Watch Duty (Wildfire)

"You can choose whether or not to allow the Platform to collect and use real-time information about your device's location through the device's privacy settings. Such device location information will only be collected if you submit a User Contribution to be posted on the Platform. If you block the use of location information, some parts of the Platform may become inaccessible or not function properly."

The app collects real-time device location data when users submit contributions, and blocking location access disables key functionality, effectively making location sharing a requirement for participation.

"We do, however, use Google Analytics to collect aggregate generic information about our users and their usage of the Platform, including information about your internet connection and device information and usage while on the Platform. We also use third-party embeds, such that those through YouTube and/or Twitter, as may be applicable. Such third-parties may employ the use of cookies."

Despite claiming not to use third-party cookies, the app integrates Google Analytics, YouTube, and Twitter embeds that may independently track users and set their own cookies.

"We will post any changes we make to our privacy policy on this page, and you will be notified of any material changes in an email to the most recent email address that you provided to us, if any."

The policy states changes will be posted and email notification is only sent if the user has provided an email, meaning users without accounts may not receive notice of material changes. Combined with the opening statement that using the Platform constitutes agreement, continued use serves as acceptance.

"We retain personal information we collect from you for no longer than reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and in accordance with our legitimate business interests and applicable law. When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize it or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible."

No specific retention periods are defined; data is kept as long as deemed 'reasonably necessary' and may persist indefinitely in backup archives with no stated timeline for deletion.

"You can review and change your personal information by sending us an email at legal@watchduty.org to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that you have provided to us. We may not accommodate a request to change information if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement or cause the information to be incorrect. If you delete your User Contributions from the Platform, copies of your User Contributions may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or might have been copied, stored, displayed, or republished by other Platform users."

There is no self-service deletion option; users must email to request deletion. Additionally, the company reserves the right to deny requests, and user contributions may persist in caches, archives, and third-party republications even after deletion.

"We collect generic information about your usage and equipment automatically as you navigate through the Platform, such as usage details, IP addresses, and web browser preferences if you access the Platform via your desktop or device information, such as your mobile device information and internet connection, your device's unique device identifier, operating system, mobile network information, and metadata and other information associated with other files stored on your device."

The app collects metadata associated with files stored on the device, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information, which goes beyond what a wildfire alert app would need for core functionality.