FeralMap ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy while maintaining transparency about invasive species data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform at feralmap.com.
1. Information We Collect
Sighting Reports
When you submit an animal sighting, we collect:
- Species type and count
- Location data (latitude, longitude, address)
- Date and time of observation
- Photos or videos (optional)
- Behavioral notes and observations
- Contact information (email, phone - optional)
Account Information
If you create an account, we may collect:
- Name or username
- Email address
- Password (encrypted)
Automatically Collected Information
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- IP address (not stored long-term)
- Usage patterns and analytics
2. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Display sighting reports on the public map
- Share data with conservation agencies and researchers
- Analyze invasive species trends and distributions
- Improve platform functionality and user experience
- Communicate with you about your reports (if you provided contact info)
- Comply with legal obligations
3. Public Data and Transparency
⚠️ Important: Public Data Policy
All sighting reports are made publicly available by default. This includes location data, photos, species information, and observation notes. This is core to our mission of transparent, community-driven conservation data.
However:
- Your contact information (email, phone) is never made public
- We may generalize or restrict location data for sensitive species or privacy concerns
- Account usernames may be displayed with reports if you choose to create an account
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We share sighting data with:
- The Public: All sighting reports are available under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license
- Conservation Agencies: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, USDA Wildlife Services, and other agencies
- Researchers: Scientists and academic institutions studying invasive species
- Data Platforms: iNaturalist, GBIF, and other biodiversity databases (where appropriate)
We will NOT sell your personal information to third parties.
5. Data Retention
- Sighting reports: Retained indefinitely for conservation and research purposes
- Account information: Retained until you request deletion
- Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized after 90 days
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal information
- Correction: Update inaccurate information in your reports
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and contact information (note: public sighting data may remain for conservation purposes)
- Opt-out: Decline to provide optional contact information
To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@nene.org
7. Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, including:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS)
- Secure password hashing
- Regular security updates and monitoring
- Limited access to personal information
However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Children's Privacy
FeralMap does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please have a parent or guardian submit reports on your behalf.
9. Cookies and Tracking
We use minimal cookies and tracking technologies for:
- Session management and authentication
- Basic analytics (page views, popular species)
- Remembering your preferences
We do not use third-party advertising trackers.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of FeralMap after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact: