Frequently asked questions about Maplyx

The answers come straight from mechanisms running in the app — the same sentences appear in the Privacy Center and in your account settings.

How long do you keep my location?

A stale pin disappears from the map and the nearby list about 30 minutes after the last update, and the position record itself is deleted from the database within 72 hours — sooner if you clear it with one click in the Privacy Center. Fixes with accuracy ≥ 2000 m (typical of "by-IP" positions) are rejected outright. Of your location data, there is exactly one thing we keep indefinitely: the invisibility-zone point you mark yourself, if you turn the zone on — because the protection has to work tomorrow as well. It disappears when you remove the zone or delete your account.

Does Maplyx record my route history?

Of MEASUREMENTS we store only one, the latest — every update overwrites the previous one. No route history or movement log exists in our database, so there is nothing to steal, sell or be forced to hand over. The only permanent piece of place data comes from your own decision: by turning on the invisibility zone you mark a single point that we store permanently (rounded to a grid of about a hundred metres) so the protection also works tomorrow. That is your declaration, not our measurement — you delete it with one click.

Who can see my position on the map?

A new account is invisible on the map — you only appear once you decide to. Visibility has three states (everyone / friends only / invisible) enforced on the server: other people's positions are reachable solely through a database function that filters by your setting, and direct reads of the position table are limited to your own row. In "everyone" mode, people who are not your friends see your position only approximately (~1 km) — the exact location is revealed only to mutual friends.

How do I add friends — do I have to share my phone number?

A friendship is created only through an invite and acceptance — without acceptance the relationship does not exist in the database. Adding uses a random MPLX code you can rotate anytime (with an attempt limit that hinders guessing) — you never share your email or phone number.

What happens to the photos I upload?

Uploaded photos first go to private storage and are published only after a moderator approves them — you cannot self-publish a file to public storage. Before publication we strip EXIF metadata, including the GPS position — a published photo does not reveal where it was taken.

Does Maplyx show ads or sell my data?

We show no ads, we do not sell your data and we use no third-party analytics — no external advertising or analytics SDK is active in Maplyx. In the web app this is enforced by our content security policy (CSP): connections only to our server, our database and the map provider. Product statistics are aggregate counters on our own server — no location, no message content, no profiling and nothing shared with anyone. No advertising cookies — which is why we do not nag you with a cookie banner.

How do I download my data or delete my account?

You can download a copy of your data with one click (JSON + readable HTML, once every 24 h), clear your position instantly, and permanently delete your account from within the app — with no need to write to support. Some categories (e.g. messages) are capped in the download: it carries the most recent items and their full count, and we provide the rest on request. GDPR requests (Art. 15–21) are filed via a form in the Privacy Center.

How do you protect against fake accounts?

Disposable ("throwaway") email domains are blocked at sign-up, and a new account requires email confirmation. This raises the cost of creating fake accounts.

Are there bots on the map?

Sign-up is protected by a CAPTCHA, and when there is a suspicious number of accounts from a single network address we ask for extra verification — without blocking real users. IP addresses are pseudonymized and stored only briefly in the process.

What about offensive content?

Nicknames, profile descriptions, event content and messages pass through a profanity filter — making offensive or spammy content on the map and in chats harder.

Can a banned account come back?

Accounts banned for breaking the rules cannot simply sign up again with the same address — the ban also covers re-registration.

Does a moderator review every photo?

Uploaded photos first go to private storage and are published only after a moderator approves them — you cannot self-publish a file to public storage. Before publication we strip their EXIF metadata, including the GPS position.

How much does Maplyx cost?

Maplyx is free. The app has no payment path at all — no subscription, no in-app purchases and no premium tier.

What does Maplyx run on?

Maplyx runs in the browser as a PWA (installable on desktop and phone) and as a native Android app. An iOS version is in preparation.

What is the minimum age to use Maplyx?

Maplyx is intended solely for adults. At sign-up you declare that you are at least 18 years old.