Legal
Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how Zulu Technology LLC ("Zulu Technology," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects information when you use the MileShield mobile application ("MileShield" or the "App"). MileShield is a mileage and expense tracking application designed for independent contractors, including rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, and other self-employed workers who file IRS Schedule C.
By using MileShield, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
2. Our Privacy-First Architecture
MileShield is built differently from other mileage trackers. Your data is stored on your device, not on our servers.
Specifically:
- Your shifts, mileage, payouts, and receipts are stored locally on your iPhone.
- If you choose to back up your data, it syncs through your personal iCloud account, governed by Apple's privacy policy. We do not have access to your iCloud backups.
- We do not maintain a database of your personal information, your driving history, your earnings, or your tax records.
- The one exception is anonymous, aggregate totals — such as the combined miles and deductions tracked across all users — which we keep to understand the App's overall impact. These are running sums only. They contain no identifier and cannot be linked to you, your device, or your individual records. See Section 3.4.
- We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with advertisers or data brokers.
This means that even if Zulu Technology were compelled by a third party to produce your data, we generally cannot, because we do not possess it.
3. Information We Collect
Despite our on-device architecture, certain limited categories of information are necessarily processed for the App to function:
3.1 Information Stored On Your Device
The following data is created and stored locally on your iPhone. We do not transmit it to our servers:
- Location data: GPS coordinates collected during active shifts to calculate mileage for tax deduction purposes. Background location is collected only when you have an active shift.
- Shift records: Start and end times, platforms worked (e.g., Uber, DoorDash), miles driven.
- Payout entries: Gross payout amounts you manually enter at the end of each shift.
- Receipt images and metadata: Photos of receipts you choose to capture, plus the dollar amount and category you assign to them.
- Settings and preferences: Your tax bracket selection, mileage deduction method, platforms, and other in-app configuration.
3.2 Information Processed by Third Parties
Limited information is processed by third-party services we use to provide specific features. These are described in Section 6.
3.3 Information We Do Not Collect
To be explicit, MileShield does not collect:
- Advertising identifiers (IDFA)
- Contacts, photos outside of receipts you actively capture, or other device data
- Bank account, credit card, or financial account credentials
- Social Security Numbers or other tax identifiers
- Browsing history or app usage data outside of MileShield
3.4 Anonymous Aggregate Statistics
To understand how much MileShield helps drivers in total, the App periodically sends anonymous, aggregate figures to a Cloudflare Worker we operate — specifically, incremental counts of miles tracked, estimated deductions, shifts recorded, and Schedule C exports.
These are transmitted as numbers only, with no identifier of any kind: no name, no email, no device identifier, no advertising identifier, no account, and no timestamp tied to your activity. They are combined into a single running total across all users and cannot be traced back to you, your device, or your individual records. We use these totals solely to measure the App's overall impact (for example, "X million miles tracked") and for internal and business reporting. This data is never used for tracking or advertising, is never sold, and is never linked to your identity.
4. How We Use Your Information
The information stored on your device is used solely to:
- Track and calculate business miles for tax deduction purposes
- Generate IRS Schedule C-formatted reports for your tax filing
- Display your tax shield, quarterly tax estimates, and earnings history
- Categorize and store receipts you capture
- Sync your data across your own devices via your iCloud account
Separately, the anonymous aggregate totals described in Section 3.4 are used only to measure the App's overall impact and for business reporting. We do not use any of your information to build advertising profiles, train machine learning models, or for any commercial purpose other than providing the App's functionality to you.
5. Location Data: Special Disclosures
Because MileShield uses background location to track shift mileage, additional disclosures apply:
- When we collect it: GPS location is collected only when you have started a shift in the App. When no shift is active, no location tracking occurs.
- Where it goes: Location data is recorded directly to your device's local storage. It is not transmitted to Zulu Technology, and it is never part of the anonymous aggregate totals in Section 3.4.
- What we use it for: Calculating total miles driven during a shift, and producing the mileage figure used in your Schedule C export.
- How to disable it: You may disable background location at any time through your iPhone's Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → MileShield. Disabling location will require you to enter mileage manually.
6. Third-Party Services
MileShield uses the following third-party services. Each is described with the data it processes and its purpose:
6.1 Cloudflare Workers (Receipt OCR and Aggregate Stats)
When you capture a receipt photo, the image is sent to a Cloudflare Worker we operate to extract text (vendor name, amount, date) using optical character recognition. The image is processed and the extracted text is returned to your device. We do not retain receipt images after processing.
The same Cloudflare infrastructure receives the anonymous aggregate totals described in Section 3.4 — numbers only, with no identifier.
Cloudflare's privacy policy: cloudflare.com/privacypolicy
6.2 Anthropic (Receipt Text Extraction)
The receipt image forwarded by our Cloudflare Worker is processed by Anthropic's Claude model to read the merchant, total, and date. The image is used only to return that text and is not retained by us for that purpose. No identifier of yours is attached to the request.
Anthropic's privacy policy: anthropic.com/legal/privacy
6.3 RevenueCat (Subscription Management)
If you subscribe to MileShield Pro, RevenueCat processes your subscription status, purchase history, and a randomly generated user identifier. RevenueCat does not receive your name, email, or financial account details — Apple handles payment processing directly under their own privacy policy. RevenueCat is used to verify entitlement to Pro features across your devices.
RevenueCat's privacy policy: revenuecat.com/privacy
6.4 Apple
Apple processes your subscription payments through the App Store. We never see your payment method or billing details. Apple's handling of your information is governed by Apple's privacy policy: apple.com/legal/privacy
7. Data Retention
Because data is stored on your device, retention is largely under your control:
- Free tier users: Receipt images and historical data are stored locally indefinitely. Cloud backup features are limited to the most recent 30 days of activity.
- Pro tier users: Unlimited iCloud backup is available, retained for as long as your subscription is active or until you delete the data from your device.
- Anonymous aggregate totals: The running sums in Section 3.4 are retained indefinitely as combined figures. Because they contain no identifier, they cannot be attributed to, or deleted for, any individual user.
- Deletion: You may delete your data at any time by deleting the App from your device. This permanently removes all locally stored data. iCloud backups are governed by your own iCloud retention settings.
8. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you reside, you may have the following rights:
8.1 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information is collected about you
- Request deletion of personal information
- Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share your data)
- Limit use of sensitive personal information (we do not use sensitive personal information for purposes beyond providing the App)
- Non-discrimination for exercising your rights
Because most data is stored on your device and not by us, the practical exercise of these rights is typically achieved by deleting the App or removing data from within the App. The anonymous aggregate totals in Section 3.4 are not personal information, as they cannot be associated with any individual. For requests we can fulfill on our end (such as deleting any account data held by RevenueCat for subscription verification), contact us at info@mileshield.app.
8.2 Other U.S. State Residents
Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws (including Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, and others) have similar rights. We extend the rights described above to all U.S. users regardless of state.
8.3 International Users
MileShield is intended for use by U.S. taxpayers filing IRS Schedule C. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that the App may not be appropriate for your tax jurisdiction.
9. Children's Privacy
MileShield is intended for adults engaged in independent contractor work and is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 (or under 16 in jurisdictions that apply that age). If you believe a minor has provided information to us, contact us at info@mileshield.app and we will take appropriate action.
10. Security
We implement reasonable security practices for the information processed by our systems:
- Cloudflare Worker traffic is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
- Subscription data is handled by RevenueCat under their security framework
- We follow Apple's recommended practices for storing sensitive data on iOS devices
However, no system is completely secure. Because most of your data lives on your device, your iPhone's lock screen, biometric protection, and iCloud account security are the primary safeguards.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify users through the App and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of MileShield after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, contact:
Zulu Technology LLC
Email: info@mileshield.app
We respond to verifiable privacy requests within 45 days as required by applicable law.