PRIVACY POLICY
SHUTTERSLUG BUG — PRIVACY POLICY
Slug Bug Media LLC · Last updated: May 14, 2026

ShutterSlug Bug is a real-world Volkswagen Beetle photography game. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it. We are committed to transparency and to providing a safe experience for all players.

TRADEMARK NOTICE

ShutterSlug Bug is an independent game produced by Slug Bug Media LLC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries. "Volkswagen," "Beetle," "Bug," and related marks are trademarks of Volkswagen AG, used herein nominatively for purposes of identification only.

1. Who We Are

ShutterSlug Bug is operated by Slug Bug Media LLC, based in Portland, Oregon, USA.

For privacy questions contact us at: privacy@shutterslugbug.com

2. What Data We Collect

Account Information
Your email address and username chosen at registration. Your display name and home city if provided.
Location Data
GPS coordinates are captured at the time of each Beetle catch, flag registration, and territory capture. Location is used solely for gameplay verification. We do not track your location in real time or outside of active gameplay actions.
Photos
Images you submit for AI scoring are uploaded to our servers and analyzed by Anthropic Claude. Approved catches may appear publicly on leaderboards and the Slug Feed. You retain ownership of photos you submit.
Device Information
Browser type, operating system, and approximate timezone. Used for fraud prevention, anti-cheat detection, and aggregate analytics. We also read EXIF metadata from submitted photos solely to verify that images were taken on a live camera at the time of submission and not downloaded from the internet.
Payment Information
All payments are processed by Stripe. We never receive, store, or have access to your card number or banking details. See Section 5 for details.
Gameplay Data
Catch history, points, rivalries, team affiliations, territory records, capture history, and taunt activity. This data powers the game experience and public leaderboards.

3. How We Use Your Data

Game Functionality
Location data verifies physical proximity for Capture the Flag captures and flag registration. EXIF timestamps verify that photos are freshly taken and not sourced from the internet.
AI Scoring
Photos are transmitted to Anthropic Claude to identify Beetle generation, condition, artistic composition, and to confirm the image is a real camera photograph of an actual Volkswagen Beetle. Photos are not used to train AI models.
Leaderboards and Feed
Your username, points, catch count, rarity badges, and submitted photos may be displayed publicly within the game to other players.
Push Notifications and Email
We may contact you for gameplay alerts including rivalry challenges, flag captures, taunt notifications, and account security notices. You may opt out of non-essential notifications in your profile settings.
Analytics
We use aggregate and anonymized usage data to improve the game. We do not sell, rent, or share personal data with third parties for advertising purposes.

4. Player Communication & Safety

Taunt System

ShutterSlug Bug includes a competitive taunt feature that allows players to send short messages to rivals after scoring a catch or capturing a territory.

All taunts are preset and selected from a fixed library approved by Slug Bug Media LLC. Players cannot compose, type, or send custom text messages to other players through the taunt system.

This design is intentional. It allows competitive expression while eliminating the possibility of harassment, hate speech, personal attacks, or inappropriate contact between players. No free-form text communication between players exists anywhere in the app.

Minors and Parental Guidance

ShutterSlug Bug is intended for players aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has created an account, please contact us at privacy@shutterslugbug.com and we will promptly delete the account and all associated data.

For players aged 13 to 17 we recommend parental awareness of the following:

→The game requires GPS access during active gameplay sessions to verify Beetle catches and territory captures. Location is not tracked continuously.
→Player usernames and catch photos may be visible to other players on public leaderboards and the Slug Feed.
→The game includes in-app purchases for cosmetic items, team creation, and a Tuned Up Monthly Pass. Parental controls should be configured on the device to manage purchase permissions.
→All player-to-player communication is limited to preset taunt messages. No direct messaging, chat, or custom text communication exists in the app.

We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States and applicable international regulations regarding the privacy of minors.

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services. Each operates under its own privacy policy which we encourage you to review.

Anthropic AI
Used for Beetle photo scoring and validation. Photos are transmitted to Anthropic's API for analysis. anthropic.com/privacy
Stripe
Payment processing for team creation, store purchases, and Tuned Up Monthly Pass subscriptions. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant. We never receive or store your payment card details. stripe.com/privacy
Stadia Maps
Map tiles and location services for the territory map feature. stadiamaps.com/privacy-policy
DiceBear
Generates avatar images from your username as a seed string. No personally identifiable information beyond the username string is transmitted. dicebear.com/legal

6. Data Security

We use industry-standard encryption for data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest. Payment data is handled entirely by Stripe and never passes through our servers. We regularly review our security practices to protect your information.

Despite our efforts no system is completely secure. In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information we will notify affected users within 72 hours as required by applicable law.

7. Your Rights & Data Deletion

Depending on your location you may have the right to:

→Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
→Request deletion of your account and all associated data
→Correct inaccurate information in your profile
→Object to processing of your data for analytics purposes
→Data portability where applicable
→Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise any of these rights email us at: privacy@shutterslugbug.com

We will respond within 30 days. Deleting your account permanently removes your catch history, points, team affiliations, and all personal data from our systems. Public leaderboard entries associated with your username will also be removed.

8. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account all personal data is removed within 30 days.

Photos submitted for scoring are stored on our servers and may appear publicly until you request deletion. Location data is stored per-catch event and is not tracked continuously outside of active gameplay.

9. Cookies

ShutterSlug Bug uses essential cookies and local storage to maintain your login session and app preferences. We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies. No cookie consent banner is required as we use only functionally necessary cookies.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes we will notify registered users by email and update the Last Updated date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

privacy@shutterslugbug.com

Slug Bug Media LLC · Portland, Oregon, USA