Last Updated: November 5, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using DisasterLink ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our services.

2. Description of Service

DisasterLink is a disaster management platform that provides:

• Real-time disaster alerts and notifications
• Emergency SOS request functionality
• Community-based incident reporting
• AI-powered image authenticity verification
• Emergency contact management
• Barangay-level community coordination

3. User Responsibilities

As a user of DisasterLink, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration
• Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials
• Report genuine emergencies only through the SOS system
• Submit authentic, unmanipulated images for incident reports
• Respect community guidelines and other users
• Not misuse the platform for false alarms or malicious purposes
• Keep your location information updated for accurate emergency response

4. Emergency Services Disclaimer

DisasterLink is a supplementary tool and should not replace official emergency services. In case of immediate danger:

• Call local emergency numbers (911 in Philippines)
• Contact local disaster risk reduction offices
• Use DisasterLink as an additional communication channel

We are not liable for delays in emergency response or system unavailability during critical situations.

5. Content and User Submissions

When you submit content (posts, images, reports) to DisasterLink:

• You retain ownership of your content
• You grant us a license to use, display, and share your content for disaster management purposes
• Images may be analyzed by our AI system for authenticity verification
• Content may be shared with authorities and emergency responders
• We reserve the right to remove content that violates our guidelines

6. AI Image Verification

Our platform uses AI technology to detect manipulated or screenshot images:

• Verification accuracy is approximately 98.81%
• Results are advisory and not absolute determinations
• Images flagged as potentially manipulated may require additional verification
• We do not guarantee 100% accuracy in all cases

7. Privacy and Data Collection

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information about how we collect, use, and protect your data.

8. Prohibited Activities

You may not:

• Submit false emergency reports or SOS requests
• Upload manipulated or misleading images
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system
• Use the platform for commercial purposes without authorization
• Share another user's personal information without consent
• Interfere with the platform's operation or security

9. Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms of Service
• You engage in prohibited activities
• Your account is used for malicious purposes
• Required by law or regulatory authorities

10. Limitation of Liability

DisasterLink and its operators shall not be liable for:

• Service interruptions or technical failures
• Delays in emergency notifications
• Actions taken based on user-submitted information
• Inaccuracies in AI-generated assessments
• Loss or damage resulting from platform use

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Users will be notified of significant changes through the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of new terms.

12. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Any disputes shall be resolved in accordance with Philippine jurisdiction.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through the platform's support channels or your local barangay coordinator.

Last Updated: November 5, 2025

1. Introduction

DisasterLink ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our disaster management platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

• Registration Data: First name, last name, email address, password (encrypted)
• Profile Information: Contact number, barangay/community affiliation, role (resident, responder, official)
• Emergency Contacts: Names and phone numbers of your designated emergency contacts

2.2 Location Data

• Real-time GPS coordinates when you activate SOS requests
• Location history for emergency response coordination
• Barangay-level location information for community alerts
• Device location for proximity-based notifications

2.3 Content Data

• Images uploaded for incident reports and community posts
• Text content in posts, comments, and reports
• SOS request details and emergency descriptions
• AI image verification results and metadata

2.4 Technical Data

• IP address and device information
• Browser type and operating system
• Log data including access times and pages viewed
• Push notification tokens for Firebase Cloud Messaging

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Emergency Services

• Processing and routing SOS requests to appropriate responders
• Sharing location data with emergency personnel during active incidents
• Notifying your emergency contacts when you activate SOS
• Coordinating community-level disaster response

3.2 Platform Operations

• Authenticating your identity and managing your account
• Sending disaster alerts and announcements relevant to your location
• Facilitating community communication and incident reporting
• Analyzing images with AI to verify authenticity

3.3 Improvements and Analytics

• Monitoring platform performance and system uptime
• Analyzing usage patterns to improve features
• Training and improving AI models for image verification
• Generating anonymized statistics for disaster preparedness research

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Emergency Responders

During active emergencies, we share relevant information with:

• Barangay officials and disaster response coordinators
• Medical and rescue personnel
• Law enforcement when required for public safety
• Government disaster management agencies

4.2 Community Members

• Your name and profile information visible to your community
• Posts and incident reports you choose to share publicly
• General location (barangay-level) visible to community members

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by:

• Philippine law and legal processes
• Court orders or government investigations
• National disaster declarations and emergency protocols
• Data Privacy Act of 2012 compliance requirements

5. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your information:

• Password encryption using industry-standard hashing (bcrypt)
• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure database storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Activity logging for unauthorized access detection
• Firebase Cloud Messaging security for push notifications

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after deletion
• SOS Records: Kept for 5 years for emergency response analysis
• Incident Reports: Archived for 3 years for disaster pattern analysis
• Activity Logs: Retained for 1 year for security purposes
• AI Training Data: Images analyzed may be anonymized and retained for model improvement

7. Your Rights

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data (with limitations during active emergencies)
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Object: Opt-out of certain data processing activities
• Complaint: File a complaint with the National Privacy Commission

8. AI Image Verification Privacy

Regarding our AI-powered image authenticity system:

• Images are analyzed locally on our servers (not shared with third parties)
• Only metadata and verification scores are stored, not full image content
• Anonymized image features may be used to improve AI model accuracy
• You can request deletion of image analysis records

9. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect data:

• Firebase Cloud Messaging: For push notifications (Google Privacy Policy applies)
• Traccar: For GPS tracking during emergencies (self-hosted, data not shared externally)
• Laravel Framework: Web application infrastructure (no external data sharing)

10. Children's Privacy

DisasterLink is intended for users 13 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover such collection, we will delete the information immediately.

11. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Users will be notified of significant changes through:

• Platform notifications
• Email announcements
• Prominent display on the registration page

12. Contact Information

For privacy-related inquiries or to exercise your rights:

• Contact your barangay coordinator through the platform
• Submit a privacy request through your account settings
• File a formal complaint with the National Privacy Commission (www.privacy.gov.ph)

13. Compliance

DisasterLink complies with:

• Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012)
• National Privacy Commission Circulars and Advisories
• Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
• Relevant local ordinances on data protection