Who We Are
PotholeGuard AI Detector is developed and operated by Castel Code Ltd (trading as "Castel Code"), a software company based in Lusaka, Zambia, specialising in mobile applications, AI/ML solutions, web development, and robotics.
Legal Entity & Contact Details
- Company Name: Castel Code Ltd
- Trading Name: Castel Code — Centre of App and Software
- Registered Location: Lusaka, Zambia
- Website:castelcode.tech
- Email: castelcode.tech@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: +260 706 951 176
- Google Play Developer Account: Castel Code
By installing or using PotholeGuard AI Detector, you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please uninstall the application.
Information We Collect
We collect only the data necessary to provide pothole detection, community mapping, and subscription services. The table below lists every data type we collect.
| Data Type | Details | Required / Optional | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPS Location | Latitude, longitude, speed, bearing — updated every 1 second while driving mode is active | Required | Tagging pothole GPS coordinates, map display, nearby alerts |
| Accelerometer / Motion Data | 3-axis linear acceleration readings from device sensor at ~50Hz | Required | Detecting road shocks consistent with potholes |
| Camera Frames (Premium) | Live video frames from rear camera, processed on-device by TFLite AI model | Optional — Premium only | AI visual pothole detection ahead of vehicle |
| Anonymous User ID | Firebase anonymous UID generated automatically on first launch | Required | Attributing pothole reports, managing premium status |
| Subscription Status | Premium subscription state and expiry from Google Play Billing | Optional | Unlocking premium features |
| Pothole Reports | Coordinates, severity, timestamp, speed at detection, detection source | Required | Community crowdsourced pothole map |
| Device Information | Android version, device model — collected by Firebase Analytics only | Optional | Crash reporting and app improvement |
| FCM Token | Firebase Cloud Messaging token for push notifications | Optional | Nearby pothole alerts when app is in background |
🔒 We do NOT collect: your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos, files, browsing history, or any payment card details. Payment is handled entirely by Google Play — we never see your financial information.
How We Use Your Information
Core App Functions
- Detect road shocks and classify them as minor or major potholes
- Tag detected potholes with GPS coordinates and submit to the community map
- Display nearby crowdsourced potholes on the live map
- Deliver voice and push-notification alerts when approaching known potholes
- Calculate road quality scores for your current route
Premium Features (Subscribed Users Only)
- Run on-device AI camera analysis to detect potholes visually ahead of vehicle
- Provide unlimited community alert access
- Generate PDF trip and road condition reports
- Display ad-free experience
Service Improvement
- Aggregate anonymous pothole location data to improve detection accuracy
- Crash and error reporting via Firebase Crashlytics
- App usage analytics via Firebase Analytics (anonymous, aggregated)
We do not use your data for advertising profiling, sell data to third parties, or share data with any government authority unless required by Zambian law.
Location Data & GPS
PotholeGuard requires precise location access (ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION)
to accurately geo-tag pothole reports and to show your position on the community map.
Location data is also used to calculate nearby pothole alerts within a 2 km radius.
Background Location (Driving Mode)
When Driving Mode is active, the app runs a foreground service (indicated by a persistent notification) that continues reading GPS and accelerometer data even when your screen is off or you switch to another app. This is essential for detecting potholes while your phone is mounted in your car.
Location collection stops immediately when you tap "Stop Driving Mode." You can also revoke location permission at any time via Android Settings → Apps → PotholeGuard → Permissions.
What Location Data Is Shared
- GPS coordinates of detected potholes are stored in Firebase Firestore and shared with all app users on the community map
- Your real-time position is never shared with other users — only pothole locations are shared
- Speed at detection time is stored alongside pothole reports to help weight detection confidence
Camera & AI Detection
The AI camera feature is available to Premium subscribers only and requires you to grant camera permission. The rear camera analyses the road ahead in real-time using a TensorFlow Lite model running entirely on your device.
🔒 100% On-Device Processing: Camera frames are processed locally on your phone using the TFLite model. No camera frames, images, or video are ever transmitted to our servers or any third party. Frames are analysed and immediately discarded within milliseconds — nothing is stored.
Camera Permission Details
- Camera is only accessed when you actively open the AI Camera premium feature
- The camera stops immediately when you leave the feature or close Driving Mode
- You can revoke camera permission at any time via Android Settings without affecting the sensor-based detection features
Crowdsourced Pothole Data
PotholeGuard's core value is the community-powered pothole map. When your phone detects a pothole, the following data is submitted to Firebase Firestore and becomes visible to all users of the app:
Data Shared on the Community Map
- GPS coordinates of the pothole (latitude & longitude)
- Severity — Minor or Major, based on detected shock magnitude
- Timestamp — date and time of detection
- Detection source — Sensor, Camera AI, or Manual
- Speed at detection — approximate vehicle speed in km/h
- Confirmation count — how many users confirmed this pothole
Your anonymous user ID is stored alongside each report to prevent duplicate submissions but is not visible to other users. No personal identifying information appears on the map.
Data Quality & Self-Cleaning
Users can confirm or deny existing reports. Reports denied 5 or more times are automatically removed from the map. Reports older than 90 days with zero confirmations are periodically purged to keep the map accurate.
Google Play Billing & Subscriptions
PotholeGuard offers a monthly Premium subscription (Product ID: potholeguard_premium_monthly) processed entirely by Google Play Billing. Castel Code does not handle, store, or see any payment card details.
What We Receive from Google Play
- A purchase token confirming a valid subscription
- Subscription expiry date
- Purchase acknowledgment status
Subscription Management
- Cancel anytime via Google Play Store → Subscriptions
- Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period
- For refunds, contact Google Play Support directly — Google handles all billing disputes
- Premium status is stored against your anonymous Firebase UID in Firestore
Google Play's own Privacy Policy governs all payment processing: policies.google.com/privacy
Firebase & Third-Party Services
PotholeGuard uses Google Firebase services hosted on Google Cloud infrastructure. Data stored in Firebase is subject to Google's data processing terms.
| Service | Provider | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Firestore | Google LLC | Community pothole map database | Pothole reports, anonymous UID, premium status |
| Firebase Authentication | Google LLC | Anonymous sign-in for user attribution | Anonymous UID only — no email or name |
| Firebase Analytics | Google LLC | App usage analytics | Aggregate, anonymised usage events |
| Firebase Cloud Messaging | Google LLC | Push notifications for nearby potholes | FCM device token |
| Google Maps SDK | Google LLC | Rendering the pothole community map | Map tile requests, current viewport |
| Google Play Billing | Google LLC | Monthly Premium subscription | Purchase token, subscription status |
| TensorFlow Lite | Google LLC (on-device) | AI pothole detection from camera | No data leaves device — fully local |
Google's Privacy Policy:
policies.google.com/privacy
Firebase Data Processing:
firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Data Retention & Deletion
Retention Periods
- Pothole reports: Retained indefinitely to maintain the community map. Reports with 5+ denials or older than 90 days with no confirmations are automatically deleted
- Anonymous user account: Retained while the app is installed. Deleted upon account deletion request
- Premium subscription status: Retained until subscription expires or deletion is requested
- Analytics data: Aggregated, anonymised — retained for 14 months per Google Analytics default settings
- Camera frames: Never stored — deleted from memory within milliseconds of processing
How to Delete Your Data
To request deletion of all your data associated with your anonymous account, contact us at castelcode.tech@gmail.com with the subject line "PotholeGuard Data Deletion Request". We will delete your Firestore user document and all pothole reports linked to your anonymous UID within 30 days.
Uninstalling the app removes local data from your device immediately. Firestore data requires a deletion request as above.
Data Security
Castel Code implements multiple layers of security to protect your data:
Technical Security Measures
- R8 Code Obfuscation: Release builds use R8 minification and obfuscation to protect source code from reverse engineering
- Resource Shrinking: Unused code and resources removed from production builds
- Firebase Security Rules: Firestore access rules restrict read/write to authenticated users only
- HTTPS/TLS: All data transmitted to Firebase uses encrypted TLS connections
- On-Device AI: Camera frames never leave your device — zero network transmission
- Anonymous Authentication: No personally identifiable credentials stored or transmitted
While we implement industry-standard security practices, no system is 100% immune to risk. We recommend keeping your Android OS and the app updated to benefit from the latest security patches.
Children's Privacy
PotholeGuard AI Detector is designed for drivers and road users and is intended for users aged 13 years and above. The app is rated for general audiences on Google Play.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with data, please contact us at castelcode.tech@gmail.com and we will delete the data within 30 days.
Your Rights
As a user of PotholeGuard you have the following rights regarding your data:
Your Data Rights
- Right to Access: Request a copy of all data we hold linked to your anonymous UID
- Right to Deletion: Request deletion of all your data — see Section 9
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Revoke location or camera permissions at any time via Android Settings
- Right to Opt Out of Analytics: Disable Firebase Analytics via Android Settings → Privacy → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalisation
- Right to Stop Data Collection: Uninstall the app — all on-device data is immediately removed
To exercise any right, contact us at castelcode.tech@gmail.com. We respond within 30 days.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as the app gains new features or as legal requirements change. When we make significant changes we will:
How You Will Be Notified
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Post an in-app notification on the next app launch after the change
- Update the Privacy Policy link on the Google Play Store listing
Continued use of PotholeGuard after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Previous versions are available on request.
Contact Us
For any privacy questions, data requests, or concerns about PotholeGuard AI Detector, contact Castel Code through any of the channels below:
CASTEL CODE LTD
Centre of App and Software
📍 Lusaka, Zambia
💬 WhatsApp: +260 706 951 176
Response time: within 30 days for data requests, within 5 business days for general enquiries.