Privacy Policy of the Child Protection Information Management & Monitoring System

Introduction

This Privacy Policy applies to the CPIMMS, provided by the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services (DCWSS), herein referred to as "we", "us", or "our". The protection of your data is paramount to us. This document outlines our practices for collecting, using, and sharing data within CPIMMS. Please note, the CPIMMS app is intended for use by internal users and is not accessible to the general public. This measure ensures that access is appropriately restricted to safeguard sensitive information handled within the app.

Accessibility and Identification
  • This Privacy Policy is linked on our app’s store listing page in the Play Console and within the CPIMMS app itself.

  • This document is labeled clearly as the "Privacy Policy" for CPIMMS, managed by the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services (DCWSS), as named in our Google Play listing.

Contact Information
  • For privacy-related inquiries, please contact us via email at scpstn10@gmail.com. This serves as the primary mechanism for submitting inquiries and accessing our privacy point of contact.

Web Accessibility
  • Our Privacy Policy is hosted on an active, publicly accessible URL, ensuring it can be read in a standard browser without the need for any plug-ins or special software, aligning with the requirement for being non-editable and universally accessible.

Comprehensive Disclosure of Data Practices
  • Types of Data Collected: We disclose that CPIMMS accesses, collects, uses, and shares personal and sensitive user data, including but not limited to, names, contact information, demographic details, and data specific to child welfare cases.

  • Data Sharing: Personal and sensitive data may be shared with government agencies, legal entities, and service providers, strictly for legitimate purposes or as required by law, under strict confidentiality terms.

  • Secure Data Handling: Our data handling procedures include the use of encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to ensure the safety of personal and sensitive data.

  • Data Retention and Deletion: We maintain a clear data retention policy that specifies how long personal data is kept and the conditions under which it is deleted or anonymized.

Handling of Personal and Sensitive User Data

Our commitment to your privacy and the security of your data is paramount. This section outlines our practices and responsibilities concerning the handling of personal and sensitive user data, as defined by our operational standards and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Personal and sensitive user data may include, but is not limited to:

  • Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

  • Location data

  • Other types of sensitive user or device usage information

Permissions Requested by Our Application

Our application requests certain permissions to provide you with the best possible experience. Below, we explain why each permission is needed and how we use it:

1. Location Permission: android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION

Why We Need This Permission: We use coarse location data to store the inspection location information for our services. Coarse location provides general information about your location (e.g., city or region) without accessing your precise GPS coordinates. This allows us to accurately log where inspections occur, ensuring better service quality and relevant content without compromising your privacy.

How We Use This Data
  • To personalize content and services based on your general location.

  • To improve app features and functionality that rely on location data.

Your Choices
  • You can choose to deny this permission. If denied, location-based services may not be fully functional, but you can still use other features of the app.

2. Storage Permissions: android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Why We Need These Permissions:We require access to your device's external storage to allow you to save and retrieve files and documents, within the app.

How We Use This Data:
  • To read media files that you choose to upload or share within the app.

  • To save files created or modified within the app to your device.

Your Choices
  • You can choose to deny these permissions. If denied, some features, such as uploading and saving files, may not function properly.

3. Media Permissions: android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES

Why We Need This Permission: We request access to your media files to allow you to upload images to the app, for example, for profile pictures or sharing images with other users.

How We Use This Data:
  • To access and display images from your device within the app.

  • To enable image editing and sharing functionalities.

Your Choices
  • You can choose to deny this permission. If denied, image-related features may not be available, but you can still use other functionalities of the app.

User Consent and Control

We value your privacy and provide you with control over your personal data and permissions. You can manage and revoke these permissions at any time through your device settings. Here’s how:

  1. 1. Go to your device’s Settings.
  2. 2. Select “Apps” or “Application Manager.”
  3. 3. Find and select our app.
  4. 4. Tap “Permissions” to manage the permissions.
Data Collection and Use Limitations

We strictly limit the access, collection, use, and sharing of personal and sensitive user data to purposes that are directly related to the functionality of the app and services we provide. This is in alignment with what users reasonably expect from our interactions. Specifically:

  • Any use of personal and sensitive user data for advertising purposes is in strict compliance with Google Play’s Advertising policies.

  • Data may be transferred to service providers or as required by law, under conditions such as compliance with governmental requests, adherence to applicable laws, or as part of a merger or acquisition, with legally adequate notice provided to our users.

Data Security and Transmission

All personal and sensitive user data is handled with the utmost care and security. This includes:

  • The secure transmission of data using modern cryptographic methods, such as HTTPS, to protect the information during transfer.

  • The implementation of runtime permissions requests, as per Android guidelines, ensuring that access to data requiring permissions is granted explicitly by the user.

Prohibition of Data Sale

We uphold a strict policy against the sale of personal and sensitive user data. Within this context, "sale" is defined as the exchange or transfer of personal and sensitive user data to a third party for monetary considerations. It is important to note that:

  • User-initiated transfers of personal and sensitive user data, such as using app features to transfer files to third parties or participation in dedicated purpose research studies, do not constitute a sale under this policy.

By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure that our practices not only comply with relevant laws and policies but also align with our commitment to safeguarding the privacy and security of our users’ data.

User Rights

This section reiterates the users' rights concerning their data, including access, correction, deletion, and the right to lodge complaints.

Updates to the Privacy Policy

This policy may be updated to reflect changes in our data practices or legal requirements, with the latest version always available via the provided URL.

Acknowledgment and Consent

By using CPIMMS, users acknowledge they have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the data practices described herein.

Effective Date

20th March 2024