Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to University Lost & Found ("we," "our," or "the App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our mobile application to report, browse, and recover lost and found items on your university campus.

By creating an account or using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

Account information

• Email address and password (passwords are stored securely by our authentication provider)
• First and last name
• Student ID
• Phone number
• Profile photo (optional)

Lost and found posts

• Item title, description, category, and campus location
• Photos you upload of lost or found items
• Contact information you choose to include on a post (e.g., email or phone number)
• Date and time the post was created

Device and notification data

• Push notification tokens (to send you alerts about your posts or matches)
• Notification preferences you set in the App
• Basic device information needed to deliver notifications

Usage data

• Actions you take in the App, such as creating posts, editing your profile, or changing settings
• Authentication events (sign-in, sign-out, password reset requests)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Display your lost and found posts to other campus users
• Enable users to contact each other about lost or found items
• Send push notifications you have opted into
• Verify your identity and protect the security of the App
• Respond to your support requests
• Improve the App and fix technical issues

4. Information Shared With Others

When you post a lost or found item, the information you include in that post (such as your name, contact details, item description, photo, and location) is visible to other users of the App. Please only share contact information you are comfortable making public to the campus community.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with trusted service providers who help us operate the App, including:

• Supabase — authentication, database, and file storage
• OneSignal — push notification delivery

These providers process data on our behalf and are required to protect it in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

5. Permissions

The App may request the following device permissions:

• Camera and photo library — to take or select photos for your profile or posts
• Notifications — to alert you about activity related to your account or posts
• Internet access — required for the App to function

You can revoke permissions at any time through your device settings, though some features may no longer work.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account information and posts for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we are required to retain it by law or for legitimate security purposes.

7. Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and secure authentication, to protect your data. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Update or correct your profile information in the App
• Delete your account and associated data through Settings
• Opt out of push notifications in the App or device settings
• Request a copy of your data or ask us to delete it by contacting us

8a. Account and Data Deletion

You can permanently delete your University Lost & Found account and associated data at any time:

1. Open the app and sign in
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap Delete Account
4. Type DELETE to confirm

This removes your profile, posts, replies, and notification data from our systems. For full deletion instructions, see our Account Deletion page.

If you cannot use the app, email [email protected] to request deletion of your account.

9. Children's Privacy

The App is intended for university students and campus community members. 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 delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page and update the effective date. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +964 751 772 0081