Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2026

This Privacy Policy applies to software, websites, services, and hosted platforms operated as part of the ZFordDev ecosystem.

ZFordDev projects are built with a simple principle:

If information is not required, we do not need it.

Different projects have different technical requirements. A local desktop application may require no personal information at all, while a hosted service may necessarily require an account, authentication details, or service configuration.

This policy is intended to explain that distinction clearly.

Privacy by Default

ZFordDev projects are designed to minimise the collection and transmission of personal information.

Where a project can operate entirely locally, it should.

Where an online service is required, only information necessary to provide that service should be collected.

We do not collect information simply because it is technically possible to do so.

Data Collection

Personal Information

ZFordDev does not routinely collect names, email addresses, identifying information, or other personal data unless a particular project or service genuinely requires it.

For example, a locally installed application should not require an online account simply to perform functions that can be completed locally.

A hosted service may require account information because that information is necessary to provide the service.

The specific information collected by an online service will be explained before or during the relevant registration or feature activation process.

Documents and User Content

Where software is designed to operate locally, your documents and files remain on your device unless you explicitly choose to move, publish, sync, or otherwise transmit them.

ZFordDev does not automatically upload local documents merely because an application is installed.

Hosted services are different.

If you intentionally publish or store content using a ZFordDev-hosted service, that content must necessarily be transmitted to and stored by the service in order for the service to function.

Telemetry and Analytics

ZFordDev projects do not collect telemetry simply for the sake of collecting telemetry.

Where analytics, diagnostics, telemetry, or similar information is genuinely required for a particular service, this will be disclosed to users before collection where reasonably possible.

Where an applicable service provides an opt-out mechanism, that mechanism will be clearly identified.

The intention is to make telemetry an explicit engineering decision rather than an invisible default.

Hosted Services

Some ZFordDev projects may provide hosted or online services.

These services may require information such as:

• account details
• authentication information
• service configuration
• billing information
• content required to provide the service
• technical information necessary to operate and secure the service

The information required will depend on the service.

A local application and a hosted SaaS platform should not be expected to have the same privacy requirements.

Third Parties

ZFordDev does not sell personal information.

Information is not shared with third parties for advertising or unrelated commercial purposes.

Some services may necessarily rely on third-party infrastructure providers such as hosting, authentication, payment, distribution, or content-delivery providers.

Where this occurs, information may be processed by those providers only as necessary for the relevant service to operate.

Your Control

Where personal information is collected by a service, users should be provided with appropriate methods to manage that information.

Where an opt-out or permanent removal mechanism is applicable, users will be provided with a way to request or perform that removal.

Removing an account or service data does not necessarily remove information that must legally or operationally be retained, such as records required for financial, security, or abuse-prevention purposes.

Local Software

Many ZFordDev applications are designed around local-first principles.

For these applications, there may be no ZFordDev server receiving your documents or application data at all.

If an application does not need to communicate with a server to perform its intended function, it should not communicate with one merely for data collection.

Changes to This Policy

As the ZFordDev ecosystem grows, individual projects may introduce new online capabilities.

If a change introduces meaningful new data collection or processing, the relevant documentation and privacy information will be updated.

Project-specific privacy notices may provide additional information where the requirements of a particular service differ from the general ecosystem policy.

Contact

Questions regarding privacy, data collection, or a particular ZFordDev service can be raised through the relevant project’s published support or contact channels.