PotholePing ("we," "us," or "the app") is a community-driven platform that helps users report, track, and avoid potholes. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how it is used.
Information We Collect
- Location Data: We collect your device's GPS location when you report a pothole, use proximity alerts, or save a commute route. This is used to place reports on the map and warn you of nearby hazards.
- Account Information: When you register, we collect your email address. Your display name may appear on reports, comments, and community posts you create.
- Photos: Photos you upload of potholes or vehicle damage are stored and displayed publicly on the app alongside your report.
- Voice Input: The voice reporting feature uses your device's speech recognition to transcribe spoken descriptions. Audio is processed by your device's built-in speech service and is not recorded or stored by us.
- Push Notifications: With your permission, we use OneSignal to send push notifications about nearby hazards, commute alerts, and status updates on your reports.
- User-Generated Content: Comments, watch zone posts, and community interactions are stored and displayed to other users.
- Usage Data: We may collect anonymized analytics about how the app is used to improve features and performance.
How We Use Your Data
- To place pothole reports on the community map at the correct location.
- To provide real-time proximity alerts when you approach a reported pothole.
- To automatically identify and contact the responsible government jurisdiction on your behalf.
- To send push notifications about report status changes and nearby hazards.
- To calculate community reputation scores and display community contributions.
- To process donations made through the app (payment card data is handled by Stripe and is not stored by us).
Data Sharing
Pothole reports—including location, photos, and descriptions—may be submitted to government agencies and road authorities (such as city, county, or state departments of transportation) via email or Open311 service requests. This sharing is the core function of the app and helps ensure reports reach the responsible authority.
We do not sell your personal data to third parties. Anonymized, aggregated data may be shared for research or public information purposes.
Data Retention
Pothole reports and associated content are retained until the pothole is marked as fixed and a retention period has passed. Your account data is retained for as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time through the app settings.
Permissions Used
- Location: To drop pins at your position and provide proximity alerts.
- Microphone: To enable voice-to-text pothole reporting.
- Notifications: To send alerts about nearby hazards and report updates.
- Camera/Storage: To attach photos of potholes and vehicle damage.
Children's Privacy
PotholePing is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.
Your Rights
You may access, correct, or delete your personal data through the app. You can disable location, microphone, and notification permissions at any time through your device settings. You may delete your account at any time from the Settings page.
Third-Party Services
The app uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:
- Stripe — payment processing for donations
- OneSignal — push notification delivery
- OpenStreetMap — map tiles and geocoding
- Google (via device) — speech recognition for voice reporting
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted within the app, and the "Last updated" date will be revised accordingly.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please use the in-app feedback feature or contact us through the app's Settings page.