Privacy Policy

1. Information we may collect

Depending on the features you use, we may collect or process information such as your name, email address, telephone number, profile information, account identifiers, community membership, trusted-contact details, emergency-alert information, community chat messages, device and app information, notification tokens, support communications, location information and subscription or entitlement information.

2. Account and sign-in information

SafeBlock may allow users to create an account using email credentials or supported third-party sign-in services such as Google Sign-In. Where a third-party sign-in service is used, SafeBlock receives only the account information made available to the application for authentication and account operation, subject to that provider’s settings and policies.

3. Location information

SafeBlock uses location information for safety-related features such as emergency alerts, location sharing during alerts, maps, navigation and nearby community functionality. Location access is subject to device permissions and relevant app settings. Users should only share location or other information they are authorised to share. SafeBlock does not sell location information.

4. Emergency alerts and community activity

When a user sends a panic or custom alert, SafeBlock may process information necessary to deliver and display that alert, including the alert type, time, community or selected audience, location where enabled, and related incident information. Community features may also process messages and other content submitted by users for communication and safety coordination.

5. Trusted contacts

If you add a trusted contact, SafeBlock may process the contact information you provide so that the feature can operate. You are responsible for ensuring that you are authorised to provide another person’s information and that it is used appropriately.

6. Notifications and device information

SafeBlock may process device identifiers, app information and push-notification tokens to provide alerts, safety notifications and service communications. Notification delivery may rely on services provided by Google and Firebase.

7. Google and Firebase services

SafeBlock uses technology services that may include Google Sign-In, Google Maps Platform, Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Firebase Cloud Messaging and related Google or Firebase infrastructure. These providers may process technical information necessary to provide their services in accordance with their own terms and privacy practices.

8. Subscriptions and payments

Where paid SafeBlock plans or digital subscriptions are offered through the Android application, payment transactions may be processed through Google Play Billing. SafeBlock may receive subscription status, product, entitlement and transaction-related information needed to provide purchased features. SafeBlock does not receive or store a user’s full payment-card details from Google Play.

9. How we use information

We may use personal information to create and manage accounts; authenticate users; operate communities and trusted-contact features; send and receive emergency alerts; provide maps and location-enabled safety functionality; deliver notifications; provide community communication features; administer subscriptions; provide customer support; maintain security; prevent abuse; diagnose technical problems; improve the service; and meet legal or regulatory obligations.

10. Sharing of information

Information may be shared where necessary to provide a feature requested by the user, such as sharing an emergency alert with the selected community or trusted audience. We may also use authorised technology and service providers to operate SafeBlock. We do not sell users’ personal information. Information may be disclosed where required by law, lawful process, or where reasonably necessary to protect users, SafeBlock or others.

11. Data retention and deletion

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, to operate the service, resolve disputes, maintain security and comply with applicable legal obligations. Where appropriate, older operational records may be archived or deleted in accordance with our retention practices.

Users may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their personal information, subject to applicable law and legitimate retention requirements. Account or data-deletion requests may be submitted through SafeBlock’s support or contact channels.

12. Security

SafeBlock applies reasonable administrative and technical measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. No internet-connected system can guarantee absolute security, and users should protect their devices and account credentials.

13. Children and age-appropriate use

SafeBlock is a community-safety service and is not designed to encourage children to disclose personal information publicly. Where the service is used by or in relation to minors, parents, guardians, schools or other responsible organisations should ensure that use is appropriate and lawful. SafeBlock may apply additional age-related requirements where required by law or platform policy.

14. Your rights under POPIA

Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have rights relating to access, correction, deletion, objection to certain processing, and complaints concerning the processing of your personal information. We will take reasonable steps to respond to valid requests and verify the identity or authority of the requester where necessary.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as SafeBlock develops, legal requirements change, or new features and service providers are introduced. The latest version will be published on this page with an updated effective date.