Mushroom Identifier

Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 1, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how MushroomID.org (“MushroomID”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and protects information when you use the website MushroomID.org, including the mushroom identification service, user accounts, subscriptions, and other related features.

By using MushroomID.org, you acknowledge that your information may be processed as described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you use MushroomID.org, we may collect the following categories of information.

Information you provide

When you use our services, you may provide:

  • photographs uploaded for mushroom identification;
  • account information, such as your email address, username, or other profile information;
  • information you submit through forms or support requests;
  • information associated with your subscription or purchases;
  • other information you voluntarily provide to us.

Mushroom photographs

When you use the mushroom identification feature, the photographs you upload are transmitted to our servers or service providers so that they can be analyzed and an identification result can be generated.

Uploaded photographs may contain additional information embedded in the file, such as device information or image metadata. We do not require precise location information to identify a mushroom unless a particular feature explicitly requests it.

You should avoid uploading photographs containing people, documents, addresses, license plates, or other personal or sensitive information that is not necessary for mushroom identification.

Automatically collected information

When you visit MushroomID.org, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

  • IP address;
  • browser type and version;
  • device type and operating system;
  • language and regional settings;
  • referring and visited pages;
  • date and time of visits;
  • session information;
  • interactions with website features;
  • cookies and similar identifiers.

This information helps us operate, secure, analyze, and improve the service.

2. How We Use Information

We may use collected information to:

  • provide mushroom identification results;
  • process and analyze uploaded photographs;
  • create and maintain user accounts;
  • provide subscriptions and paid features;
  • remember user preferences and service settings;
  • prevent abuse, fraud, automated attacks, and excessive use of the service;
  • enforce usage limits;
  • diagnose technical problems;
  • improve the accuracy, usability, and performance of MushroomID.org;
  • analyze how visitors use the website;
  • respond to questions and support requests;
  • comply with applicable legal obligations;
  • protect the rights, property, and security of MushroomID, our users, and third parties.

Where required by applicable law, we process personal data on the basis of performance of a contract, our legitimate interests, compliance with legal obligations, or your consent.

3. Mushroom Identification and Automated Processing

MushroomID.org uses automated technologies to analyze photographs and suggest possible mushroom species.

Photographs submitted for identification may be processed automatically by machine-learning models, computer-vision systems, APIs, servers, or third-party infrastructure used to provide the identification service.

Identification results are informational and may be inaccurate.

Never consume a mushroom solely on the basis of an identification made by MushroomID.org. Always obtain confirmation from a qualified local expert before eating any wild mushroom.

4. Accounts

Some features may require or allow you to create a user account.

We may store information necessary to maintain your account, authenticate you, remember your preferences, provide purchased features, and protect your account against unauthorized access.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

5. Payments and Subscriptions

If you purchase a subscription or another paid service, payments may be processed by third-party payment providers.

Payment providers may collect information necessary to process the transaction, including payment card or other payment information.

MushroomID.org generally does not receive or store your complete bank card number or card security code when payments are processed directly by a payment provider.

We may receive transaction-related information such as:

  • transaction identifier;
  • payment status;
  • amount and currency;
  • purchased product or subscription;
  • payment date;
  • information necessary to activate or manage the purchased service.

Payment providers process information according to their own privacy policies and legal obligations.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

MushroomID.org may use cookies, local storage, session storage, and similar technologies to operate the website and remember information between visits.

These technologies may be used for purposes such as:

  • authentication;
  • maintaining sessions;
  • remembering preferences;
  • fraud and abuse prevention;
  • enforcing service limits;
  • website analytics;
  • measuring performance and usage.

You can restrict or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of MushroomID.org may not function properly if certain cookies or storage technologies are disabled.

7. Analytics

We may use third-party analytics services, including Yandex Metrica or similar analytics technologies, to understand how visitors interact with MushroomID.org.

Analytics providers may collect information such as your IP address, device information, browser information, visited pages, approximate location derived from IP address, referral source, and interactions with the website.

We use this information to understand website usage, identify technical issues, and improve the service.

Third-party analytics providers process information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

8. Service Providers

We may use third-party companies and services to operate MushroomID.org, including providers of:

  • website hosting and infrastructure;
  • cloud computing;
  • image processing and machine-learning services;
  • analytics;
  • payment processing;
  • email delivery;
  • security and fraud prevention;
  • technical monitoring.

These providers may process information only to the extent necessary to provide their services to us or as otherwise permitted by their own legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including providing the service, maintaining accounts, preventing fraud and abuse, resolving disputes, and complying with legal obligations.

Different categories of information may have different retention periods.

Uploaded mushroom photographs may be retained temporarily or for a longer period where necessary to provide the service, maintain identification history, improve service quality, investigate technical problems, prevent abuse, or where the user has chosen to publish or save the identification.

Account information may be retained while your account remains active and for a reasonable period afterward where necessary for legal, security, accounting, or fraud-prevention purposes.

Certain anonymized or aggregated information that can no longer reasonably identify an individual may be retained indefinitely.

10. Public Content

Certain MushroomID.org features may allow users to publish photographs, identification results, comments, or other content publicly.

Information you intentionally publish through a public feature may be visible to other users and visitors and may be indexed by search engines.

Do not publish personal or confidential information that you do not want to become publicly accessible.

11. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, destruction, or loss.

However, no website, server, database, or Internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You use online services and transmit information over the Internet at your own risk.

12. International Data Transfers

MushroomID.org and its service providers may process information in countries other than the country in which you live.

As a result, your information may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions with different data-protection laws.

Where required by applicable law, we take appropriate measures designed to provide adequate protection for international transfers of personal information.

13. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

  • request access to personal information we hold about you;
  • request correction of inaccurate information;
  • request deletion of your personal information;
  • object to or restrict certain processing;
  • withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
  • request a portable copy of certain information;
  • lodge a complaint with an applicable data-protection authority.

These rights may be subject to exceptions and limitations under applicable law.

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain privacy requests.

14. European Economic Area, United Kingdom and Similar Jurisdictions

Where the GDPR, UK GDPR, or similar privacy legislation applies, our legal bases for processing may include:

Performance of a contract: when processing is necessary to provide a service you requested, such as mushroom identification, account functionality, or a subscription.

Legitimate interests: when processing is necessary to operate, secure, analyze, and improve MushroomID.org, provided those interests are not overridden by your fundamental privacy rights.

Consent: where applicable, including certain cookies, analytics technologies, or optional communications.

Legal obligations: where processing is necessary to comply with applicable law.

You may have the right to complain to the data-protection authority in the country where you live or work.

15. Children’s Privacy

MushroomID.org is not intended to collect personal information from young children.

If we learn that personal information from a child has been collected in violation of applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

Parents or legal guardians who believe that a child has provided personal information to MushroomID.org may contact us and request its removal.

16. Third-Party Links

MushroomID.org may contain links to third-party websites, applications, stores, or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party services. When you leave MushroomID.org, the privacy policy of the third-party service applies.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technologies, legal requirements, or business practices.

When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or want to request access to or deletion of your personal information, please contact us using the contact information provided on MushroomID.org.

Website: MushroomID.org
Email: privacy@mushroomid.org