Last updated: 17 August 2026
Surfacer — Internet Companion (“Surfacer,” “the app,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is the companion application for Surface Internet. This Privacy Policy explains how information and device permissions may be accessed, used, processed, and protected when you use Surfacer and its encounter-based features.
Surfacer is designed to enable people to discover and interact with physical and digital surfaces through encounters, including nearby presence, calls, screenshots, shared content, receipts, SurfaceTeeth and other supported Surface Internet experiences.
1. Information Surfacer May Access or Process
Depending on the features you use and the permissions you grant, Surfacer may access or process the following categories of information.
Location Data
Surfacer may access precise or approximate location information, including while the app is running in the foreground or background where the user has granted the applicable permission.
Location is used to provide location-aware Surface Internet functionality, including:
- discovering nearby participating surfaces and SurfaceTeeth;
- Street Presence and nearby discovery;
- determining proximity or distance for location-based encounters;
- enabling location-aware Surface Internet experiences; and
- helping Surfacer identify relevant participating surfaces around the user.
Some location-based features may require background location access so that supported encounters and nearby discovery can function while the user is not actively viewing the main Surfacer application.
Users can control or revoke location permissions through their Android device settings. Disabling location may prevent location-dependent Surfacer features from functioning.
Phone and Call Information
Where permission is granted, Surfacer may access limited telephone or call-related information required to recognize supported call encounters.
This functionality allows an incoming or outgoing telephone interaction to act as an encounter with Surface Internet. For example, a telephone number associated with a participating Surface Internet identity may be resolved so Surfacer can present the corresponding Surface experience.
Surfacer does not require access to the audio content of telephone conversations for this functionality.
Nearby Devices and Bluetooth
Surfacer may use Bluetooth and Android Nearby Devices capabilities to discover or interact with nearby compatible devices for proximity-based Surface Internet features, including supported person-to-person experiences such as SurfaceMe.
Nearby-device access is used to establish proximity or discoverability where a feature requires it. Users can control these permissions through their device settings.
Screenshots, Images and User-Selected Content
Surfacer may process screenshots, images or other content when a user intentionally initiates a supported visual or content-based encounter.
For example, a screenshot may trigger Surfacer to identify or resolve information associated with a participating surface, Surface Internet Identity or SurfaceTooth.
Where Android requires screen-capture or media-projection authorization, Surfacer uses the permission for the user-requested feature and in accordance with Android’s permission mechanisms.
Camera
If a Surfacer feature requires the camera, camera access occurs only with the appropriate device permission and is used for the requested Surface Internet functionality.
Microphone and Audio
Surfacer does not currently use microphone or background audio input as part of its active launch functionality. If audio-based encounters are introduced in a future version, this Privacy Policy and the relevant permission disclosures will be updated before such functionality is made available.
Receipt and Transaction-Related Information
When using Receipt SurfaceTooth functionality, Surfacer may process information required to resolve a receipt or collectible and associate it with the appropriate participant.
This may include a telephone number or other identifier used for verification, receipt identifiers, collectible information, campaign participation, cashback information and related Surface Internet activity.
Surfacer is not intended to collect a user’s complete banking or payment-card credentials through the Receipt SurfaceTooth encounter itself.
Surface Internet Account and Identity Information
Surfacer may process information associated with a user’s or partner’s Surface Internet participation, such as telephone numbers, Surface Internet identities, SurfaceTeeth, encounter information and information necessary to resolve a participating surface.
2. How We Use Information
Information accessed or processed by Surfacer is used to provide and operate Surface Internet functionality. This may include resolving encounters, discovering nearby participating surfaces, displaying relevant SurfaceTeeth, verifying eligible interactions, maintaining Surface Internet participation, providing receipt and cashback functionality, preventing abuse, maintaining security and improving reliability.
We do not use permissions simply because they are available on a device. Permissions are intended to support specific Surfacer functionality.
3. Background Operation
Surfacer is designed as an Internet Companion and may remain available through its floating Surfacer interface while the user is outside the main application.
Certain features may therefore use Android foreground services or permitted background capabilities so that Surfacer can remain available for supported encounters.
Background operation does not mean that every device permission is continuously being used. Access depends on the feature being performed, Android’s permission controls and permissions granted by the user.
4. Permission Control
Android may ask users to grant permissions including location, background location, phone/call-related access, Nearby Devices/Bluetooth, notifications, camera, screen capture or other permissions required by particular Surfacer features.
Users remain in control of Android runtime permissions and can review or revoke them through their device settings.
Some Surface Internet encounters will not function if the permission required for that particular encounter is disabled.
5. Information Sharing
We do not sell users’ personal information.
Information may be transmitted to Surface Internet systems where necessary to resolve an encounter, provide a requested feature, verify participation, maintain security or operate the service.
Information may also be processed by service providers that provide infrastructure or functionality necessary to operate Surface Internet, subject to appropriate contractual, security and privacy safeguards.
We may disclose information where required by applicable law, legal process, regulatory requirements, or where reasonably necessary to protect users, Surface Internet or others from fraud, abuse or security threats.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or processed, including providing Surface Internet services, maintaining legitimate transaction or participation records, preventing fraud, resolving disputes and complying with applicable legal obligations.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the Surface Internet feature involved.
7. Data Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards intended to protect information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, loss or misuse.
No electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we work to protect information appropriate to its nature and use.
8. Children’s Privacy
Surfacer is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law. Where age-related requirements apply, we will take appropriate measures to comply with those requirements.
9. User Choices and Rights
Depending on applicable law, users may have rights concerning their personal information, including rights to request access, correction or deletion of certain personal information.
Device permissions can also be managed directly through Android settings.
Requests concerning personal information may be submitted using the contact information below.
10. Third-Party Services
Some Surfacer functionality may depend on third-party infrastructure or services, such as hosting, mapping, notification, communications, payment or other technology providers.
Those providers may process information necessary to provide their respective services and may be governed by their own privacy terms where applicable.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Surface Internet and Surfacer will continue to evolve. We may update this Privacy Policy when functionality, permissions, data practices, legal requirements or Surface Internet services change.
When material changes are made, the updated policy will be published with a revised “Last updated” date.
12. Contact Us
Questions, requests or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or Surfacer’s handling of personal information can be directed to:
Surface Internet
Website: surfaceinternet.net
Email: support@surfaceinternet.net