Privacy Policy for QuakeWatch

 Privacy Policy for QuakeWatch

Effective Date: August 21, 2026

At QuakeWatch, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

1. Information Collection and Use

Location Data

To provide the "Nearby Earthquakes" feature and display your position on the map, QuakeWatch requests access to your device's location (Precise and Coarse).

•Usage: We use this data only to calculate the distance between you and seismic events and to center the map on your position.

•Storage: We do not store your location on our servers. The location processing happens locally on your device.

Device Information

We may collect information about the mobile device you use, including the hardware model, operating system version, and unique device identifiers for analytics and ad delivery purposes.

2. Third-Party Services

QuakeWatch integrates third-party services that may collect information used to identify you:

Advertising (Google AdMob)

We use Google AdMob to display advertisements. AdMob may use your advertising ID to serve personalized ads based on your interests. You can manage your consent and privacy options via the in-app "Privacy Options" menu.

Seismic Data (USGS)

We fetch earthquake data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). No personal data is shared with this service; we only request public seismic information.

Geocoding (Nominatim / OpenStreetMap)

We use Nominatim for location search and reverse geocoding (turning coordinates into addresses). Your search queries are sent to their servers to provide relevant results.

Map Services (MapLibre / MapTiler)

Maps are displayed using MapLibre and MapTiler. These services may receive technical data (like your IP address) necessary to serve the map tiles.

3. Data Storage

QuakeWatch uses local storage (DataStore/SharedPreferences) on your device to save your preferences, such as:

•Map type settings.

•Filter preferences (magnitude, time, radius).

•In-app credits for location searches.

This data remains on your device and is not synchronized to an external cloud.

4. User Rights (GDPR / CCPA)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or California, you have specific rights regarding your data. QuakeWatch uses the Google User Messaging Platform (UMP) to allow you to:

•Grant or withdraw consent for personalized ads.

•View and manage your privacy choices at any time through the app settings.

5. Children’s Privacy

Our services do not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13.

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. You are advised to review this page periodically for any changes. Changes are effective immediately after they are posted on this page.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us.