Privacy Policy

Where's The Loo? · Last updated 20 July 2026

This page explains what information Where's The Loo? collects, how it's used, and the choices you have. The app is built and maintained by an independent solo developer. There's no company behind it, just one person trying to do right by the people using it.

1. Overview

Where's The Loo? is a UK public toilet finder app. It's built around one simple principle: collect as little personal data as possible, and never sell or share data for advertising. The sections below explain exactly what is, and isn't, collected.

2. Information we collect

2.1 Location data

With your permission, the app uses your device's live location to show your position on the map and to find toilets near you. This is processed entirely on your device. It's used to search a toilet database stored locally in the app, and your live location is never transmitted to or stored on our servers. You can turn off location access at any time in your device's Settings, though features like "find nearest toilet" won't work without it.

This is separate from the map coordinates you choose yourself when suggesting a new toilet location, which are sent to our servers. See 2.4 below.

The map itself is powered by Apple's MapKit, which may handle location data according to Apple's own privacy practices. We don't control or have access to this.

2.2 Bookmarks

If you bookmark a toilet, it's saved only on your own device using Apple's local storage. Bookmarks are never sent to our servers and aren't visible to us.

2.3 App settings

Preferences such as distance units, pin size, and accessibility options are stored only on your device and are never transmitted anywhere.

2.4 Feedback, reports, and toilet suggestions

If you submit feedback, report an issue with an existing toilet, or suggest a new toilet location by long-pressing the map, we collect:

This information is sent securely to our database provider, and we receive an automated email notification so reports and suggestions can be reviewed. It's used only for reviewing your feedback and, where contact details are provided, responding to it. Suggested locations are manually reviewed before being added to the toilet database. Nothing you submit is shown publicly or to other users of the app.

2.5 Star ratings

If you rate a toilet using the star rating feature, we store the rating itself alongside the same anonymous device identifier described above. This is used to keep one rating per device per toilet (re-rating updates your existing rating rather than adding a new one) and to apply a basic rate limit that helps prevent automated abuse.

Individual ratings and device identifiers are never made publicly accessible. Only an aggregated average and total count per toilet are ever exposed, computed automatically and never tied back to any individual rating, device, or person. Your own rating is remembered locally on your device so the app can show your selection, rather than being retrieved from our servers.

3. Information we don't collect

We don't use third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking tools. We don't require account creation or sign-in. We don't collect or have access to your contacts, photos, microphone, camera, or anything beyond what's described above.

4. How we share information

We don't sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing or advertising. We use the following service providers to operate the app:

Each provider processes data only as necessary to provide their service to us, and is bound by their own privacy and security practices.

5. Where our toilet data comes from

The toilet location and facility information in the app is sourced from the Great British Public Toilet Map (GBPTM), an open, community-maintained dataset. This is public information about toilet facilities, not personal data about you.

6. Data retention

We retain feedback and report submissions for as long as reasonably necessary to review and act on them. You can ask us to delete a report you've submitted by emailing us with enough detail to identify it.

7. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights under data protection law, such as the UK GDPR or EU GDPR, including the right to:

Because most feedback is submitted with only an anonymous device identifier rather than personal details, we may only be able to locate and act on a request if you provided contact details with your original report, or can describe it in enough detail for us to find it. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. If you're in the UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

8. Children's privacy

Where's The Loo? is a general-purpose utility app and isn't directed at children. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children.

9. Security

We take reasonable measures to protect the information described in this policy, including relying on industry-standard security practices provided by our service providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we can't guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time, for example as new features are added to the app. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent changes. Continued use of the app after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact us

Questions about this policy, or want to exercise your rights?

whereisthedeveloper@gmail.com