This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their personal information is being collected and used online by the Cows and Fish mobile apps.
Personal information in the context of this policy, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your personal information in any of our online tools.
What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our apps?
When registering on our mobile apps, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name and email address to create a profile which will allow all data you enter to be connected to one identity, thereby enhancing both the user experience and the scientific rigour.
Mobile apps may collect GPS locations and IP addresses as part of the data collection functionality that is at the core purpose of those apps.
Please note that mobile apps may collect photos, but these are of ecological or natural features, and are only collected through explicit user upload. As well, users are not encouraged to enter photos which could personally identify them.
When do we collect information?
We collect information from you when you register on our apps. GPS locations are entered as part of your active submission of data through data collection apps or web mapping tools, if you choose to record locations. IP addresses are entered as part of your active submission of data through data collection apps or web mapping tools to facilitate data cleaning and identify malicious use.
How do we use your information?
All information collected online, personal or otherwise, is used in support of our mandate as a conservation stewardship charity.
Your email address and name, when collected, are used only for the purpose identified by the app where you are asked to enter this information. Personal information gathered for one app, web site, project or purpose is not transferred to other apps, web sites or projects.
GPS coordinates are gathered when app users are asked to enter geo-locations for ecological or natural data. This information is only used by us to understand where users are generally (not specifically) using the app, such as in what county or similar scale of area. We may use location information to create aggregate data that summarizes the county, region or watershed where the app is being used, for program planning or reporting purposes, but we will not identify any individual site information in such aggregate or summary data.
IP addresses are gathered with active data submission. This information is used to facilitate data cleaning and identify malicious use. IP addresses are not shared outside of the project for which they were collected.
Who will have access to the information
Although the data collected through our apps may be shared outside of the Cows and Fish in aggregate or summarized form, no personal information nor any individual site information will be. Only Cows and Fish's staff in charge of the program for which the data is collected, and Cows and Fish's web programmer will have access to any personal information. That information will not be shared without your express permission.
How will the information be safeguarded?
All information is stored in an online database as part of a project's website. This data is safeguarded with a firewall and a Black Shield service to watch for malicious activity.
How long will the information be retained?
Personal information gathered as part of a project is retained for the duration of the project.
At any time, Cows and Fish will respond to a written request for the deletion of personal information by immediately deleting that information from the relevant project or organizational databases.
Third-party disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties any personal information collected directly or indirectly by our mobile apps.
We also do not provide non-personally identifiable visitor information to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Opting out
Mobile app users may delete their profile at any time by contacting Cows and Fish.
PIPEDA / PIPA Compliance
Cows and Fish operates under the laws of Canada and the Province of Alberta, and as such is bound by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
To ensure compliance, this privacy policy was developed using Guidelines for Online Consent (https://www.priv.gc.ca/media/2105/gl_oc_201405_e.pdf) and Seizing Opportunity: Good Privacy Practices for Developing Mobile Apps (http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/priv/IP54-45-2012-eng.pdf) both developed by the federal Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact Cows and Fish.