Lightwatch Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Introduction

Lightwatch ("we", "our", or "the app") is a utility outage tracking application for Cameroon. This policy describes what data we collect, how we use it, how it is stored and protected, and your rights regarding that data.

Information We Collect

Account Information: When you create an account we collect your email address, username, and optionally your region, city and locality. This is used for authentication and to personalise your outage alerts.
Saved Locations: If you choose to save locations for outage monitoring, we store the region, city and neighbourhood names you provide. We do not track your device's GPS location at any time.
WhatsApp Number: If you opt in to WhatsApp alerts, we store the phone number you provide solely to send you outage notifications. We do not share this number with third parties.
Payment Information: Subscription payments are processed by Stripe or PawaPay. We do not store your full card number or mobile money credentials. These providers handle payment data under their own privacy policies.
Chat Messages: Messages you send to the in-app assistant are processed by OpenAI to generate responses. We do not store your chat history on our servers beyond the current session.
Usage Data: We may collect anonymous usage analytics such as app opens and feature interactions to improve the service.

How We Use Your Information

To provide personalised outage alerts for your saved locations
To send WhatsApp notifications if you have opted in
To process subscription payments
To power the AI outage assistant
To improve the app and fix issues

How Your Data Is Managed

Your data is stored in a secured PostgreSQL database hosted on our infrastructure. Access to the database is restricted to authorised systems only and is not publicly accessible. All communication between the app and our servers is encrypted using TLS. Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and are never stored in plain text. Session tokens are stored securely on your device and are invalidated when you sign out.

Outage data is sourced from ENEO's public alert system and is refreshed automatically every 10 minutes. This data does not contain any personal information.

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal data to any third party.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal data. We do not use any third-party analytics, advertising or data collection tools. Your data stays on our servers and is never shared with outside parties.

Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, all associated data — including your profile, saved locations, and subscription records — is permanently deleted from our systems immediately. You can delete your account at any time from the Profile screen in the app.

Security

We use industry-standard security measures including TLS encryption in transit, bcrypt password hashing, and secure token-based session management. We regularly review our security practices to protect your data.

Your Rights

You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data at any time. You can delete your account directly from the app. For other requests, contact us at the email below.

Children's Privacy

Lightwatch is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes through the app or by email.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at privacy@lightwatch.tech.