This Privacy Policy describes how Eden Yefet ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the Emergency Alert mobile application ("the App"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about the data we handle.
1. Information We Collect
We collect only the minimum data necessary to provide our emergency alerting service:
| Data Type | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| User ID | Unique identifier for your account, generated automatically by Firebase Authentication | Yes (auto‑generated) |
| Nickname | Display name shown to your group members (you choose or one is generated for you) | Yes |
| Email address | Used only if you choose Email Link or Google sign‑in; used solely for authentication | Only if you choose email/Google sign‑in |
| Device push token (FCM) | Enables delivery of emergency alert notifications to your device | Yes |
| Group memberships | Tracks which alert groups you belong to, including pending join requests | Yes |
| Alert & acknowledgment records | Records when alerts are triggered and acknowledged for group coordination | Yes |
| Last‑seen timestamp | Shows your group members whether you are recently active | Yes |
| Muted group preferences | Tracks which groups you have muted (suppresses notifications for those groups) | Yes |
| Consent record | Timestamp and version of your acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Yes |
| Crash reports | Automatically collected when the App crashes or encounters an error, including stack traces and device/OS information (no personal data). Used to identify and fix bugs. | Yes (automatic) |
| App usage analytics | Anonymous analytics events such as alert interactions, notification taps, and feature usage. Collected via Firebase Analytics to help us understand how the App is used and improve the experience. No personally identifiable information is included. | Yes (automatic) |
2. Information We Do NOT Collect
- Location or GPS data
- Contacts or address book
- Photos, files, or media (camera is used only for QR code scanning; no images are stored)
- Advertising identifiers
- Browsing or search history
3. How We Use Your Information
Your data is used exclusively to:
- Deliver emergency alert notifications to you and your group members
- Display your nickname and activity status to members of groups you join
- Authenticate your identity and secure your account
- Maintain alert history for your groups
- Manage group join requests (pending approval by group administrators)
- Respect your notification preferences (group muting)
- Detect and fix crashes and errors to improve App stability (via Firebase Crashlytics)
- Understand how the App is used to improve features and user experience (via Firebase Analytics — anonymous, aggregate data only)
We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or any purpose other than providing and improving the alerting service.
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties. Your nickname and activity status are visible to members of groups you voluntarily join. Alert data (who triggered an alert, who acknowledged it) is shared only within the relevant group.
5. Data Storage & Security
- All data is stored in Google Cloud Firestore (europe‑west1 region) via Firebase.
- All data in transit is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS.
- Data at rest is encrypted by Google Cloud's default encryption.
- Access to data is controlled by Firebase Security Rules that restrict operations to authenticated users and group members.
- Firebase App Check is used to protect backend functions from abuse.
- Rate limiting is applied to all backend operations to prevent misuse.
6. Data Retention
Your data is retained for as long as your account exists. Alert history is retained for as long as the group exists. You can delete your account at any time from within the App, which will permanently remove your profile, nickname, push token, and group memberships.
7. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your data — your profile and group memberships are visible in the App at all times.
- Correct your data — you can change your nickname at any time.
- Delete your data — use the "Delete Account" option in the App menu to permanently delete your account and associated data.
- Withdraw consent — you can stop using the App and delete your account at any time.
For any data‑related request, contact us at edenyefetdev@gmail.com.
8. Children's Privacy
The App is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete that information.
9. Third‑Party Services
The App uses the following third‑party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:
- Firebase Authentication — for account management (Firebase Privacy)
- Google Cloud Firestore — for data storage
- Firebase Cloud Messaging — for push notifications
- Google Sign‑In — if you choose to link a Google account
- Firebase Crashlytics — for crash and error reporting
- Firebase Analytics — for anonymous usage analytics
- Firebase App Check — for backend abuse protection
10. Permissions
The App requests Android permissions for the following reasons:
- Notifications — to deliver emergency alerts and group updates
- Camera — to scan QR codes for joining groups (optional; no images stored)
- Do Not Disturb override — to ensure critical emergency alerts are heard even in silent mode
- Display over other apps — to show full‑screen alerts that require immediate attention
- Vibration — to alert you through vibration during emergencies
- Battery optimization exemption — to ensure alert notifications are received reliably even when the device is in power‑saving mode
- Boot completed — to restore alert readiness after device restart
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, you will be prompted to review and accept the updated policy within the App before continuing to use it. The updated policy will also be posted on this page with a new effective date.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:
Email: edenyefetdev@gmail.com Developer: Eden Yefet