Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 2026

Crime Watch Australia ("we", "us", "our") is operated as a sole trader registered in Australia. We are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following personal information when you use Crime Watch Australia:

• Account information: email address and password (hashed) when you register.
• Phone number: collected during phone verification via SMS OTP.
• Location data: your GPS coordinates when you use the app, to show nearby crimes and send proximity alerts. Location is only collected while the app is in use or monitoring in the background (with your explicit consent).
• Crime reports: location, crime type, description, and any photos you submit.
• Device information: push notification token, device platform (iOS/Android/desktop).
• Payment information: subscription status. Full payment details are processed by Apple App Store, Google Play, or Stripe — we do not store card numbers.
• Usage data: app activity logs for security and debugging purposes.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide real-time crime alerts based on your location.
• Display crime reports submitted by other users near your area.
• Process your subscription and verify payment status.
• Send push notifications when crimes are reported nearby.
• Detect and prevent spam, abuse, and fraudulent reports using automated AI analysis.
• Improve the app and diagnose technical issues.
• Comply with legal obligations.

3. AI-Assisted Processing

Report notes you submit may be analysed by Google Gemini (an AI service operated by Google LLC, USA) for spam detection and crime type classification. This processing is automated. Gemini does not retain your data after processing. You may omit the notes field to avoid this processing.

4. Disclosure to Third Parties

We may share your personal information with:

• Apple Inc. (USA) — if you subscribe via the iOS or macOS App Store.
• Google LLC (USA) — if you subscribe via Google Play, or for AI processing via Gemini API.
• Stripe, Inc. (USA) — if you subscribe via Stripe on desktop platforms.
• Our hosting provider — your data is stored on servers in Australia or with an Australian data centre.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your information for targeted advertising.

5. Overseas Disclosure

Some of our service providers are located overseas (USA). By using Crime Watch Australia, you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from Australian law. We take reasonable steps to ensure these providers protect your information consistent with the APPs.

6. Location Data

Background location access (when enabled) allows Crime Watch to monitor for nearby crimes and alert you even when the app is not open. You can disable background monitoring at any time in Settings or your device's privacy settings. Location data is used only to deliver alerts and is not shared with third parties for advertising purposes.

7. Crime Reports and Community Content

Crime reports you submit are shared with other Crime Watch users within the reported location's vicinity. Reports are associated with your account for moderation purposes but are displayed to other users anonymously (no username or personal details are shown). Reports are automatically hidden after 24 hours from the live map but remain accessible in the Crime History feature for paid subscribers for up to 12 months.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal information, including encrypted token storage, HTTPS for all communications, and hashed passwords. However, no internet transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password.

9. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Crime reports are stored for up to 12 months. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

10. Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your account and personal data.
• Complain about a breach of the APPs.

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email address below. We will respond within 30 days.

11. Cookies and Analytics

The Crime Watch app does not use browser cookies. We may collect anonymised crash reports and usage statistics to improve app performance.

12. Children's Privacy

Crime Watch Australia is not intended for use by persons under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via a notice in the app. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to make a complaint, please contact us:

Crime Watch Australia
support@crime.global

If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.