1. Introduction
Welcome to AidLink, a mobile application dedicated to providing real-time updates on fire/EMS 911 calls in South King County, Washington. Our mission is to offer users timely and relevant information regarding emergency services activities in their vicinity, with plans to expand our coverage in the future.
This Privacy Policy is designed to inform you about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our app. We are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of your data, enabling you to use AidLink with confidence and trust.
By using AidLink, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. We encourage you to read this document thoroughly to understand our practices regarding your personal information and how we will treat it.
2. Information Collection
AidLink collects a minimal amount of information from its users, primarily focusing on email addresses. This information is essential for the following purposes:
Account Creation and Verification: To access AidLink, you are required to create an account using your email address. This process helps us verify your identity and, if applicable, your department affiliation. Department-affiliated users gain enhanced access to call data, reflecting our commitment to providing tailored information to different user groups.
Method of Collection: Your email address is collected directly from you during the account registration process. You will be asked to provide this piece of information voluntarily to set up your AidLink account and to verify your affiliation, if any.
Our approach to information collection is designed to respect your privacy, focusing solely on data necessary to deliver and optimize the services offered by AidLink. We do not collect any additional personal information beyond what is required for these specific purposes.
3. Use of Information
The primary use of the information collected by AidLink, specifically your email address, is to facilitate account creation and verification processes. This enables us to distinguish between department-affiliated users and regular/lay users, providing access levels appropriate to each user’s status. The distinctions in access are crucial for ensuring that sensitive call data is responsibly managed and shared only with verified individuals who have a legitimate need for such information.
Beyond account verification, your email address is utilized for the following purposes:
Service Provision: Your email address enables us to offer personalized services, including access to real-time fire/EMS 911 call feeds. This personalization is essential for delivering a user experience that is both relevant and useful.
Communication: We may use your email address to communicate with you about updates to the service, security alerts, and support messages. These communications are designed to enhance your experience with AidLink and to ensure the security of your account.
Improvement of Services: Feedback and interaction data may be used to improve AidLink’s offerings and to troubleshoot any issues users may encounter. This helps us to continually refine and enhance the service we provide to you.
Your information is treated with the utmost respect and is only used in ways that are necessary for the operation and improvement of AidLink. We are committed to using your personal information responsibly and transparently.
4. Sharing of Information
AidLink is committed to protecting the privacy of our users and does not share personal information with any third parties. The email addresses collected for account creation and verification are solely for internal use and are not disclosed, sold, or rented to third parties. Our policy ensures that your personal information remains confidential and is only used to support your use of AidLink’s services.
In the case of a legal requirement, such as a court order or other legal process, we may be compelled to disclose your personal information. However, we will only do so when we believe in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of AidLink, third parties, or the public at large. In such scenarios, we aim to provide you with notice if legally permissible, allowing you to contest the disclosure if you choose to do so.
This commitment to non-disclosure underscores our dedication to privacy and security, ensuring that your experience with AidLink is both safe and personalized to your needs.
5. International Data Transfer
Currently, AidLink operates solely within South King County, Washington, and does not engage in international data transfer. All personal information collected by AidLink is stored and processed within the United States. As our services are localized and tailored to the needs of the community in South King County, there are no international operations necessitating the transfer of personal data across borders at this time.
Should AidLink expand its operations in the future, any changes to this policy regarding international data transfer will be communicated through an updated Privacy Policy. Our commitment is to ensure that any such data transfers comply with applicable laws and regulations, providing the same level of privacy protection as described in this policy.
6. User Rights
AidLink recognizes and respects your rights over your personal information. Given the lightweight nature of the data we collect (limited to email addresses), our users enjoy the following rights:
Account Deletion: You have the right to delete your account at any time. Account deletion can be easily accomplished through the app’s settings page. Upon deletion, your email address and any associated data are permanently removed from our systems, reflecting our commitment to your right to be forgotten.
Transparency and Control: Although we collect minimal information, we ensure you have control over it. You can access and update your email address through your account settings, ensuring your information remains accurate and up to date.
We encourage our users to exercise their rights and contact us if they have any questions or concerns about their personal information. Our goal is to ensure your experience with AidLink is both secure and empowering, with clear and straightforward options for managing your privacy.
7. Data Security
The security of your personal information is paramount to us at AidLink. We employ a variety of security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
Authentication: We use email magic links for secure authentication, ensuring that only verified users can access their accounts.
Secure Storage: Your email addresses are stored in a secure PostgreSQL database, with access strictly controlled and monitored.
Data Encryption: We use encrypted JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) to manage sessions and protect your data as it is transmitted over the internet.
Additionally, AidLink’s use of JWTs for authentication and session management means that critical information is kept secure, with tokens stored in asynchronous local storage on the client side. This approach minimizes the risk of unauthorized access, providing a robust security framework for our users.
While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, it’s important to recognize that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We are committed to continuously improving our security practices to ensure the highest level of protection for your data.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
AidLink uses JWTs (JSON Web Tokens) for the purpose of managing sessions and authenticating users, rather than traditional cookies. JWTs are secure tokens that the client persists in asynchronous local storage and sends with each request to the server. This method ensures a seamless user experience while maintaining a high level of security and privacy.
Unlike cookies, which can be used to track user activity across different websites, JWTs are used exclusively within AidLink to maintain your session’s security and integrity. They do not track your activity outside of our app, nor are they used for advertising purposes.
9. Children’s Privacy
AidLink does not specifically target or collect personal information from children under the age of 13. We do not restrict users based on age, as we do not collect age information upon account creation or at any point during the use of our services. However, if we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Parents or guardians who believe that their child has provided us with personal information without their consent should contact us immediately. We are committed to protecting the privacy of young users and will take appropriate measures to address any concerns.
10. Changes to the Privacy Policy
AidLink reserves the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes to this policy will be posted on our Privacy Policy page at www.aidlink.com/privacy-policy and, where appropriate, notified to you by email or through our app. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices.
Your continued use of AidLink after any changes to the Privacy Policy are posted will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the updated policy.
11. Contact Information
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or the practices of AidLink, or if you seek to exercise any of your rights related to your personal information, please contact us through the following means:
Email: support@aidlink.com
Physical Address: 7511 Greenwood Ave N, Unit 4240, Seattle, WA 98103
We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns about privacy. AidLink is committed to ensuring that your personal data is protected and managed with respect and transparency.
Updated on February 21, 2024
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