🌱 Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to EcoLink ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application EcoLink (the "App").

Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Account Email address, display name, and password when you create an account
• Profile Your display name and any profile information you choose to provide
• Auth Information used to verify your identity and maintain your account

Location Information

• GPS Your precise location when you use location-based features
• History Information about places you visit and food locations you discover
• Geo Coordinates and addresses of locations you interact with

User-Generated Content

• Photos Images you upload of food locations, pollution incidents, and other content
• Reviews Comments and ratings you provide for food locations
• Messages Text messages and images you send through the in-app messaging system
• Reports Pollution incidents and environmental issues you report

Usage Information

• Activity How you interact with the app, including features used and time spent
• Device Device type, operating system, and app version
• Analytics Performance metrics and crash reports to improve app functionality

Social Information

• Friends Users you connect with and friend requests
• Social Your participation in challenges, leaderboards, and community features
• Comm Messages, friend requests, and social interactions

How We Use Your Information

Core App Functionality

• 🍽️ Food Discovery: To show you nearby food locations and community recommendations
• 🌱 Environmental Monitoring: To track and report pollution incidents and environmental issues
• 👥 Social Features: To enable friend connections, messaging, and community interactions
• 🏆 Gamification: To track your progress in eco-challenges and maintain leaderboards

Service Improvement

• ⚡ App Optimization: To improve app performance, fix bugs, and enhance user experience
• 🚀 Feature Development: To develop new features based on user behavior and preferences
• 🤖 AI Analysis: To provide AI-powered insights about food and environmental photos

Communication

• 🔔 Notifications: To send you updates about friend requests, messages, and app features
• 💬 Support: To respond to your questions and provide customer support
• 📱 Updates: To inform you about app updates and new features

Information Sharing and Disclosure

With Other Users

• Public Content: Food locations, reviews, and environmental reports you create may be visible to other users
• Profile Information: Your display name and basic profile information may be visible to friends
• Location Data: Your location may be shared when you add food markers or report environmental issues

With Service Providers

• Firebase: We use Firebase for authentication, database storage, and real-time synchronization
• Google Services: We use Google Maps for location services and Gemini AI for image analysis
• Analytics Providers: We may use third-party analytics to understand app usage

Legal Requirements

• Law Enforcement: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights
• Safety: We may share information to prevent harm or address safety concerns

Data Storage and Security

Data Storage

• Firebase Database: Your data is stored securely in Firebase's cloud infrastructure
• Local Storage: Some data may be cached locally on your device for offline access
• Image Storage: Photos are stored securely and may be processed by AI services

Security Measures

• 🔒 Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption to protect your data
• 🔐 Authentication: Secure login and authentication processes
• 👤 Access Controls: Limited access to your personal information by authorized personnel only

Your Rights and Choices

Account Management

• Access: You can view and update your account information through the app
• Deletion: You can delete your account and associated data
• Correction: You can correct inaccurate information in your profile

Privacy Controls

• 📍 Location Services: You can disable location services in your device settings
• 🔔 Notifications: You can control notification preferences in the app
• 👥 Friend Requests: You can accept or decline friend requests

Data Portability

• Export: You can request a copy of your personal data
• Transfer: You can transfer your data to another service (where technically feasible)

Children's Privacy

Our app is not intended for children under 13 years of age. 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 immediately.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Sending you a notification
• Updating the "Last Updated" date

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect and how we use it
• Right to delete your personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

If you are in the European Union, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. We may retain certain information for longer periods if required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

Third-Party Services

Our app integrates with third-party services:

• 🗺️ Google Maps: For location services and mapping
• 🤖 Google Gemini AI: For image analysis
• 🔥 Firebase: For backend services and authentication

These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.