Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 6, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how maku handles information when you use the app. maku is an instant-camera style iOS app for taking, captioning, organizing, exporting, and optionally backing up weekly photo rolls.
maku is designed to keep your photos under your control. The app does not run ads, does not use third-party advertising identifiers, does not use your data for third-party advertising tracking, and does not sell your personal information.
Most app data is stored on your device. Some features use Apple, RevenueCat, and Sentry services as described below.
Who is responsible for maku
Section titled “Who is responsible for maku”For privacy purposes, the controller of maku is:
ptgms Contact: me@ptgms.space
Summary
Section titled “Summary”maku handles information mainly to provide the app’s camera, photo library, album, caption, export, purchase, backup, and reliability features.
In general:
- your photos and library are stored locally on your device unless you export them or enable iCloud backup;
- location tagging is optional and only used if you enable it and grant iOS location permission;
- iCloud backup is optional and available to maku+ subscribers;
- purchases are handled through Apple StoreKit and RevenueCat;
- diagnostics are handled through Sentry to help find crashes and performance problems;
- maku does not run ads, sell personal information, or use your data for third-party advertising tracking.
Information maku handles
Section titled “Information maku handles”Photos and user content
Section titled “Photos and user content”When you take a photo, maku saves the developed image as a JPEG in the app’s private on-device storage.
maku also stores related library metadata, including captions, roll titles, album names, album order, sort order, cover choices, filter details baked into the photo, and creation dates.
Photos, captions, rolls, albums, and related metadata are used to provide the app’s core photo library, organization, search, captioning, filter, export, and backup features.
Unless you enable iCloud backup, export content, save content to Apple Photos, or share content yourself, this content remains in maku’s on-device app storage.
Exporting, saving, and sharing
Section titled “Exporting, saving, and sharing”If you export, save, or share a photo, collage, or PDF, the exported item is shared only through the Apple share sheet, the Photos save flow, or the destination you choose.
Once you send exported content to another app, service, person, or destination, that destination handles the content according to its own privacy practices.
Photos saved to Apple Photos are stored outside maku’s private app storage and must be managed or deleted separately in Apple Photos.
Camera
Section titled “Camera”maku asks for camera access so you can take photos.
Live camera frames are processed on your device for the viewfinder and filters. maku does not use the microphone.
Location
Section titled “Location”If location tagging is enabled and you grant iOS location permission, maku may save the location of a new photo at the time you press the shutter.
The app requests an approximate current location fix and may store:
- latitude;
- longitude;
- a human-readable place name, when available.
Location tagging can be turned off in maku settings. You can also manage location permission in iOS Settings.
Turning location tagging off affects future photos. Existing location tags remain on photos unless you delete the photos. maku does not currently include a separate feature for removing a saved location tag from a photo without deleting the photo.
If iCloud backup is enabled, photos with saved location tags may be included in your private iCloud backup. If you delete a photo, its associated local metadata, including any saved location tag, is deleted from maku’s on-device library. If iCloud backup is enabled, maku also attempts to delete the related backup record from your private iCloud database.
If you tap a photo’s map chip, maku opens Apple Maps with that photo’s coordinates. Apple Maps is provided by Apple and is subject to Apple’s own privacy practices.
Preferences and app state
Section titled “Preferences and app state”maku stores preferences and app state on your device, such as:
- onboarding completion;
- selected filter;
- custom filters;
- location tagging setting;
- iCloud backup setting;
- selected app icon;
- backup status;
- pending backup-delete state;
- other settings needed to keep the app working as expected.
iCloud backup
Section titled “iCloud backup”maku+ subscribers can use iCloud backup.
When enabled, maku uploads photo files and library metadata to the app’s private CloudKit database in your iCloud account. This may include:
- photos;
- captions;
- roll metadata;
- album metadata;
- creation and organization dates;
- ordering and sorting information;
- saved location metadata, if location tagging was used.
The backup is used to restore your library after reinstalling the app or moving to a new device.
The iCloud backup uses the CloudKit private database associated with your Apple Account. maku does not use iCloud backup to make your library public.
Turning iCloud backup off in maku asks for confirmation and then attempts to delete maku’s iCloud backup records while keeping on-device photos. If deletion cannot complete because the device is offline, iCloud is unavailable, or another error occurs, maku may queue a retry.
Apple provides iCloud and CloudKit infrastructure and may process information according to Apple’s own privacy terms and legal obligations.
Purchases and subscriptions
Section titled “Purchases and subscriptions”maku uses Apple StoreKit and RevenueCat to offer and manage maku+ subscriptions.
Apple processes payments. maku does not receive your full payment card details.
RevenueCat may process information needed to manage subscriptions and unlock paid features, including:
- subscription status;
- purchase history;
- Apple receipt information;
- product offerings;
- entitlement status;
- an anonymous app user identifier;
- related technical information needed for purchase validation and subscription management.
maku uses an anonymous RevenueCat app user identifier for subscription management. This identifier is not an advertising identifier and is not used by maku for advertising tracking.
maku uses this information to unlock maku+ features, restore purchases, display subscription management, and prevent subscription access from breaking across installs or devices.
Diagnostics and performance
Section titled “Diagnostics and performance”maku uses Sentry in production builds to help find crashes, errors, and performance problems.
Sentry is configured with:
- default personal information collection disabled;
- screenshots disabled;
- view hierarchy capture disabled;
- HTTP breadcrumbs filtered out.
maku does not use custom Sentry tags.
maku may send diagnostic information such as:
- crash reports;
- stack traces;
- app version;
- operating system version;
- device model or device details;
- performance traces;
- sampled profiling data;
- technical error information.
These diagnostics are used to improve app reliability and performance.
maku does not intentionally send your photos, captions, precise location tags, or library contents to Sentry. Because maku does not use custom Sentry tags, screenshots, view hierarchy capture, or HTTP breadcrumbs, diagnostic reports are configured to avoid unnecessary app-content data.
Sentry processes diagnostic information according to its own privacy and security practices.
How maku uses information
Section titled “How maku uses information”maku uses information to:
- provide the camera, photo library, albums, search, captions, filters, export, and backup features;
- enforce weekly photo limits and maku+ feature access;
- restore purchases and manage subscriptions;
- back up and restore your library if you enable iCloud backup;
- diagnose crashes, errors, and performance issues;
- maintain app security and prevent misuse;
- respond to support, privacy, or legal requests;
- comply with legal obligations.
Sharing
Section titled “Sharing”maku may share or make information available to:
- Apple, for iOS permissions, StoreKit purchases, iCloud/CloudKit backup, Photos saving, Apple Maps, App Store services, and operating-system functionality;
- RevenueCat, for subscription management, purchase validation, entitlement status, and purchase restoration;
- Sentry, for crash, error, and performance diagnostics;
- destinations you choose, such as apps, services, contacts, or storage locations selected through the iOS share sheet, export, save, or Maps flows;
- authorities or other parties, if required by law or needed to protect rights, safety, or security.
maku does not sell personal information and does not use your data for third-party advertising tracking.
The developer behind maku does not see your pictures, rolls, albums, locations or similar.
Retention and deletion
Section titled “Retention and deletion”On-device photos and library metadata remain until you delete them, delete the app, or remove the data through iOS or app features that may be available.
Location tags are stored as part of a photo’s metadata. maku does not currently include a separate feature for removing a location tag without deleting the photo.
Photos you save to Apple Photos must be deleted from Apple Photos separately.
If iCloud backup is enabled, maku backup records remain in your private iCloud database until you delete the related content, turn off iCloud backup and confirm deletion, or otherwise remove the data through Apple/iCloud controls.
If an iCloud deletion attempt fails because the device is offline or iCloud is unavailable, maku may queue a retry.
RevenueCat, Apple, and Sentry retain information according to their own policies and legal obligations. maku does not control their independent legal retention requirements.
Your choices
Section titled “Your choices”You can:
- deny or revoke camera, location, and photo-library permissions in iOS Settings;
- turn location tagging off in maku settings;
- delete photos in maku, which also deletes their associated maku metadata, including saved location tags;
- turn iCloud backup off in maku settings and confirm deletion of iCloud backup copies;
- manage or cancel subscriptions through Apple or maku’s subscription management screen;
- choose whether and where to export, save, or share photos and PDFs;
- delete the app to remove maku’s on-device app storage from your device, subject to normal iOS behavior;
- contact maku for privacy questions or help.
Security
Section titled “Security”maku relies on iOS sandboxing, Apple permission prompts, local device protections, and Apple’s CloudKit infrastructure for private iCloud backup.
No system is perfect, but maku is built to limit unnecessary collection and to keep photo handling tied to app functionality.
Changes
Section titled “Changes”We may update this Privacy Policy as maku changes.
We will notify you 2 weeks in advance.
The updated version will be posted with a new “Last updated” date. If changes are significant, maku may provide additional notice where appropriate.
Contact
Section titled “Contact”For privacy questions, contact maku support through the App Store product page or email: