Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you create an account with TerraSentri, we collect the following personal information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, and profile photo (when you sign in with Google or Apple)
• Authentication Data: OAuth tokens and authentication credentials from your chosen sign-in provider

1.2 Location Data

To provide location-based emergency alerts, we collect:

• Device Location: Your device's GPS coordinates when you use the app
• Saved Locations: Addresses and locations you manually save in the app (e.g., home, work, family locations)
• Location History: Historical location data to calculate distances from hazard events

Note: We only collect location data when the app is in use. We do not track your location in the background unless you explicitly enable background location services.

1.3 Device Information

We automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• Device type, model, and operating system version
• Unique device identifiers (e.g., device ID, advertising ID)
• Mobile network information
• App version and settings
• Push notification tokens (for Firebase Cloud Messaging)

1.4 Usage Data

We collect information about how you interact with the app:

• Features used and screens viewed
• Alert interactions (viewed, dismissed, acknowledged)
• App crashes and error logs
• Performance metrics and analytics

1.5 Emergency Contact Information

If you choose to add emergency contacts in the app, we store:

• Contact names and phone numbers
• Relationship labels (e.g., "Family", "Friend")

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 To Provide Emergency Alerts

We use your location data to:

• Determine which hazard events are relevant to your location
• Calculate distances from earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other hazards
• Send push notifications about nearby emergencies
• Display location-specific safety information

2.2 To Maintain and Improve the Service

We use your information to:

• Authenticate your account and provide access to the app
• Personalize your experience based on your saved locations
• Analyze app usage to improve features and performance
• Debug technical issues and fix bugs
• Conduct research and development for new features

2.3 To Communicate With You

We may use your email address to:

• Send important service announcements and updates
• Respond to your support requests
• Notify you of changes to our Terms or Privacy Policy

2.4 To Ensure Safety and Security

We use your information to:

• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Enforce our Terms and Conditions
• Comply with legal obligations and law enforcement requests

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data

TerraSentri does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

3.2 Service Providers

We share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the app:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, push notifications, and analytics
• Cloud Hosting: Secure data storage and processing
• Analytics Services: App performance monitoring and crash reporting

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

3.3 Government Data Sources

We aggregate publicly available hazard data from official government sources:

• PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology)
• PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration)
• DOH (Department of Health)
• Local Government Units (LGUs)

We do not share your personal information with these agencies.

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (e.g., subpoenas, court orders)
• Law enforcement requests
• National security or public safety emergencies
• Protection of our rights, property, or safety

3.5 Business Transfers

If TerraSentri is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with services. Specifically:

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• Location Data: Retained for 90 days for distance calculations, then anonymized
• Usage Analytics: Retained for 24 months in aggregated, anonymized form
• Crash Logs: Retained for 90 days for debugging purposes

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your personal information at any time through the app settings, including:

• Profile information (name, email, photo)
• Saved locations
• Emergency contacts
• Notification preferences

5.2 Location Services

You can control location access through your device settings:

• iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → TerraSentri
• Android: Settings → Apps → TerraSentri → Permissions → Location

Disabling location services will limit the app's ability to provide location-based alerts.

5.3 Push Notifications

You can disable push notifications through:

• App settings → Notifications
• Device settings → Notifications → TerraSentri

5.4 Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time through the app settings. This will:

• Permanently delete your account and profile information
• Remove all saved locations and emergency contacts
• Deregister your device from push notifications
• Anonymize your usage data

You can reactivate your account by signing in again within 30 days of deletion.

5.5 Data Portability

You have the right to request a copy of your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format. Contact us at [email protected] to request your data.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS/SSL
• Secure Storage: Sensitive data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption
• Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can view your personal information
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0 authentication with Google and Apple
• Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children's Privacy

TerraSentri is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected], and we will delete the information.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the Philippines, including the United States, where our cloud service providers operate. These countries may have different data protection laws than the Philippines. By using TerraSentri, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

9. Third-Party Links

The app may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., official government hazard bulletins). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy in the app
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of the app after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://terrasentri.app

12. Your Consent

By using TerraSentri, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described herein.