Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

StepWorld is developed and operated by Skydea K.K., a company based in Japan. “Skydea Corporate Family” means Skydea’s subsidiaries, parent companies, joint ventures, and other entities under common ownership, and their agents and personnel acting on our behalf.

This policy applies whenever you use our Services. It describes what we collect, why, how we use and share it, the choices you have, and how we protect it.

2. Information we collect

We collect information in the following categories, depending on how you use the Services.

Account and profile information

When you create or use a StepWorld account, we may collect information such as your display name, profile photo, country or region (for leaderboards), and identifiers we assign to your account. If you sign in with Apple or another identity provider, we receive the information that provider shares with us according to your choices there (for example, a name and email address, or a private relay email).

Activity and social information

StepWorld is a social step tracker. We may collect and display information you generate while using social features, including friend connections, invitations, posts or reactions in feeds or boards, and contributions to daily, monthly, or country leaderboards (for example, aggregated step totals associated with your profile or country).

Device and technical information

We and our service providers may collect technical data such as device type, operating system version, app version, language, IP address, approximate location derived from IP, crash logs, diagnostics, and advertising or device identifiers where permitted by your device settings.

Website analytics

When you visit our website, we or providers acting on our behalf (such as analytics tools) may collect standard log and usage data, including pages viewed, referring URLs, and browser type, using cookies or similar technologies as described below.

Communications

If you contact us (for example by email), we collect the contact details and content you provide so we can respond and improve support.

Payment information

If you purchase StepWorld Pro or other paid features through the Apple App Store, Apple processes payment. We do not receive your full payment card details. We may receive non-sensitive purchase status information needed to unlock or manage entitlements (for example, that a subscription is active).

Contacts (optional)

If you choose to find or invite friends, you may grant access to contacts or share invite links. You are responsible for having permission to share another person’s contact details with us. We use this information to help you connect with others on StepWorld and do not use it for unrelated marketing.

3. Health and HealthKit data

StepWorld uses Apple HealthKit (and the Health app) so you can view step counts, walking distance, and active energy, including data recorded by your iPhone or Apple Watch. Access requires your explicit permission in iOS.

• HealthKit data is used to provide fitness and wellness features of the app (for example, showing your steps and enabling social or leaderboard features you choose to use).
• We do not use HealthKit data for advertising or marketing, and we do not sell HealthKit data.
• We do not share HealthKit data with third parties for their advertising. Sharing for social or leaderboard features only occurs as needed to operate those features (for example, displaying a step total on a board you participate in), consistent with Apple’s HealthKit rules and your settings.
• You can revoke Health access at any time in iOS Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices (or the equivalent on your device).

Step and related activity data can be sensitive. We treat it carefully and process it only for the purposes described in this policy.

4. How we use information

We use personal information to:

• provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Services;
• create and manage accounts and profiles;
• enable social features, friend connections, and leaderboards;
• personalize your experience within the app;
• process purchases and manage subscriptions or Pro features;
• provide customer support and respond to requests;
• monitor performance, fix bugs, and keep the Services secure;
• prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our terms;
• comply with law and enforce our agreements;
• send service-related notices (for example, security or policy updates). Marketing messages are sent only where allowed by law and your preferences, and you can opt out of promotional email as described below.

5. Legal bases (EEA, UK, and Switzerland)

Where applicable privacy laws require a legal basis, we rely on:

• Contract — to provide the Services you request (account, app features, purchases).
• Consent — for HealthKit access, certain device permissions, optional cookies/analytics where required, and marketing where consent is required. You may withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing.
• Legitimate interests — to secure and improve the Services, understand usage in aggregate, and communicate about the product, balanced against your rights.
• Legal obligation — when we must retain or disclose information to comply with law.

6. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information as follows:

Other users

Social and leaderboard features are designed so other users can see information you make available, such as your display name, profile photo, country association, and step or activity summaries shown on boards or feeds. Choose settings and content carefully.

Service providers

We use trusted vendors who process data on our behalf (for example hosting, analytics, crash reporting, email delivery, or customer support tools). They are allowed to use personal information only to perform services for us and must protect it appropriately.

Apple and platform partners

App distribution, HealthKit, Sign in with Apple, push notifications, and in-app purchases are mediated by Apple under Apple’s terms and privacy practices.

Legal, safety, and corporate events

We may disclose information if we believe in good faith that it is reasonably necessary to:

• comply with law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request;
• protect the rights, property, or safety of StepWorld, our users, or the public;
• detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues.

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this policy or a successor policy with equivalent protections. We will provide notice of a material change when required.

Aggregated or de-identified data

We may share aggregated or de-identified information that is not reasonably likely to identify you, for analytics, research, or business purposes.

7. Cookies and similar technologies

Our website may use cookies, local storage, pixels, or similar technologies to remember preferences, understand traffic, and improve the site. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect site functionality.

We do not currently respond to “Do Not Track” browser signals in a uniform way because there is no consistent industry standard. You can still use the controls described in this policy and your device or browser settings.

In the app, you can limit ad tracking and reset advertising identifiers in your device privacy settings. StepWorld does not use HealthKit data for advertising.

8. International transfers

Skydea K.K. is based in Japan. Information may be processed in Japan, the United States, or other countries where we or our service providers operate. Those countries may have privacy laws different from your home country.

When we transfer personal information from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland to countries that have not been recognized as providing an adequate level of protection, we use appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses (and UK or Swiss addenda where required), or another lawful transfer mechanism. You may contact us for more information about these safeguards.

9. How long we keep information

We retain personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, including to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Retention periods vary by data type. When information is no longer needed, we delete or de-identify it. Backup copies may persist for a limited time until rotated out of our systems.

10. Security

We implement administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Protect your device passcode and any account credentials. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us promptly through our contact form.

11. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, update, delete, or export personal information; to restrict or object to certain processing; to withdraw consent; and to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

How to exercise your rights

Contact us through our contact form with the subject “Privacy Request.” Tell us which right you want to exercise and enough information for us to verify your identity and locate your account (for example, the email associated with your StepWorld account). We will respond within the time required by applicable law (typically within 30 days, or sooner where required).

You can delete your account in the app (Settings → Delete Account), or contact us through our contact form with the subject “Delete My Account” and include your account email or other identifiers we can use to find your profile. Some records (for example support or transaction records) may be retained where legally required.

Marketing preferences

You can unsubscribe from promotional emails using the link in those messages. You may still receive transactional or service messages. Manage push notifications in your device settings.

California and similar U.S. state laws

If you are a resident of California or another U.S. state with comprehensive privacy law, you may have rights to know, access, correct, and delete personal information, and to opt out of certain “sales,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising as those terms are defined by law. We do not sell personal information for money. If we engage in activities that qualify as “sale” or “sharing” under those laws, you may request to opt out via our contact form. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

12. Children’s privacy

StepWorld is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where a higher age applies), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under those ages. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we will take steps to delete it as required by law, including the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) where applicable.

13. Third-party services

The Services may link to third-party websites, apps, or services (including Apple). Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. We are not responsible for those practices. Review their policies before providing information to them.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. For material changes, we will provide additional notice as appropriate (for example, an in-app notice, a notice on our website, or an email). Continued use of the Services after an update becomes effective means you accept the revised policy, except where applicable law requires a different standard (such as consent).

15. Contact us

For privacy questions, complaints, or requests, contact Skydea K.K., Win Aoyama Building UCF635, 2-2-15 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan, through our contact form.

You may also reach us through the channels listed on skydea.co.