Ørth Privacy Policy
Great to have you here!
Whether you're looking for your next travel buddy or just want to browse through sustainable travel ideas, Ørth is all about treating each other with respect. This also applies to your data.
That's why you can find out everything you need to know here:
- What we store about you (and what we don't)
- What we need this information for
- Who has access (spoiler: very few)
- And how you can stay in control at all times
This privacy policy applies to the use of the Ørth app (iOS & Android).
Who we are
The controller for data processing is:
Ørth GmbH
Osterstraße 22
48163 Münster
Münster, Germany
Email: info@oerth.life
When we say "we", "us" or "Ørth", we mean Ørth GmbH based in Germany. You can find further contact details in the legal notice.
For any questions about data protection or the processing of your personal data, you can contact us at: info@oerth.life (subject: Data protection).
Your data & why we need it
Here you will find an overview of what we request from you and why we need it.
ACCOUNT & PROFILE
| What is it? | Mandatory? | What for? |
|---|---|---|
| E-mail address, password | Yes | Create account, log in, communicate with you |
| Phone number | Yes | Preparation for future verification options |
| Name, date of birth | Yes | Make visible for the profile, calculate age |
| Gender* | Yes, display optional | About the matching function |
* You decide whether your gender is displayed in the profile.
TRAVEL PREFERENCES & PERSONAL INFORMATION
| What? | Mandatory? | What for? |
|---|---|---|
| Location (approximate, optional) | No | Show travel partners near you |
| Activities, stress behavior, languages | No | Improve matching |
| Nutrition, eating habits, relationship | No | Recognize common interests |
| Bucket list, travel budget, motivation | No | Personal travel profile |
| Photos & free text ("Bio") | No | Make your profile more personal |
USING THE APP
| What is it? | How collected? | What for? |
|---|---|---|
| Device type, app usage, IP address | Automatically | Stability, security, prevent misuse |
| Push notifications | With consent | Send you relevant notifications or chat messages |
| GPS location in real time | On approval | Nearby functions, local matching |
| App analyses & error tracking | Automatically (anonymized) | For secure provision of the app and error analysis |
What is the legal basis for all this?
To clarify why we are allowed to process certain data, here are the legal bases:
- Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract): Required data to operate your account (e.g., email, date of birth).
- Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent): Voluntary details like bio or location need explicit consent, revocable anytime.
- § Section 25 (1) TDDDG: Requires your explicit consent for device-level data like GPS or push tokens.
- Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest): Technical data (e.g., IP address) helps prevent misuse and ensure stability.
- Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR (special data consent): For sensitive profile info (e.g., stress behavior), we need your explicit consent.
Who receives your data?
Don't worry — your data remains under our control. We only pass it on if it’s really necessary:
Our service providers
| Service Provider | Purpose | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hetzner Online GmbH | Hosting of our servers | Germany |
| Exord GmbH | App development & maintenance | Germany |
All service providers process your data on our behalf under strict data protection agreements (Art. 28 GDPR). Your data is only processed in the EU — no third country transfers.
How long do we store your data?
| Data storage | Storage duration |
|---|---|
| Account and profile data | As long as you use your account |
| Voluntary data | Until you delete it or delete your account |
| Push & GPS sharing | Until you revoke them in the app |
| Usage data | Max. 14 days (logs), then deleted or anonymized |
| Analysis data | Anonymized, without reference to you |
When you delete your account, your data is deleted or anonymized — unless we’re legally required to retain it (e.g., for tax reasons).
Your rights
You have the right at any time:
- To know what data we have stored about you
- To correct incorrect information
- To have data deleted (where no legal reason prevents it)
- To restrict the use of your data
- To object to the processing
- To receive your data in a commonly used format
- To withdraw consent at any time (valid from that point forward)
You can revoke consents in the app or via info@oerth.life.
If you believe we’re mishandling your data, you can contact the State Commissioner for Data Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia: www.ldi.nrw.de
Do I have to provide all this information?
Some information is required (e.g., account details, name, date of birth), otherwise you can't use the app. Everything else is voluntary — you decide what you want to share.
Automated decisions?
No profiling or automated decisions. The matching suggestions are based on your input but aren't automated in the sense of Art. 22 GDPR — they don’t have legal or significant effects.
Any questions?
Just contact us — we’re happy to help. And don’t worry, if anything changes, you’ll find the most up-to-date version of this privacy policy here: https://oerth.life/privacy
Status: July 2025