Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use The Folo mobile application (the "App"). By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
We are committed to a privacy-first approach and collect only the minimal data necessary to provide our service.
IMPORTANT: Use of Public Data
The Folo accesses only publicly available information from Instagram. We do not access private accounts, direct messages, stories, or any content that is not publicly visible. All data we display is information that is already publicly accessible to anyone on the internet. We do not bypass any privacy settings or access controls, and we fully comply with Instagram's publicly available data policies.
1.1 Information You Provide
Instagram Usernames: You provide the Instagram username(s) that you wish to track. We do not require you to log in with your own Instagram account.
Account Information: If you create an account with us (optional), we may collect your email address for account management and communication purposes.
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
Technical Data: We automatically collect certain technical information including:
IP address (for security and fraud prevention)
Device type and operating system
App version
Crash reports and error logs (to improve app stability)
Anonymous usage statistics (e.g., features used, session duration)
Analytics Data: We use analytics services to understand how users interact with the App and to improve user experience. This data is anonymized and does not personally identify you.
1.3 Payment Information
All payment transactions are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play Store. We do not collect, store, or have access to your credit card information, banking details, or any other payment credentials. Payment data is handled exclusively by Apple or Google in accordance with their respective privacy policies.
1.4 Information We Do NOT Collect
We do not collect your Instagram login credentials
We do not collect private messages, photos, or contacts from your Instagram account
We do not access private or restricted Instagram accounts
We do not access your device's camera, microphone, or photo library
We do not track your location
We do not collect sensitive personal information (race, religion, health data, etc.)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect solely for the following purposes:
To Provide the Service: To track and display publicly available follower/following activity for the Instagram accounts you specify
To Send Notifications: To alert you about new follows, unfollows, or other account activity you've chosen to monitor
To Ensure Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats
To Improve the App: To analyze app performance, fix bugs, and enhance features based on anonymous usage patterns
To Communicate With You: To respond to your support requests, send important updates about the App, or notify you of changes to our policies
To Comply With Legal Obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers: We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the App (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics, customer support). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or subpoena).
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change and the choices you may have regarding your information.
Protection of Rights: We may disclose information to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public, as required or permitted by law.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
Account Data: If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes.
Technical Data: Anonymous analytics and technical data may be retained indefinitely for statistical analysis and service improvement.
5. Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement industry-standard security measures to protect it, including:
Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
Secure data storage with encrypted databases
Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information (subject to legal obligations).
Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time.
Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format.
Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your data, you may withdraw that consent at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hey@thefolo.co. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
7. Children's Privacy
The Folo is not intended for use by children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at hey@thefolo.co.
8. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country.
We ensure that any such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that your information receives an adequate level of protection. For transfers from the European Economic Area (EEA), we rely on approved mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses.
9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
Right to Know: You can request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Opt-Out: You can opt out of the "sale" of your personal information. Note: We do not sell personal information.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
Right of access to your personal data
Right to rectification of inaccurate data
Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Right to restriction of processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing
Right to withdraw consent
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
Legal Basis for Processing: We process your personal data based on:
Consent: When you provide explicit consent (e.g., accepting this Privacy Policy)
Contract: To fulfill our contract with you (providing the App service)
Legitimate Interests: For fraud prevention, security, and service improvement
Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws
11. Third-Party Services
The App may contain links to third-party websites or services (including Instagram). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
Instagram Data: The Folo displays publicly available data from Instagram. We access only information that is publicly visible to anyone on the internet. We do not have any special access to Instagram's systems and do not bypass any privacy settings or restrictions. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Instagram or Meta Platforms, Inc.
Third-party services we use:
Analytics: We may use services like Google Analytics or similar tools to collect anonymous usage data
Cloud Hosting: We use secure cloud infrastructure providers to store and process data
Payment Processing: Apple App Store and Google Play Store
12. Push Notifications
The Folo may send you push notifications about follower activity. You can disable push notifications at any time through your device settings or within the App.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:
Posting the updated Privacy Policy within the App
Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
Sending you a notification (if required by law)
Your continued use of the App after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: