About this policy

WatchMate is provided by Andrew Roland, based in the UK (“we”, “us”).

 

For privacy questions or requests, contact support@andrewroland.net.

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This policy explains how personal information is handled when you use the WatchMate app and its widgets, connect other services, share programme lists, or contact us.

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How WatchMate works

WatchMate helps you organise television programmes, track episodes, find streaming availability, and share viewing progress. Your library is stored on your device. Connected features communicate with Trakt, The Movie Database (TMDB), and Apple’s iCloud services.

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We do not operate a central WatchMate server that receives your viewing library. The app contains no advertising or third-party analytics SDK, does not use the advertising identifier, and does not sell your personal information or use it for targeted advertising. This does not prevent the services you connect to from receiving the information needed to provide their features.

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Information used by the app

Your library and preferences. WatchMate stores programme and episode identifiers, followed or hidden shows, watched dates, skipped episodes, programme notes, reminder choices, your selected streaming region and services, and app preferences. This information supports your library, progress calculations, reminders and offline display. Your streaming region is a choice you make; WatchMate does not request your device’s location.

 

Trakt connection. If you connect Trakt, WatchMate receives an account identifier and access credentials, and retrieves your watchlist and viewing history. Searches are sent to Trakt. Adding shows and marking or unmarking watched episodes can update your Trakt account. Trakt receives the relevant programme or episode identifiers and, where applicable, watched dates. Your Trakt privacy settings govern visibility within Trakt.

 

You sign in through Trakt’s authentication interface. WatchMate does not receive or store your Trakt password. It stores access and refresh tokens in your device’s Keychain so it can keep your connection working.

 

Programme details and streaming availability. WatchMate requests programme details, images and streaming-provider information from TMDB and its image service. These requests include relevant programme or episode identifiers and, for regional availability, your selected country or region. Streaming listings supplied through TMDB include information powered by JustWatch. WatchMate does not send your Trakt access token to TMDB.

 

Private iCloud synchronisation. When you use a connected library and iCloud is available, WatchMate uses your Apple Account’s private CloudKit storage to synchronise followed and hidden shows, skipped episodes, personal programme notes, reminder settings, viewing preferences and your optional profile photo. Account identifiers and synchronisation records help keep different accounts separate and reconcile changes between devices. Private preferences are not automatically shared with other WatchMate users.

 

Shared Shows. If you create or join a shared list, its name, programmes, shared viewing progress and dates, skipped episodes, shared notes and optional list photo are stored in CloudKit and made available to authorised participants. Records also contain identifiers needed to associate contributions and ownership; Apple’s sharing interface may show participant identity information. A shared-list photo may appear in the invitation preview. Only share content you want participants to access.

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Shared watched/unwatched actions also update the acting person’s connected Trakt history when “Shared Shows update Trakt history” is enabled. This setting is enabled by default and can be changed in Settings. A separate full-history import asks for confirmation. Other participants may retain information they have already viewed or copied after sharing ends.

 

Photos and camera. Adding a profile or list photo is optional. The system photo picker provides the photo you select; WatchMate does not browse your entire photo library. Camera access is requested only when you choose to take a photo. The app crops and resizes the selected image for use as an avatar. Profile photos can sync through private iCloud storage; list photos are shared with that list’s participants. WatchMate does not use photos for facial recognition.

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Widgets and notifications. Widgets access a local snapshot shared with the app, including relevant programmes, episode progress and shared-list names. Widget actions can update your library and connected services. Reminders are scheduled through Apple’s local notification system. Programme and episode names may be visible on your Home Screen or in notifications, depending on your device settings.

 

Network information. Contacting an online service necessarily exposes your IP address and ordinary connection information to that service and its infrastructure providers. Requests can also reveal which programmes or images you are requesting. Providers handle their own logs under their policies.

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Support, diagnostics and purchases

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If you contact us, we receive your email address, message and any attachments or diagnostic information you choose to provide. We use these to respond, investigate problems and handle privacy requests. Please avoid sending passwords, access tokens or unnecessary personal information.

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Apple may make app diagnostics, crash reports, usage summaries or TestFlight feedback available to us under Apple’s settings and terms. These are separate from an analytics SDK embedded in WatchMate. We use information made available to us to understand and resolve problems.

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If optional tips are offered in your version of WatchMate, Apple processes the purchase. The app receives transaction information needed to verify and complete it. We do not receive your payment-card details.

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Why information is processed

 

Where UK or European data-protection law applies, our intended legal bases are:

• Providing the service you request: processing necessary to deliver your library and the connected, synchronised or shared features you choose, as part of our agreement with you.

• Legitimate interests: responding to support enquiries, maintaining security and diagnosing faults, subject to your rights and interests.

• Consent: where we specifically ask for consent to optional processing. You can withdraw that consent without affecting processing that was lawful before withdrawal.

• Legal obligations: responding to valid legal requirements and keeping records where the law requires it.

 

Device permission prompts also let you control access to features such as the camera and notifications. Declining optional access does not prevent you from using unrelated features. Without a Trakt connection, personal Trakt history and account updates are unavailable; demo mode remains available. Without iCloud, cloud synchronisation and sharing are unavailable.

 

We do not use your information to make solely automated decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.

 

Retention, disconnection and deletion

 

Your local library remains on your device while you use WatchMate. Cached information may be refreshed or replaced. Some preferences, account-specific synchronisation journals and shared-list caches have no automatic expiry and can remain until the app’s stored data is removed. They help restore settings and retry interrupted changes.

 

“Disconnect & clear local viewing data” removes WatchMate’s stored Trakt tokens and clears the current local programme library. It stops that connection, but it is not a complete deletion of all WatchMate data: some preferences, photos, caches and pending synchronisation records can remain. It does not delete your Trakt account, Trakt history or CloudKit records. Reconnecting may restore saved information.

 

You can edit or clear notes, remove photos, change viewing preferences, and use sharing controls to manage participation and access where your role permits. Changes require a successful sync to reach other devices. Removing a shared programme marks it as removed; underlying synchronisation records may remain in CloudKit rather than being immediately erased. The current app does not offer a single command that permanently erases every local and cloud record.

 

To remove local app data, use your device’s app-deletion controls rather than offloading the app. Do not assume this deletes cloud records, backups, shared copies or Keychain credentials; disconnect first to remove the Trakt credentials stored by WatchMate. Manage or revoke connected-app access and request account/history deletion through Trakt. Manage available iCloud storage and backup controls through Apple. Contact us for help identifying remaining WatchMate data and the available deletion routes; we cannot directly delete your Trakt or Apple Account for you.

 

Support correspondence is retained for 30 days after an issue is closed. Diagnostic information available through Apple is subject to Apple’s retention controls; copies we retain are kept for 30 days. Any legally required records are retained for the applicable legal period. Third-party services and backups have their own retention and deletion rules.

 

Service providers, websites and international processing

 

Apple, Trakt and TMDB handle information needed to provide their respective services. Their processing may take place outside your country. Their own privacy notices describe their practices, storage locations and applicable safeguards:

• Apple Privacy Policy

• Trakt Privacy Policy

• TMDB Privacy Policy

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Opening external links, including IMDb or streaming-service links, takes you to services governed by their own policies.

 

We may disclose information we actually hold where required by law or where necessary and lawful to protect people’s rights or security. This does not give us access to data stored only on your device or private accounts.

 

Security and your rights

 

WatchMate uses HTTPS for its service requests, device Keychain storage for Trakt credentials, and Apple’s access controls for CloudKit sharing. No system can guarantee absolute security. Protect your device and accounts, and choose shared-list participants carefully.

 

Depending on your location and the applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct or erase personal information, restrict or object to processing, obtain a portable copy, and withdraw consent where processing relies on it. These rights have conditions and exceptions. Contact support@andrewroland.net to make a request. We may need enough information to verify your identity, but will not ask for your account password. We will respond within the applicable legal time limits and explain when a request needs to be directed to Apple, Trakt or another service.

 

You may also complain to your local data-protection authority. In the United Kingdom, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office.

 

Changes to this policy

 

We will update this page when our practices change and revise the effective date. Where required, we will give additional notice or seek consent before using personal information for a materially different purpose.