Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2025

At ParkShark, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website. Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the application.

1. Information We Collect

When you use ParkShark, we collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you create an account, submit a parking violation report, or contact us for support. We are committed to collecting only the information necessary to provide our services.

Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, and password when you register
  • Contact Information: Phone number (optional) for account recovery and notifications
  • Payment Information: Bank account details (IBAN) for processing payouts of your earnings
  • Profile Information: Profile photo (optional) to personalize your account
  • Identity Verification: Government ID may be required for payout processing to prevent fraud

Report Information

When you submit a parking violation report, we collect:

  • Photographic Evidence: Photos of parking violations you submit
  • Location Data: GPS coordinates to verify the location of reported violations
  • Timestamp Data: Date and time when reports are submitted
  • Vehicle Information: License plate numbers visible in submitted photos
  • Violation Details: Type of violation and any additional notes you provide

Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our app:

  • Device Information: Device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers
  • Usage Data: How you interact with our app, features used, and time spent
  • Log Data: IP address, browser type, and access times for security purposes

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Service Delivery: Process and validate parking violation reports you submit
  • Payment Processing: Calculate your earnings and distribute payouts to your bank account
  • Communication: Send you notifications about report status, payments, and account updates
  • Service Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve our app and develop new features
  • Fraud Prevention: Detect and prevent fraudulent reports and account abuse
  • Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
  • Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries and provide technical assistance

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

  • Parking Authorities: We share report details with official parking authorities and municipalities for violation processing. This includes photos, location data, and timestamps.
  • Payment Processors: We share necessary payment information with banking partners to process your payouts.
  • Service Providers: We may share information with third-party vendors who assist us in operating our platform (cloud hosting, analytics, customer support).
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government request.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL protocols
  • Encryption of sensitive data at rest in our databases
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
  • Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
  • Secure data centers located within the European Union

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 3 years after deletion
  • Report Data: Retained for 7 years for legal and compliance purposes
  • Payment Records: Retained for 10 years as required by financial regulations
  • Usage Logs: Retained for 90 days for security and debugging purposes

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following data protection rights:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to Restriction: Request that we limit the processing of your data
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@parkshark.io. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, to protect your data during international transfers.

8. Children's Privacy

ParkShark is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority if you believe we have not complied with applicable data protection laws.