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Privacy Policy Movie DB

Effective date: 15 May 2026

This privacy policy explains how Movie DB (“the app”) handles personal data and other information when you use the app.

Controller

The controller responsible for this app is:

Jonas Frey
Tullastraße 14
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany
Email: dev@jonasfrey.de

Privacy policy website: https://jonasfrey.de/privacy-policy-movie-db

Summary

Movie DB is designed to keep your movie and TV library data under your control. Most data you enter or create in the app is stored locally on your device and, if you use iCloud, synced through Apple iCloud/CloudKit.

The app does not require a Movie DB account. The app does not send your movie titles, TV titles, notes, tags, ratings, watch state, or library identifiers to the developer’s own server.

If you explicitly enable analytics, Movie DB sends pseudonymous usage analytics to PostHog using an app-generated analytics installation ID. This ID does not directly identify you by name or email, but it can distinguish one app installation from another and is therefore treated as personal data.

Data You Store in the App

Movie DB may store information you add or generate while using the app, such as:

  • Your saved movies and TV shows.
  • Watch state and watch history.
  • Ratings, notes, and tags.
  • Custom lists, filters, and app settings.
  • Imported data and related metadata.

This data is stored locally on your device. If iCloud sync is enabled for the app, this data is also synced through Apple iCloud/CloudKit using your Apple account.

The developer does not operate a separate Movie DB user account system and does not receive this library data unless you choose to send it manually, for example in a support email.

iCloud Sync

If iCloud sync is enabled, Apple processes the synced app data through iCloud/CloudKit so your data can be available across your devices.

Apple acts as an independent provider for iCloud services. Apple’s handling of iCloud data is governed by Apple’s own privacy terms and settings.

You can control iCloud availability and app access through iOS settings. If you disable iCloud for Movie DB, syncing may stop, but local data may remain on your device unless you delete it in the app or remove the app.

The Movie Database (TMDB)

Movie DB uses The Movie Database (TMDB) to search for and display movie and TV metadata, images, and related content.

When you search, browse, or load details, the app may send requests to TMDB, including:

  • Search terms you enter.
  • Selected language or region settings.
  • The requested movie, TV show, person, image, or video metadata endpoint.
  • Standard technical request data such as your IP address, device/network metadata, and request time, as visible to TMDB when your device connects to TMDB.

TMDB may process this data according to its own privacy policy. Movie DB does not send your local notes, tags, personal ratings, or full local library contents to TMDB.

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Images and Video Thumbnails

The app may load poster images, backdrop images, profile images, and trailer thumbnails from third-party content servers, including TMDB image servers and YouTube image servers.

When your device loads these resources, the relevant server may receive standard technical request data such as your IP address, the requested URL, device/network metadata, and request time.

Purchases

Movie DB may offer purchases through Apple’s App Store and StoreKit.

Purchase processing is handled by Apple. Apple may process your Apple ID, payment method, transaction data, and related account information according to Apple’s own privacy policy.

Movie DB may store limited purchase status locally to unlock purchased features. The developer does not receive your full payment details.

Optional Analytics

Analytics are disabled unless you explicitly enable them.

If you enable analytics, Movie DB uses PostHog to understand app usage, improve app quality, and diagnose product issues. PostHog is configured to use EU hosting.

Analytics data is linked to an app-generated analytics installation ID. The app displays this ID in the settings so you can include it when requesting access to or deletion of analytics data.

Movie DB may also use PostHog to retrieve feature flag configuration even when optional analytics are disabled. Feature flags help enable, disable, or configure app functionality.

If analytics are disabled, Movie DB does not send analytics events or feature flag exposure events to PostHog. However, the app may still contact PostHog to fetch feature flag values. These requests may include standard technical request data and the app-generated analytics installation ID used by PostHog to evaluate or return feature flag configuration.

Analytics may include:

  • App version, build, platform, OS family or OS major version, and broad device class.
  • Screen or feature usage events.
  • Feature flag exposure events.
  • Anonymous purchase-related product identifiers or price metadata needed for analytics.
  • Counts, buckets, durations, boolean values, and small predefined enum values.
  • Import counts, error counts, and performance or reliability information.

Analytics do not include:

  • Your name or email address.
  • Movie or TV show titles.
  • TMDB IDs from your library.
  • Notes, tag names, or other free-form user content.
  • Search text.
  • File names or file paths.
  • Personal ratings tied to specific media.
  • URLs containing content data.

PostHog is configured to discard IP addresses. Analytics data is retained for 1 year.

You can disable analytics in the app settings. Disabling analytics stops future analytics events, but it does not automatically delete analytics data already stored by PostHog.

Crash Reports and Diagnostics

Movie DB may receive crash reports and diagnostics through Apple and, if analytics are enabled, PostHog.

Crash and diagnostic data may include technical information such as app version, OS version, device model category, crash time, stack trace, and other technical details needed to diagnose app problems.

Crash reports are used to improve stability and fix bugs. They are not used for advertising or tracking.

Support Emails

If you contact the developer by email, the developer processes the information you choose to provide, such as your email address, message content, attachments, screenshots, device/app details, and any analytics installation ID you include.

Support emails are used to answer your request, diagnose issues, and maintain the app.

Do not send sensitive information unless it is necessary for your request.

Purposes and Legal Bases

If the GDPR applies, personal data is processed for the following purposes and legal bases:

Purpose: Providing app functionality and local library features
Legal Basis: Performance of a contract or steps prior to a contract, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR

Purpose: iCloud sync requested by you through Apple services
Legal Basis: Performance of a contract, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR

Purpose: Loading TMDB data, images, and video thumbnails requested by app usage
Legal Basis: Performance of a contract, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR

Purpose: App Store purchases and entitlement handling
Legal Basis: Performance of a contract, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR; legal obligations where applicable, Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR

Purpose: Optional analytics
Legal Basis: Consent, Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR

Purpose: Crash diagnostics, security, abuse prevention, and app reliability
Legal Basis: Legitimate interests, Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR

Purpose: Support requests
Legal Basis: Performance of a contract, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, or legitimate interests, Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR

Purpose: Compliance with legal obligations
Legal Basis: Legal obligation, Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR

You may withdraw analytics consent at any time in the app settings. Withdrawal does not affect processing that happened before consent was withdrawn.

Recipients and Processors

Depending on how you use the app, data may be processed by or disclosed to:

  • Apple, for App Store distribution, purchases, iCloud/CloudKit sync, backups, crash reports, and platform services.
  • PostHog, for feature flag configuration, optional analytics, and diagnostics.
  • TMDB, for movie and TV metadata, search, and images.
  • YouTube image servers, for video thumbnails.
  • Email and hosting providers used to receive support messages or serve app-related resources.

The developer does not sell your personal data.

The developer does not use your data for cross-app tracking, advertising profiles, or data broker sharing.

International Transfers

Some recipients may process data outside your country or outside the European Economic Area. This can happen, for example, when Apple, TMDB, YouTube/Google, email providers, or hosting providers process requests through international infrastructure.

Where required, transfers are based on appropriate safeguards such as adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, or the recipient’s own applicable transfer mechanisms.

Retention

Local app data remains on your device until you delete it in the app, delete the app, or remove related local/iCloud data through Apple settings.

iCloud data retention is controlled through Apple iCloud and your Apple account settings.

PostHog analytics data is retained for 1 year.

Support emails are retained as long as needed to handle the request and for reasonable follow-up, recordkeeping, and legal purposes.

App Store purchase records are retained by Apple according to Apple’s policies and legal obligations. Movie DB may retain local purchase entitlement status as needed to keep purchased features unlocked.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

  • Request access to personal data about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate personal data.
  • Request deletion of personal data.
  • Request restriction of processing.
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
  • Request data portability.
  • Withdraw consent for optional analytics.
  • Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

To make a request, email dev@jonasfrey.de.

For analytics requests, include the analytics installation ID shown in the app settings. Without this ID, the developer may be unable to identify which PostHog analytics records relate to your app installation because Movie DB does not collect names, email addresses, or account IDs in analytics.

For iCloud data, you can manage or delete data through the app, your device, and Apple iCloud settings. The developer generally cannot identify or access your private iCloud app data directly.

Children’s Privacy

Movie DB is not directed to children and is not intended for use by children under the age required by applicable law to consent to data processing.

The app does not knowingly collect personal data from children for analytics. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact dev@jonasfrey.de.

Security

Movie DB uses Apple platform security features and standard technical measures to protect data. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure.

You are responsible for protecting access to your device, Apple account, iCloud account, and email account.

Changes to This Policy

This policy may be updated when the app, services, or legal requirements change. The updated policy will show a new effective date.

If changes are material, the app or related distribution channels may provide additional notice where appropriate.

Contact

For privacy requests or questions, contact:

Jonas Frey
Email: dev@jonasfrey.de
Postal address: Tullastraße 14, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany