RuggedIQ Privacy Policy
Last updated: 17 October 2026
Who is responsible
RuggedIQ is the developer and service brand responsible for the app and the optional report and support service described here. Contact RuggedIQ through https://ruggediq.com/app/support for app support, privacy questions or deletion requests. No RuggedIQ app account is required. The support form gives you a private reply link; keep it to read replies. Do not send passwords or other unnecessary sensitive information.
Information kept on your device
The app stores chat history and tool results, preferences, emergency contacts you enter, mission logs and recordings, downloaded models, maps and archives, and local search indexes. Camera images, microphone input, selected files, location and sensors support the features you choose. Offline AI runs locally when a compatible model is installed. The app does not automatically send your chats or photos to RuggedIQ for model training. Downloads and imported files are saved in app-owned storage. Files you originally copied elsewhere remain in those locations.
Optional AI response reports
When you tap Submit on an AI response report, you approve sending that selected response, your reason, optional notes, report ID and creation time over HTTPS to RuggedIQ. Your prompt, other chats, photos, location and device ID are not automatically attached. The app saves the report first and retries approved reports when chat opens or connectivity changes. A matching server receipt confirms delivery. Pending reports expire after 30 days and you can review or delete them in Privacy and support. Reports saved by an older local-only build require your approval before delivery. The app keeps up to 20 receipt IDs without response text so you can quote an ID in a privacy request. RuggedIQ retains received reports for up to 90 days to review safety and quality issues, then deletes them. The service receives your network IP while processing the request; its abuse controls keep a keyed IP hash, not the raw address. Do not include another person’s private information.
Connected features and outside services
Connected features send requests to their providers, which can see your IP address and the requested data. Weather forecasts use MET Norway and send coordinates rounded to four decimal places. Weather is modelled information and is not a guaranteed warning service. Live radar is unavailable in the public release. A separately enabled nonrelease personal preview can contact RainViewer for the viewed area. Online maps can request tiles from OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap and NASA GIBS; these requests reveal the area viewed. Satellite overview uses NASA Earth Observatory Blue Marble, a historical 2004 composite at 500 m resolution, through NASA GIBS/ESDIS. It is an overview rather than current or detailed navigation imagery. Explicit online place search and reverse geocoding send your search terms, selected coordinates and optional nearby location through RuggedIQ’s HTTPS service to OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Typed suggestions use the on-device place database. RuggedIQ caches anonymous search requests, coordinates and returned public-place results for up to seven days to reduce upstream requests; these cache records are not linked to an account or device ID. Coordinates rounded to four decimal places can still identify a precise location. Online routing uses a public Valhalla service and sends route endpoints. Online knowledge search sends search terms to DuckDuckGo and Wikipedia. Downloads contact their source host, including Hugging Face, Kiwix or BBBike. These providers handle request data under their own policies. Downloaded content can be used offline after installation; a download itself requires a connection.
Communication and sharing
Nearby messages, voice and distress coordinates can be sent to connected devices through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or local networks. Nearby Connections uses Google Play services, which may collect usage diagnostics, performance information and device or app metadata depending on Android Usage and diagnostics settings. An SOS text opens your messaging app as a draft; you choose whether to send it. A sent message, recipient number and included location are handled by your messaging provider and recipient. Audio passed to your device’s speech recognition service may be processed over a network according to that service’s settings. External links open in your browser.
Permissions and file access
Location supports maps, weather, navigation, nearby discovery and distress functions. Camera supports Bio-Scan and camera tools. Microphone supports voice input, sound tools and push-to-talk. Bluetooth and nearby Wi-Fi support peer communications. The public Play build uses Android’s picker to import the files or folders you select and does not request all-files or broad media access. A separately distributed private field build may offer optional shared phone and SD-card discovery after you grant Android file access. Android still protects other apps’ private files. You can deny or change permissions in Android settings; related features may then be unavailable.
Support, retention and privacy requests
The optional support form sends the message you enter to RuggedIQ. You do not have to provide an email address. A private, unguessable ticket link lets you read and add replies. Treat that link as a password. Support records are retained for up to 90 days after the latest message. Use the support form for a deletion or access request and include your report ID or private ticket link when relevant; do not include unrelated chat history. Only authorized RuggedIQ operators can review reports and support records. Content-free review and deletion audit events are kept for up to 90 days. Operational web metadata and keyed-IP abuse records are kept for up to seven days; private ticket pages do not write access logs. No advertising SDK or cross-app advertising tracking is included in this app.
Security and local deletion
Android app storage controls protect app-private data. Public report and support connections use HTTPS. Do not assume SD-card files or all peer messages are encrypted. Delete chats, mission logs and downloaded files using the app’s corresponding controls. You can delete pending reports here and remove app data through Android settings. Uninstalling normally removes app-owned internal and external folders, including app-owned SD folders; files outside these folders may remain and must be deleted separately. Deleting local data does not delete a report already received by RuggedIQ or data held by another provider or recipient. Use the support form for RuggedIQ-held records and contact other providers for their records.
Children, safety and changes
RuggedIQ is intended for adult field users. Its AI can be wrong. Identification, first-aid and reference results are general information, not a reliable way to decide whether a plant or mushroom is edible, diagnose a condition or replace qualified help. Avoid putting children’s personal information into reports or support requests. This policy is updated when features, providers or practices change; the current date appears above. The offline policy remains readable without a connection.