01 — Information We Collect
Information You Provide
Account Information: Name, username, email, phone number, profile photo, bio, walk preferences, emergency contact (optional).
Walk-Related Information: Walk posts, messages with users, reviews, community posts and photos, distance walked, walk completion status.
Payment Information: Processed by Stripe or Apple — we do not store full card details. Includes billing address and subscription status.
Safety Reports: Reports you submit about users or content, blocks, and moderation decisions.
Information Collected Automatically
Location: Approximate location (city/neighborhood) for matching. Precise GPS collected only when you use "Use Current Location," enable GPS tracking during active walks, or press SOS. Background location only during active walks with auto-tracking enabled; stops automatically when walk ends or after 90 minutes.
Distance Tracking: GPS coordinates during active walks (auto-tracking only), distance traveled, walk start/end times. Only total distance is saved — GPS coordinates are not retained after calculation.
Device & Usage: Device type, OS, IP address, device identifiers, network info, pages/features used, time in app, search queries, community interactions.
Information from Third Parties
Profile info from connected social accounts (if you choose). Information other users provide about you (reviews, reports). Photos are scanned by AWS Rekognition for content moderation — temporarily stored 2–5 seconds; rejected photos immediately deleted.
02 — How We Use Your Information
To Provide the Service
Create and manage your account, match you with nearby walkers, facilitate messaging, process walk requests, display your profile, calculate distances, track walking distance during active walks (if enabled), display community statistics.
For Safety and Security
Verify user identities (optional badge), enable emergency features (pre-walk check-ins, SOS alerts), moderate photos via AWS Rekognition, detect and prevent fraud and abuse, enforce Terms of Service, respond to legal requests.
To Improve the App
Analyze usage patterns, test new features, fix bugs, conduct research, improve distance tracking accuracy and content moderation.
To Communicate
Transactional emails (walk confirmations, account updates), SMS for safety features you initiate, push notifications (you can disable), promotional emails (you can opt out), subscription and billing notifications.
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for advertising purposes.
03 — How We Share Your Information
With Other Users
Publicly visible: Name, username, profile photo, bio, walk preferences, walk posts, community posts/photos, reviews, approximate location (e.g., "Austin, TX"), total miles and walks completed.
NOT shared publicly: Email address, precise GPS during walks, emergency contact info, payment info, GPS coordinates, users you've blocked or reported.
With Service Providers
- Supabase — database hosting (profiles, walk posts, messages)
- AWS Rekognition — photo content moderation
- Stripe — payment processing (paid features)
- Apple — in-app purchase processing (iOS)
- Twilio — SMS (safety check-ins and SOS alerts)
- Google Maps — location services and mapping
All providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for our purposes.
For Legal Reasons
We may disclose information to comply with law or regulation, respond to government requests, protect our rights or user safety, prevent fraud or abuse, or enforce our Terms.
Business Transfers
If Co-Walk is acquired, merged, or sells assets, your information may be transferred to the new owner.
04 — Your Privacy Choices
Account Settings
Edit your profile and photo, choose whether to display your location, delete community posts, block or report users, and choose your distance tracking mode (auto-track, manual entry, or ask each time).
Location Settings
- Approximate location shared by default to show nearby walks
- Precise GPS only collected when you enable auto-tracking (optional)
- Background location only during active walks; automatically stops when walk ends
- Disable location in device settings (will limit App functionality)
- Switch to manual distance entry to avoid GPS entirely
Communications
Opt out of promotional emails via unsubscribe links. Disable push notifications in device settings or in-app. SMS used only for safety features you initiate.
Data Access and Deletion
You have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your data. To exercise these rights, contact info@cowalk.app or use in-app account deletion (Settings → Delete Account).
05 — Data Retention
- Active accounts: Data retained while your account is active
- Deleted accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days
- GPS tracking data: Deleted immediately after distance is recorded
- Rejected photos: Deleted immediately upon rejection
- Backups: Deleted data may persist in backups for up to 90 days
- Some data may be retained longer if required by law
06 — Data Security
We implement reasonable security measures including HTTPS/SSL encryption in transit, encryption at rest, access controls and authentication, regular security audits, automated photo moderation, and server-side secure credential storage.
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. You should use a strong password, not share credentials, log out on shared devices, and report security issues immediately.
07 — Children's Privacy
Co-Walk is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from minors. If you believe a child has provided us with information, contact info@cowalk.app and we will delete it promptly.
08 — International Data Transfers
Co-Walk is based in the United States. If you use the App from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S., which may have different data protection laws than your country. By using the App, you consent to this transfer.
09 — California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
California residents have additional rights: the right to know what data we collect and why; the right to delete personal information; the right to opt out of sale of personal information (note: we do not sell your data); and the right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.
To exercise these rights, email info@cowalk.app with "California Privacy Request" in the subject line.
10 — European Privacy Rights (GDPR)
If you are in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you have rights to: access your data, correct inaccurate data, erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restrict processing, data portability, object to processing, withdraw consent, and lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
Legal basis for processing includes your consent, contractual necessity, legitimate interests (improving the App, preventing fraud), and legal obligations.
Contact our Data Protection Officer at info@cowalk.app for GDPR inquiries.
11 — Photo Content Moderation
All photos uploaded to Co-Walk are automatically scanned via AWS Rekognition in real-time (2–5 seconds) before becoming visible to other users. We scan for nudity, violence, hate symbols, drugs, weapons, and other content defined in our Community Guidelines.
Automated scanning is not 100% accurate — some appropriate photos may be incorrectly flagged. Approved photos are stored in our public bucket. Rejected photos are immediately deleted. Appeal rejections at info@cowalk.app.
12 — GPS Distance Tracking
If you enable auto-tracking, GPS coordinates are collected only during active walks. Distance is calculated using the Haversine formula. Tracking automatically stops when you end the walk or after 90 minutes. Only the total distance is saved — GPS coordinates are not retained.
Auto-tracking is completely optional. You can use manual distance entry, switch modes mid-walk, or change your default preference anytime in Settings. Background location does not track you 24/7 — it is active only during walks. iOS shows a blue bar and Android shows a notification when tracking is active.
13 — Community Statistics
We aggregate user data to display community statistics including total miles walked (Local/USA/World), most active walkers, and trending trails. This data is anonymized and cannot be traced back to individual users.
14 — Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated by posting the updated policy in the App and sending an email notification (if you've provided an email address). Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
15 — Contact Us
- General privacy questions: info@cowalk.app
- GDPR / Data Protection Officer: info@cowalk.app
- Support: info@cowalk.app
- Address: Co-Walk, Austin, TX