SENTINEL Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 22, 2026

SENTINEL ("we", "our", or "the app") is a real-time situational awareness and safety information app. We respect your privacy and have built the app to collect as little personal data as possible. This policy explains what information SENTINEL accesses, how it is used, and your choices.

1. Information We Access

Location data

• SENTINEL accesses your device's approximate or precise location only while you are using the app, and only with your permission.
• Your location is used in real time to compute area risk scores, surface nearby alerts, plan routes, and request relevant briefings. It is not stored on our servers and is not associated with any account.
• You can disable location access at any time in your device's iOS or Android Settings. The app remains usable without location, with reduced personalization.

Camera and Photo Library

• If you choose to attach a photo to a report, SENTINEL accesses your camera or photo library at that moment, with your permission.
• Photos are used only for the report you create. They are not uploaded to our servers unless you explicitly send a report. We do not scan your library or collect images in the background.

Notifications

• If you enable notifications, SENTINEL uses Apple Push Notification service / Firebase Cloud Messaging to deliver alerts about safety events and activity in the app.
• You can disable notifications at any time in your device settings.

Information stored locally on your device

• SENTINEL stores app preferences (such as language, last-used inputs, onboarding state, layout settings) on your device using standard local storage. This data never leaves your device.

2. Information We Do Not Collect

• SENTINEL does not require you to create an account.
• We do not collect your name, email, phone number, contacts, calendar, or microphone data.
• We do not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for advertising.
• We do not include third-party analytics or advertising SDKs that track you across other apps and websites.

3. How Your Data Is Processed

SENTINEL relies on a backend service operated by us to (a) proxy requests to public open-data feeds, and (b) generate AI-assisted briefings using a third-party large language model provider (such as OpenRouter / Anthropic). When you request a briefing or use AI features, the relevant query (which may include your current city/area name and the data points being summarized) is sent to that provider for processing. We do not include personal identifiers in these requests.

Open-data sources used by SENTINEL include but are not limited to: USGS, NWS, FEMA IPAWS, NASA EONET/FIRMS, NOAA NHC, GDELT, ReliefWeb, GDACS, CISA KEV, MTA, Amtrak, MBTA, BART, SEPTA, CBP, and various municipal police, fire, and transit agencies. These sources operate under their own terms; SENTINEL only retrieves and displays publicly available data.

4. Data Retention

SENTINEL does not maintain user accounts, so we do not retain a personal history tied to you. Backend logs may include short-lived technical information (such as IP-derived region and request timestamps) used to operate the service, prevent abuse, and diagnose errors. These logs are retained for a short period and are not used for advertising or profiling.

5. Children

SENTINEL is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with information, contact us and we will delete it.

6. Your Choices and Rights

• You can revoke location, camera, photo, and notification permissions at any time in your device settings.
• You can clear all locally stored app data by deleting and reinstalling the app.
• If you are in a jurisdiction with applicable privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), you may contact us with requests regarding your data.

7. Security

All network requests between the app and our backend, and between our backend and third-party data providers, use HTTPS. While no system is perfectly secure, we apply industry-standard practices to protect data in transit.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be noted within the app where appropriate.

9. Contact

Questions about this policy or your data can be sent to the contact email listed on SENTINEL's App Store page.

SENTINEL is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official emergency services. Always call your local emergency number in a life-threatening situation.