Kernel Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 12, 2026. Applies to Kernel on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Kernel is built and run by Nikias Molina ("we"). This page explains what information Kernel uses, why, and who else handles it. We do not sell your information and we do not show ads.

What you can use without an account

Browsing movies and shows, search, AI search, playlists and release countdowns work without signing in. Your playlists, watched titles and search history are stored on your device and, if you use iCloud, in your private iCloud database so they sync between your devices. We cannot read your iCloud data.

Information we collect

• Kernel profile (optional). If you sign in with Apple to use recommendations, we receive an anonymous user identifier from Apple and, the first time only, the name you choose to share. You pick a username and an avatar. This profile, and the recommendations you send and receive (the title and the note), are stored on our servers so your friends can find you and send you titles.
• AI search questions. When you use AI search, the text you type or dictate is sent to our server and passed to OpenAI to find the title you describe, together with a random identifier used to count free searches. Do not include personal information in your questions.
• Usage and diagnostics. We use Google Firebase Analytics to understand which screens are used, and Firebase Remote Config to switch features on or off. These collect device and app information such as app version, operating system, approximate region and app interactions.
• Notifications (iPhone). If you allow notifications, a push token is stored so we can tell you about releases and recommendations, delivered through OneSignal and Firebase Cloud Messaging.
• Purchases. Subscriptions are processed by Apple. On iPhone we use Adapty to show the subscription offer and check your subscription status; we never receive your payment details.

Third parties

Movie and show information comes from TMDB and availability from JustWatch; requests to them carry no personal information. Service providers that process information for us: Apple (Sign in with Apple, iCloud, App Store), Google Firebase, OneSignal, Adapty and OpenAI. Each handles data under its own privacy policy.

Retention and deletion

You can delete your Kernel account at any time in Kernel › Settings › Delete account. This deletes your Kernel sign-in and disconnects Kernel from your Apple Account. To have your profile and recommendations removed from our servers as well, email us from the address below and we will do it within 30 days. Playlists in iCloud are removed by deleting Kernel's data from iCloud in your device settings.

Reporting and blocking

Recommendation notes are written by other people. Hold a recommendation to report it to us or to block the person who sent it. We review every report within 24 hours and remove notes and accounts that break these rules.

Children

Kernel is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.

This website

This website has no cookies, no analytics and no ads. Posters and other artwork are loaded from TMDB's image servers, which, like any server you load an image from, see your IP address. The film is played from this website. If you pick a country for the Top 10, your browser remembers it on your device; it is never sent to us. Links shared from the app (pages under /m/, /s/ and /p/) are built on our server: we look up the movie, show or person in the link at TMDB, and your browser's language setting picks the language and the country for where to watch. Nothing about you is stored or passed on, and a Trailer button simply opens YouTube. Our web host keeps standard server logs.

Changes

We may update this policy; the date at the top shows the latest version.

Contact

Questions or requests: kernelmovieapp@gmail.com