Recognition results are suggestions; you can review and edit them before saving.

1.3 Camera, photo library, and location

With your permission, Artology may access:

Camera: to take an artwork photo
Photo library: to load an image you select or save an image you request
Location: to attach a place to a photo or visit and help organize your art record

You can deny or revoke these permissions in your device settings. Artology does not continuously track your location.

1.4 Service, subscription, and diagnostic data

We may process limited technical data needed to operate and protect the service, including:

A pseudonymous app or customer identifier
Subscription status and entitlement dates; we do not receive your full payment-card details
Scan and search counts used to apply plan limits
Request identifiers, app version, timestamps, response status, and error information
IP address or a derived value, and an approximate country or region, for security, rate limiting, fraud prevention, and service availability
Basic website request logs created when you visit artology.app

We do not use this data to build an advertising profile.

1.5 Information you send us

If you contact us, we receive the information included in your message, such as your email address, the content of your request, and any files you choose to attach.

2. How We Use Information

We use information to:

Provide artwork recognition, collection management, search, sync, export, and subscription features
Save and display the content you choose to add to your collection
Apply usage limits and verify access to paid features
Maintain reliability, prevent abuse, secure the service, and troubleshoot problems
Respond to support requests and feedback
Comply with law and enforce our rights
Improve Artology using aggregated or de-identified operational insights

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, and we do not use your collection or recognition images to serve you ads.

3. When Information Is Shared

We disclose information only as described below:

Service providers: We use providers that perform functions such as private cloud synchronization, artwork recognition and information retrieval, subscription processing, hosting, security, and customer support. They receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their services and are required to protect it consistently with this policy and applicable law.
Legal and safety reasons: We may disclose information if reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid legal process, protect a person’s safety, prevent fraud or abuse, or protect our rights.
Business changes: If Artology is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate safeguards and notice where required.

We do not allow service providers to use your collection or recognition images for their own advertising.

4. Storage and Retention

We keep information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

Collection data: Remains on your device and, if sync is enabled, in your platform account’s private cloud storage until you delete it through the app or the relevant platform controls. Uninstalling the app may not automatically remove a cloud-synced copy.
Recognition images: Processed when you request recognition. When our service needs a short-lived hosted copy to complete a request, that copy is configured to expire within 30 minutes. Service providers may retain limited request data only as permitted by their agreements with us or as required by law.
Recognition results and request records: Limited response data may be cached for up to 48 hours so a request can be completed reliably or retried. Pseudonymous usage totals, subscription records, and security records may be kept longer where needed to provide entitlements, enforce plan limits, prevent abuse, resolve disputes, or meet legal obligations.
Support messages: Kept for as long as needed to respond, maintain support history, and comply with legal obligations.
Backups and logs: May remain for a limited period under routine security and backup schedules before being deleted or overwritten.

We may retain aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be linked to you.

5. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to request access to, correction of, deletion of, or a portable copy of personal information; to object to or restrict certain processing; to withdraw consent; and to appeal or complain to a privacy regulator.

You can also:

Review, edit, and delete collection items in Artology
Export your collection metadata from Settings
Control camera, photo-library, and location access in device settings
Manage or cancel a subscription through your platform account settings
Contact us at artologyapp@gmail.com to request help with data associated with Artology’s online services

We may need to verify your request before acting on it. Some information may be retained where required by law or where necessary for security, fraud prevention, billing, or the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

6. Legal Bases for Processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we rely on:

Performance of a contract: to provide the features and services you request
Legitimate interests: to secure, maintain, support, and improve Artology, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights
Consent: for device permissions and other processing where consent is required; you may withdraw consent through device settings or by contacting us
Legal obligations: when processing is necessary to comply with law

7. International Processing

Artology and its service providers may process information in countries other than the one where you live. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers of personal information.

8. Children’s Privacy

Artology is a general-audience service and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from a child under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to Artology, contact us at artologyapp@gmail.com so we can review and delete it as appropriate.

9. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to Artology, our practices, or applicable law. We will update the date at the top and provide additional notice when required.

11. Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests, contact:

Empty Studio / Artology
Email: artologyapp@gmail.com
Website: https://artology.app/