Privacy Policy

Your Data, Your Trust: Our Commitment to Privacy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Appsicle ("the App," "we," "us," or "our"), a Shopify application provided by Appsicle, collects, uses, stores, and discloses information from and about you when you install or use our App on your Shopify store. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in a transparent and secure manner. By installing and using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information in connection with your use of the App:

2.1 Information Collected from Your Shopify Store (via Shopify API)

Shop Name and Domain: To identify your store and provide our services.
Shopify Store ID: A unique identifier for your store.
Billing Information: As handled by Shopify for app subscriptions and charges. We do not directly process or store your credit card details.
Installation/Uninstallation Dates: To manage your app subscription and service provision.

2.2 Information Collected from Your Instagram Account (via Meta API)

When you authorize Appsicle to connect to your Instagram account, we collect specific data necessary for the App's functionality:

Instagram Basic Display API Token: This token allows us to retrieve your Instagram content. We store this securely.
Instagram User ID: Your unique Instagram profile identifier.
Public Instagram Profile Information: This may include your Instagram username, profile picture, and display name.
Your Instagram Media: This includes your public photos and videos (and associated captions, timestamps, and permalinks) that you choose to display on your Shopify store.
Instagram Account Type: To determine if it's a Business or Creator account for API compatibility.

We only access the data required to display your Instagram feed on your Shopify store. We do not access private messages, sensitive personal details not related to your public profile, or other data beyond what's essential for the App's stated purpose.

2.3 Information You Provide Directly

Contact Information: If you contact us for support or inquiries (e.g., via email, contact form), we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
App Preferences: Settings and configurations you apply within the App (e.g., feed layout choices, number of posts to display).

2.4 Automatically Collected Information (Usage Data)

When you use the App, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns:

Device Information: Such as device type, operating system, browser type.
Log Data: Including IP address, access times, pages viewed, and other app usage statistics. This data is primarily used for debugging, monitoring app performance, and improving our services.
Cookies and Similar Technologies: We may use cookies or similar technologies to maintain your session, remember preferences, and analyze app usage. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

To Provide and Maintain the App: To operate, deliver, and continuously improve the Instagram feed display service on your Shopify store. This includes fetching and rendering your Instagram media.
To Personalize Your Experience: To allow you to customize your Instagram feed settings and preferences.
For Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries, provide technical assistance, and troubleshoot issues.
For Analytics and Improvement: To understand how the App is used, identify trends, and analyze user behavior (often in an aggregated and anonymized form) to enhance features and performance.
For Billing and Account Management: To process your app subscriptions and charges through Shopify.
To Comply with Legal Obligations: To meet applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests.
To Enforce Terms: To enforce our Terms of Service and protect our rights.

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Shopify: As necessary for the App to function within the Shopify ecosystem, including billing and app installation/uninstallation notifications.
With Meta Platforms, Inc. (Instagram): Directly via API for fetching your authorized Instagram content. Your interaction with Instagram through our App is subject to Instagram's own privacy policies.
With Third-Party Service Providers: We use trusted third-party companies to perform functions on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, and customer support. These providers have access to personal information only to perform their specific tasks and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose. Examples may include:
- Hosting providers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)
- Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel - ensuring data is anonymized where possible)
- Email/Support platforms (e.g., Zendesk, Intercom)
For Legal Reasons: If required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we reasonably believe that such action is necessary to (a) comply with a legal obligation, (b) protect and defend our rights or property, (c) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the App, or (d) protect the personal safety of users of the App or the public.
Business Transfers: In connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

5. Data Security

We implement robust technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include, but are not limited to, encryption, access controls, secure server infrastructure, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. This typically means we retain your data for the duration of your active subscription to the App and for a reasonable period thereafter to facilitate re-activation or address support queries, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Upon uninstallation of the App, we will de-authenticate your Instagram account and cease accessing your Instagram data. Stored Instagram access tokens will be deleted within [e.g., 30 days] of uninstallation. Shopify store data will be retained as necessary for billing and record-keeping purposes.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable data protection laws (such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California), you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right to Access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data that we hold.
Right to Rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or complete information you believe is incomplete.
Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): You have the right to request that we erase your personal data under certain conditions. This can typically be achieved by uninstalling the App and requesting data deletion.
Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
Right to Withdraw Consent: Where our processing is based on your consent (e.g., Instagram authorization), you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. You can withdraw Instagram authorization by revoking access in your Instagram/Facebook settings or by uninstalling our App.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable laws.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your data protection rights have been violated.

8. Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and you become aware that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Revised" date. We will also notify you via email or through a prominent notice on the App, prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:

Email: contact@appsicle.net

Last Revised: June 12, 2025