Privacy policy

Who we are

CleanNile is a civic environmental reporting and cleanup platform connected to Save the Nile. The platform helps communities submit pollution reports, coordinate cleanup events, and manage volunteer participation.

This privacy policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what controls users have when they use CleanNile.

Information we collect

Account and profile data: email address, Firebase account identifier, full name, phone number, age, title, school or institution, biography, and profile photo if you choose to add one. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address and profile photo from Google.

Environmental reporting data: report category, severity, suburb area, description, timestamps, precise location coordinates, and photo evidence attached to submitted reports.

Location data: with your permission, the app reads your device's precise location when you submit a report, and reads location information stored in a photo you choose to attach, so the report is placed where the problem is. If you allow it, the map can also use your location to show reports and events near you. Location is not tracked in the background.

App activity: points, badges, learning lessons and cards you have completed, and the reports and events they relate to.

Crash and diagnostic data: in the Android app, crash reports and error details (device model, operating system version, app version and the error) are sent to Firebase Crashlytics so we can fix problems. They are not linked to your account.

Device data: a notification token for your device if you allow notifications, and app integrity signals used to confirm requests come from the genuine CleanNile app (Firebase App Check with Google Play Integrity on Android and Google reCAPTCHA on the web).

Event participation data: volunteer name, phone number, sex, age category, participant type, participant title, disability status, disability category, and optional event notes when joining events.

Communication data: event chat messages, sender display name, sender role label, and timestamps.

Operational staff data: staff roles, onboarding email addresses, and audit logs for role changes and privileged actions.

How we use your information

We use account and profile data to sign users in, manage access levels, prefill event registration details, and help coordinators verify who is participating.

We use location data to place reports on the map and to show nearby reports and events. We use app activity to award points and badges, and device data to send the notifications you allow and to protect the service from fake or automated requests.

We use environmental report data to review incidents, place approved reports on the public map, analyze hotspots, and support cleanup or advocacy action.

We use event registration data to coordinate participants, manage attendance limits, support donor and NGO reporting, and understand inclusion and participation trends.

We use staff access data and audit logs to protect administrative functions, moderate reports, and track sensitive role changes.

When information is visible to others

Approved environmental reports may become visible on the map and in other public-facing views after moderation.

Event details may be public, but volunteer demographic fields and admin audit logs are not public.

Event chat is only available to authorized event participants and staff who have access to that event.

Only post photos and text you made yourself or have permission to use. To report content that infringes your copyright, see cleannile.org/copyright.

Storage and service providers

CleanNile uses Firebase and Google Cloud services, including Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Firebase Storage, and hosting infrastructure, to run the app.

These services process data on our behalf to provide account management, database storage, file storage, push notifications, app integrity checks, crash reporting, and delivery of the application.

Map backgrounds (the streets and satellite images behind reports) come from other providers: OpenStreetMap, CARTO, Esri, OpenFreeMap and EOX. They only load after you choose "Show background map"; until then maps show reports on a plain background. Once you allow it, these providers receive your device's IP address and the map area being viewed. You can turn this off again in Profile, Settings, Background maps.

On the website, Google reCAPTCHA (part of Firebase App Check) checks that requests come from a real person using CleanNile. It only runs after you sign in, and Google receives information about your device and how the page is used for that purpose. In the Android app, Google Play Integrity does this instead.

Everything else the app needs, including its fonts, scripts and map marker images, is served from our own domain. We do not use analytics, advertising pixels, session recording, or third-party chat widgets.

We do not sell personal data and we do not use your data for third-party advertising.

Security

We use authenticated access controls, role-based permissions, and HTTPS-secured network communication for app traffic.

No online system can guarantee perfect security, but we work to limit access to sensitive data and to keep administrative actions auditable.

Retention

We keep data for as long as it is reasonably necessary to operate CleanNile, support moderation, coordinate events, meet reporting obligations, or respond to security and legal issues.

Some operational records, audit logs, or approved public reports may need to be retained for accountability even after a user stops actively using the service.

Your choices and rights

You can update most profile information directly inside the app.

You can delete your account and its data yourself at any time from Profile, then Account deletion, or at app.cleannile.org/account-deletion. This deletes your login, profile, points and badges, event registrations, notifications, and reports that were not published.

Published reports stay on the public map without the link to your account, and messages you sent in event chats remain shown as "Former volunteer". If you cannot sign in, email info@savethenile.org to request deletion.

You can turn off location and notification access at any time in your device settings.

Children

CleanNile is not intended for children under 13, and accounts are only for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18.

Everyone is asked their date of birth when they create an account (or the first time they sign in). If the date shows someone is under 18, the account and the details we received are deleted straight away. We keep only the fact that an adult date of birth was given, not the date itself.

If you believe someone under 18 has created an account, contact info@savethenile.org and we will delete it.

Contact

For privacy questions, contact Save the Nile at info@savethenile.org.