CERQL ("CERQL," "we," "us," or "our") connects people across the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, with local activities, community "tribes," and places worth knowing about. This policy explains what information we collect through the CERQL app and website, how we use it, and the choices you have.
CERQL is operated by Mel Badger, trading as CERQL (ABN 97 394 300 712). If anything here is unclear, contact us any time at cerqlapp@outlook.com.
Information we collect
Information you give us
- Account details — your email address and a display name when you sign up.
- Content you create — messages you send in session chats, sessions you RSVP to or host, and tribes you join or request to create.
- Communications — anything you send us directly, such as support requests or business partnership enquiries.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data — which sessions, tribes, or Discover listings you view or interact with, used to keep the app working and to help us understand what's useful.
- Device and notification data — if you enable push notifications, we store a notification token for your device so we can send you alerts you've asked for (like new messages or RSVPs). You can turn this off any time in your device settings.
We do not collect precise GPS location. Where CERQL shows local places or towns, that's based on what you choose or search for, not continuous location tracking.
How we use your information
- To run the core features of CERQL — accounts, sessions, RSVPs, chat, and tribes.
- To show you relevant local businesses and activities through Discover.
- To send notifications you've opted into (new messages, RSVPs, or tribe activity).
- To keep the app secure and prevent misuse — for example, restricting who can edit or delete content.
- To improve CERQL over time, including understanding which features and local businesses people actually use.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use your data to serve third-party advertising.
Who we share information with
We use a small number of trusted service providers to run CERQL. They can only access information as needed to provide their service to us, and aren't permitted to use it for their own purposes:
- Supabase — our database and authentication provider, which stores account, session, chat, and tribe data securely.
- Netlify — hosts the CERQL website and app.
- logo.dev — used only to look up publicly available business logos for Discover listings; this does not involve your personal data.
If CERQL introduces paid membership tiers in future, payments will be handled by a licensed payment processor (such as Stripe), and this policy will be updated before that happens.
We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the safety, rights, or property of CERQL, our members, or the public.
Data security
Access to CERQL's data is restricted using row-level security, meaning members can generally only view and manage their own information, and administrative access is limited to authorised CERQL accounts. Passwords are managed securely by our authentication provider and are never stored or visible to us in plain text.
No online service can guarantee perfect security, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.
Your rights and choices
- Access and correction — you can update your display name and account details in the app at any time, or contact us to request a copy of the information we hold about you.
- Deletion — you can ask us to delete your account and associated data at any time by emailing cerqlapp@outlook.com. We'll action this promptly, other than information we're required to retain by law.
- Notifications — you can disable push notifications at any time through your device settings.
Children's privacy
CERQL is not directed at children, and we don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 16 years of age. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we'll remove it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as CERQL grows and adds new features. If we make material changes, we'll update the "last updated" date above and, where appropriate, let members know in the app.
Governing law
This policy is governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. We aim to handle personal information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).