MakeWebGallery — Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2026 · Effective immediately

  The short version: MakeWebGallery collects no personal data, sends nothing to any server (other than optional FTP uploads you explicitly configure), stores nothing in the cloud, and contains no analytics, tracking, or advertising of any kind. Everything it does happens entirely on your computer.

1. Who We Are

MakeWebGallery is developed and distributed by Ben Weiss, operating as lionslair.com ("we," "us," or "our"). You can contact us at lionslair.com/contact.html.

2. What Data MakeWebGallery Collects

MakeWebGallery does not collect any personal data.

Specifically, the app does not:

Collect, store, or transmit your name, email address, location, or any other personally identifiable information.
Send your photos, videos, or any generated files to any server (unless you explicitly configure and trigger an FTP upload — see Section 4 below).
Connect to the internet except for FTP/SFTP uploads you configure and initiate, and to load Leaflet.js map tiles in the generated HTML pages you view in a browser.
Use any analytics SDK, crash reporting service, or advertising network.
Track your usage, behavior, or gallery content in any way.
Store any data in iCloud or any other cloud service.

3. What Data the App Stores Locally

MakeWebGallery stores your settings (column count, output format, caption preferences, color choices, etc.) in:

NSUserDefaults — in the app's sandboxed container on your computer. This data never leaves your device.
macOS Keychain — your FTP/SFTP password (if you configure an FTP server) is stored securely in the macOS Keychain, accessible only by this app and only on your device.

The app's settings are also shared between the main application and the MakeWebGalleryShareExtension via an App Group UserDefaults container (group.com.lionslair.lazylion.MakeWebGallery). This container resides entirely on your device and is never uploaded anywhere.

4. FTP / SFTP Upload (Optional)

If you configure an FTP or SFTP server on the Files tab and trigger an upload, MakeWebGallery will connect to the host you specified and upload the generated gallery files. This is entirely optional and entirely under your control. The app:

Connects only to the server you explicitly configured.
Transmits only the HTML, CSS, JavaScript, thumbnail, and photo files you asked it to generate.
Does not route your data through any intermediate server or service operated by us.
Stores your FTP credentials only in the macOS Keychain.

5. Maps (Optional)

If you enable the "Map" feature in the Data tab (CSS/Javascript output mode only) and your photos contain GPS coordinates, the generated gallery HTML pages will include a Leaflet.js map. When a viewer opens such a detail page in a browser, the browser will load map tiles from OpenStreetMap tile servers (tile.openstreetmap.org). This happens in the viewer's browser, not in MakeWebGallery itself, and is subject to OpenStreetMap's privacy policy.

6. The Photos Share Extension

The MakeWebGalleryShareExtension receives photos shared from Apple Photos. It accesses the photos you explicitly select and share. It does not request access to your entire photo library. Photos received by the extension are temporarily copied to the App Group container on your device solely to perform gallery generation. These temporary files are not uploaded, transmitted, or retained after you close the extension.

7. Children's Privacy

MakeWebGallery is rated 4+ on the App Store. It does not collect any data from anyone, including children under 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction). There is nothing to collect.

8. Third-Party SDKs and Frameworks

MakeWebGallery uses only Apple system frameworks (AppKit, SwiftUI, ImageIO, AVFoundation, URLSession). It contains no third-party analytics SDKs, advertising libraries, or data-collection frameworks.

The generated galleries optionally link to Leaflet.js (loaded from a CDN by the viewer's browser, not by this app) and OpenStreetMap tile servers. These are embedded in the output HTML and operate entirely outside of MakeWebGallery itself.

9. Changes to This Policy

If this policy ever changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top and post the new version at this URL. Given that the app collects no data, we do not anticipate this policy changing.

10. Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Contact Ben at: lionslair.com/contact.html