1. Overview
BeeKeeper Pro is an offline-first Android application for managing beehives, tracking harvests, logging treatments, and analyzing hive health. The app is designed to work fully without an internet connection. We collect the minimum information necessary to deliver app functionality and have no interest in selling, brokering, or monetizing your personal data.
Your hive records — inspections, harvest logs, queen histories, treatment logs, and financial data — are stored locally on your device and are never shared with us or any third party, except as described in this policy.
2. Camera Permission & Usage
Why We Request Camera Access
BeeKeeper Pro requests access to your device camera solely to enable the AI Hive Analysis feature. This feature allows you to take or upload a photo of a honeycomb frame and receive an AI-powered health assessment — including disease indicators, varroa mite detection, and brood pattern analysis.
What Happens to Camera Images
- Images are processed in real time. When you initiate an AI scan, the image is temporarily sent to Google's Gemini API for analysis. The image is transmitted over an encrypted connection (HTTPS/TLS).
- We do not store your images on our servers. BeeKeeper Pro does not operate its own image storage infrastructure. Images are not retained by us after the analysis response is returned.
- Google Gemini API data handling. Images sent for AI analysis are processed by Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash model. Google's privacy practices for API usage apply. Google does not use API-submitted data to train its models by default. See Google Gemini API Terms of Service for details.
- Offline fallback. If your device has no internet connection when you request an AI scan, the feature will notify you that a connection is required. No image data is queued or stored for later transmission.
- You control when to scan. The camera is never accessed passively or in the background. Camera access only occurs when you explicitly initiate a scan within the AI Hive Analysis screen.
- Images are not linked to your identity. The image transmitted to the AI contains only pixel data. No name, email address, account ID, or location data is attached to the image payload.
Revoking Camera Permission
You may revoke camera access at any time through your Android device settings (Settings → Apps → BeeKeeper Pro → Permissions → Camera). Revoking camera access disables only the AI Hive Analysis feature. All other app features — hive inspections, harvest tracking, treatment logs, financial reports, and exports — continue to work normally without camera access.
Photo Library / Storage Access
BeeKeeper Pro may request access to your device storage to allow you to select an existing photo from your gallery for AI analysis, rather than taking a new photo. This permission is optional. We do not scan, index, or access any photos beyond the single image you explicitly select for analysis.
3. Information We Collect
Account Information
BeeKeeper Pro uses Google Sign-In for authentication, managed through Firebase Authentication. When you sign in, we receive from Google:
- Your Google account email address
- Your Google display name
- Your Google account profile photo URL (for display only)
- A unique Google account identifier (UID)
This information is used solely to identify your account, enable the partner-pairing feature, and enforce the two-user account limit. We do not use it for marketing, advertising, or any purpose other than operating the app.
Hive & Apiary Data
All hive records you create — inspections, harvests, treatments, queen logs, swarm events, weight entries, and task reminders — are stored locally on your device using an encrypted SQLite database. This data does not leave your device unless you:
- Use the Export feature to create a PDF or CSV file that you then choose to share
- Enable account pairing, in which case shared records sync through Firebase Firestore (see Section 8)
Usage & Crash Data
We may collect anonymous crash reports and performance diagnostics through Firebase Crashlytics to help us identify and fix bugs. This data does not include your hive records, personal information, or camera images. Crash reports may include device model, Android version, and a stack trace of the error.
4. Information We Do NOT Collect
To be explicit about our commitments:
- We do not collect precise GPS location data
- We do not sell your data to advertisers or data brokers
- We do not serve ads in the app
- We do not access your camera in the background
- We do not store hive analysis images on our servers
- We do not read your contacts, messages, or other apps
- We do not track your behavior across other apps or websites
5. Account & Authentication Data
Authentication is handled by Firebase Authentication (Google LLC). Your sign-in credentials are managed entirely by Google — BeeKeeper Pro never sees or stores your password.
BeeKeeper Pro enforces a maximum of two users per account. When a second user joins via a 6-character join code, both users' account UIDs are stored in a Firebase Firestore document to enforce this limit. Join codes expire after 24 hours.
To delete your account and all associated Firebase data, contact us at the address in Section 13. We will process deletion requests within 30 days.
6. AI Analysis & Third-Party Services
The AI Hive Analysis feature uses the Google Gemini 2.0 Flash API. When you submit a frame photo for analysis:
- The image is sent from your device to Google's Gemini API endpoint over HTTPS
- Gemini analyzes the image and returns a structured health assessment
- The result is displayed in the app and saved locally to your device
- Neither BeeKeeper Pro nor Google retains the image after the response is delivered
Third-party services used by BeeKeeper Pro:
| Service | Provider | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Authentication | Google LLC | User sign-in & identity | Email, display name, UID |
| Firebase Firestore | Google LLC | Account pairing sync | Account UIDs only (paired accounts) |
| Firebase Crashlytics | Google LLC | Anonymous crash reporting | Device model, OS version, stack trace |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash API | Google LLC | AI hive frame analysis | Frame photo (temporary, not stored) |
| Open-Meteo | Open-Meteo.com | Weather & inspection score | Latitude/longitude (default: Malvern, AR) |
| Google Play Billing | Google LLC | Subscription management | Purchase tokens (handled by Google Play) |
Each of these services is governed by Google's Privacy Policy (policies.google.com/privacy) or Open-Meteo's terms as applicable.
7. Data Storage & Offline Use
BeeKeeper Pro stores all hive data — inspections, queens, treatments, harvests, reminders, weight logs, and financial records — in an SQLite database on your device. This data:
- Is accessible only by the BeeKeeper Pro app on your device
- Is deleted if you uninstall the app (unless backed up via Android's automatic backup)
- Is never automatically uploaded to any server
- Remains fully functional with no internet connection
User preferences (theme, display settings) are stored using Android DataStore, also locally on your device.
8. Data Sharing & Account Pairing
We do not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise share your personal information with third parties for their own use.
Account Pairing (Partner Feature)
When you use the Partner Account feature to share your apiary with another user, a limited sync occurs through Firebase Firestore. Only your account's Google UID and your partner's UID are stored in Firestore to establish the pairing relationship. Your partner can view and edit shared hive records — choose your partner carefully, as this is an intentional sharing arrangement you control.
You can dissolve a partnership at any time within the app. Upon dissolution, the Firestore pairing document is deleted.
Exports You Choose to Share
When you export a PDF inspection report or CSV financial summary and choose to share it (via email, messaging apps, etc.), that data leaves the app under your control. BeeKeeper Pro has no visibility into where you send exported files.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BeeKeeper Pro, our users, or the public.
9. Children's Privacy
BeeKeeper Pro is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.
10. Your Rights & Choices
Access & Deletion
You may request access to the personal data we hold about you (your Google account email and UID associated with our Firebase project) or request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us at the address in Section 13.
Permissions You Can Revoke
| Permission | Used For | Impact if Revoked |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | AI Hive Analysis — taking frame photos | AI scan disabled; all other features unaffected |
| Storage / Photos | Selecting existing photos for AI analysis; saving PDF exports | Gallery-based AI scans and PDF saves disabled; all other features unaffected |
| Internet | Google Sign-In, AI analysis, weather score, partner sync | Online features disabled; full offline hive management continues |
| Notifications | Task reminders and treatment window alerts | Push notifications disabled; reminders still visible inside the app |
All permissions can be managed in Android Settings → Apps → BeeKeeper Pro → Permissions.
Opt Out of Crash Reporting
To opt out of anonymous crash reporting, contact us at the address below and we will provide instructions for disabling Crashlytics data collection on your device.
11. Security
We take reasonable technical measures to protect your information:
- All data transmitted between the app and Google services uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Firebase Authentication uses industry-standard OAuth 2.0 and token-based access
- Hive data stored on your device is protected by Android's standard app sandboxing
- Your API keys and credentials are never exposed in the app's public codebase
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you through the app. Your continued use of BeeKeeper Pro after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. The current version will always be available at beekeeperpro.app/privacy.html.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to request data deletion, or have a privacy concern, please contact us:
We will respond to privacy requests within 30 days.