This Privacy Policy explains how SeeBu ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards information when you use our website, mobile experience, and related services (collectively, the "Service") for reporting and tracking public infrastructure and community issues in Cebu City. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information described here. This Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service.
1. Overview
SeeBu is built to bridge residents ("Clients"), local government administrators, and field workforce teams so public issues can be reported, verified, and resolved. Because the Service handles reports that may include location data and photos of public spaces, we take privacy and data minimization seriously, including using automated tools to reduce incidental exposure of bystanders in submitted photos.
2. Information We Collect
Account Information
- Name, email address, and password (when you register directly);
- Profile information from Google or Facebook if you sign in with those providers (see Section 6);
- Contact number, when provided; and
- Role information (Client, Admin, Workforce, Superadmin) used to control access within the Service.
Report Information
- The description, category, and status of issues you report;
- Location data (such as an address or map coordinates) associated with a report. If you tap "Use my location," your device's GPS coordinates are collected only with your browser's location permission and only at that moment, to look up your street address (see Section 5);
- Photos submitted as evidence of the reported issue; and
- A generated tracking ID used to look up a report's status without logging in.
Automatically Collected Information
- Session and authentication tokens used to keep you signed in;
- Basic device and usage information (such as browser type and pages visited) collected through standard web server logs; and
- Cookies and similar technologies as described in Section 11.
3. Photos & Face Redaction
Photos submitted with a report often depict streets, infrastructure, or public spaces and may incidentally include bystanders. To reduce the privacy impact of this, SeeBu processes uploaded images through an automated face-redaction service (EgoBlur) that detects and blurs faces before images are stored for review or shown to administrators, workforce accounts, or through the public tracking page. This redaction is automated and intended to reduce identifiability of bystanders; it is not a guarantee that every face will be detected in every image, particularly in low-quality, low-light, or heavily obscured photos.
4. How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and maintain your account and authenticate your sign-ins;
- Receive, route, and display reports to the appropriate administrators and workforce personnel;
- Provide status updates and enable tracking-ID lookups;
- Send transactional communications, such as verification codes, password-reset emails, and report status notifications;
- Maintain the security and integrity of the Service, including detecting abuse and enforcing rate limits; and
- Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests from public authorities.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information as follows:
- With government administrators and workforce personnel responsible for reviewing, verifying, assigning, and resolving the specific reports you submit;
- Publicly, in limited form, when a report's status is looked up using its tracking ID, which does not require login;
- With service providers who help us operate the Service (for example, hosting, email delivery, and the automated face-redaction service), under obligations to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify;
- With map geocoding services, only when you use "Use my location": your device's coordinates are sent directly from your browser to the OpenStreetMap Foundation's Nominatim service and to komoot's Photon service to convert them into a street address. No account or report details are sent with them. Their handling of these requests is governed by the OSMF Privacy Policy and komoot's Privacy Policy; and
- When required by law, such as in response to a valid legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of SeeBu, our users, or the public.
6. Third-Party Sign-In
If you sign up or log in using Google or Facebook, that provider shares limited profile information with us (such as your name, email address, and profile picture) so we can create or match your SeeBu account. We do not receive your password for these providers. Your relationship with Google or Facebook, and the information they collect about you independently of SeeBu, is governed by their own privacy policies.
7. Data Retention
We keep personal information for no longer than one (1) year, measured as follows:
- Reports and photos: one year from the date the report is resolved or closed;
- Accounts: one year from your last sign-in, or until you request deletion, whichever comes first; and
- Server logs and security records: one year from the date they are created.
When the retention period ends, we delete the information or anonymize it so it can no longer identify you. Anonymized, non-personal records of resolved public infrastructure issues (such as the issue type, barangay, and resolution date) may be kept for statistics and government recordkeeping. We may keep specific information longer only where the law requires it or to resolve an ongoing dispute, legal claim, or security investigation, and only for as long as that purpose lasts. If you request account deletion, we will delete or anonymize your personal information without waiting for the retention period to end.
8. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information, including encrypted transmission, hashed passwords, and access controls limiting report data to relevant roles. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Rights & Choices
Subject to applicable law, including the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012, you may have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal information, object to or restrict certain processing, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@seebu.app. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.
10. Children's Privacy
The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.
11. Cookies & Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and understand how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may limit some features, such as staying logged in between visits.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Effective date" above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at privacy@seebu.app.