What we collect & why
We collect only what's needed to power features and maintain authentic, civil discourse.
Account & Profile
Name, email, Firebase UID. Used for login, account integrity, and support.
Civic Data You Provide
Address/ZIP (to determine district), follows, comments, reactions. Used to personalize dashboards and connect you with the right representatives. Posts and comments are visible to other users.
Device & Usage
IP address, device type, operating system, and in-app usage events. Used for security, fraud prevention, and performance.
Social Sign-In
If you sign in with Google, Facebook, or Microsoft, we receive your name, email, and account identifier from the provider. We do not access your contacts, posts, or other data from those services.
Optional Analytics / Cookies
We may use privacy-respecting analytics to understand how features are used. The mobile app does not use cookies. You can opt out of analytics where applicable.
Camera and Photo Library
If you grant permission, the app accesses your camera to scan QR codes at events and capture photos for organization verification. Photo library access is used for profile pictures and post images. Photos you upload are stored securely in Google Cloud Storage.
Location
If you grant permission, the app uses your location to display nearby civic events and determine your congressional district and representatives. Location data is not stored on our servers beyond what is needed to calculate your district.
ID Verification (Stripe Identity)
To keep conversations real and reduce spam, some actions (like posting or voting) may require verified identity.
We use Stripe Identity to verify government-issued identification. Stripe processes ID images and biometric data on our behalf.
CivixThread may have limited access to verification information through Stripe's secure dashboard for review and support purposes, but we do not download or store ID images or biometric data in our own systems.
We keep the verification result and limited metadata for a period necessary to prevent abuse, support appeals, and comply with legal obligations.
How we use data
Provide and improve core features (dashboards, bill tracking, comments, alerts).
Personalize content based on your district and interests.
Protect community integrity with verified identities and anti-abuse measures.
Comply with law, enforce terms, and maintain security.
Analyze anonymized engagement trends to improve civic participation features and reporting.
Retention & your rights
Retention
• Account data: kept while your account is active.
• Verification outcomes: kept for a limited period (e.g., 12 to 24 months) to prevent abuse and satisfy compliance.
• Logs/analytics: typically retained for up to 12 months.
• Payments: payment details are handled by Stripe. We do not store full card numbers.
Your rights
You can access, correct, or delete your data. You can also delete your account directly from the mobile app under Account Settings. Deletion removes your profile, posts, comments, and uploaded images. Email [email protected] for other requests. We verify requests and respond within required timeframes. Additional rights may apply in certain jurisdictions.
Security & children
Security
We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption in transit/at rest, access controls, and monitoring. No method is 100% secure, but we work hard to protect your data.
Children
CivixThread is intended for users who are at least 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18.
Changes & contact
We'll update this page for material changes and revise the "Last updated" date. For questions or feedback, reach us anytime.