Spark Community

User Accounts & Accessing the Services

Account Creation

1.1. Spark allows you to use the app either without creating an account or by registering an account ("Account" or "Spark Account").

1.2. If you choose not to register, Spark may still link information collected from your device—including location data, app usage, and reports of parking rangers—with a unique identifier to provide app functionality, including real-time notifications and AI predictions.

1.3. You may choose to link your non-registered account across multiple devices or browsers (e.g., using a QR code). Data collected from linked devices will be associated with the same non-registered account.

Registered Accounts

2.1. Registration is optional but required for features such as:

Premium subscriptions
Earning avatars, points, or gamification rewards
Accessing certain app functions (e.g., reporting parking rangers with full tracking history).

2.2. When you register, Spark links all information collected from your devices and browsers to your registered account.

2.3. Registered account data may include: email address, subscription/payment info, location history, and reports you submit.

Visibility of Account Information

3.1. With the exception of aggregated or anonymised information used to improve the service or display community contributions (such as reports of parking ranger activity), your account and personal information will only be visible to Spark staff.

3.2. When contributing reports or location-related data, your approximate location may be shared in an anonymised form with other users to support the functionality of the app.

Account Security & Responsibility

4.1. Your login details are your responsibility. You must keep them confidential and not share them with anyone else.

4.2. Spark is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from unauthorized use of your account due to failure to maintain security.

4.3. If you set a password for your Spark Account, it is recommended to update it regularly.

Access to Services

5.1. Spark grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use the app in accordance with these terms and our Privacy Policy.

5.2. Access to premium features requires registration and payment. By subscribing, you consent to Spark collecting and using personal information necessary to provide these services, in compliance with the Australian Privacy Act.

5.3. Spark may suspend or restrict access to accounts for maintenance, technical issues, or violations of these terms, consistent with our T&Cs.

Data Linkage & Purpose

6.1. All collected information, whether from registered or non-registered accounts, is used to:

Provide and improve notifications of parking ranger activity
Support AI-based predictions and analytics
Enhance user experience through gamification (avatars, points)
Operate and maintain the Spark service in compliance with Australian privacy law.

6.2. Personal information is handled in accordance with the APPs, including secure storage, limited use, and user access rights.

Information We Collect

We want you to clearly understand the types of information we collect when you use Spark. We collect information to deliver our core service (helping you drop a pin where you parked and alerting you to nearby parking rangers), to improve your experience, and to keep Spark running safely and effectively. We handle your information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1. Information You Provide to Us

Account Information: If you choose to create an account, we may collect details such as your name, email address, and phone number. Some features may not be available without this information. This information helps us identify you, manage your account, and contact you when necessary.

Saved Parking Details: You may choose to save certain locations (such as "home," "work," or favourites) to make it easier to track and find your parking. These details remain private to your account unless you actively choose to share them.

Reports You Submit: If you report a parking ranger or share any other information through Spark, that content will be linked to your account or device. You are responsible for ensuring that information you share does not include personal details of others without their consent.

Communication With Us: If you contact Spark's support team, submit feedback, or report an issue, we collect the information you provide so we can respond and improve our service. We may retain these communications for quality assurance and training purposes.

2. Information We Collect Automatically

Location Information: Spark uses your device's GPS to drop a pin where you parked and to notify you about nearby parking rangers. Depending on your device settings, Spark may collect location data even when the app runs in the background. You can disable location access at any time in your device settings, although this may limit Spark's functionality.

Device Information: We may collect details about the device you use to access Spark, including model, operating system, app version, IP address, and unique device identifiers. This helps ensure compatibility and app performance.

Usage Information: We collect data on how you interact with Spark — such as session frequency, features used, and performance data (including crash reports). This helps us improve usability, stability, and security.

3. Information From Partners (Future Possibility)

Currently, Spark does not share your personal information with advertisers or external partners. In the future, we may work with trusted partners to provide location-based offers or discounts (for example, nearby parking, car washes, or local services).

If we introduce such features, Spark will:

Update this Privacy Policy before implementation,
Notify users within the app or by email, and
Give you clear options to opt in or out of any personalised advertising or data sharing.

4. Technologies We Use

We may use technologies such as local storage, cookies, server logs, and application data caches to store information on your device and ensure Spark runs efficiently. These tools help keep you logged in, remember preferences, and improve performance.

Why Spark Collects Data

1. To Provide and Operate Our Services

We use your information to deliver Spark's core features, such as:

Dropping a pin where you parked and showing nearby parking rangers,
Using your saved locations to alert you about ranger activity, and
Sending notifications about possible compliance risks (e.g., chalked tires or active rangers nearby).

2. To Maintain and Improve Our Services

We process your data to ensure Spark remains reliable, accurate, and safe. This includes:

Analysing alerts and reports to improve AI ranger detection,
Monitoring app performance, preventing crashes, and fixing bugs,
Enhancing ranger detection accuracy through aggregated location data.

3. To Personalise Your Experience

We use your data to make Spark more relevant, for example, by:

Suggesting safe or low-risk times to park,
Recommending parking zones based on your habits, and
Saving favourite parks and frequent routes for convenience.

4. To Support Future Advertising & Partnerships

While Spark does not currently serve personalised ads, we may in the future use anonymised or aggregated location and usage data to:

Provide you with relevant local offers,
Partner with nearby businesses, and
Generate insights that improve parking experiences citywide.

If advertising features are added, Spark will seek your express consent and provide clear opt-out controls in compliance with the Privacy Act.

5. To Communicate With You

We may use your contact details to:

Send important updates, announcements, and alerts,
Respond to feedback or technical issues,
Conduct voluntary surveys, and
(With your consent) send promotional or marketing messages about Spark or relevant partners.

You can unsubscribe from promotional messages at any time.

6. To Protect Spark, Our Users, and the Public

We may process your information for safety, legal, and security purposes, including to:

Enforce Spark's Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy,
Prevent misuse, fraud, or unlawful activity,
Comply with Australian laws and law enforcement requests, and
Handle complaints, disputes, or potential legal claims.

7. To Create Aggregated or Anonymous Data

We may de-identify or aggregate your data so that it can no longer reasonably identify you. Spark may use or share this type of data to:

Analyse parking and ranger trends,
Improve our AI and predictive systems, and
Collaborate with research or city partners on traffic or parking insights.

8. Consent for New Purposes

If we ever wish to use your information for a purpose not covered by this Privacy Policy, we will seek your explicit consent before doing so.

When Spark Shares Your Information

Spark does not sell your personal information to third parties. We will only share your information in the following circumstances, and only to the extent reasonably necessary:

To Operate the Services

Making public the parking reports and ranger alerts you share, along with your location and username (or anonymised identifier).
Storing and processing data through trusted cloud hosting and analytics providers.

Legal, Safety, and Compliance Purposes

If we reasonably believe you have breached Spark's Terms & Conditions or applicable laws, we may share your information with law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
If required by law, court order, or regulatory process.
To detect, prevent, or address fraud, misuse, or security issues.
To protect the rights, property, or safety of Spark, our users, or the public.

Disputes and Proceedings

In the event of a dispute or legal proceeding involving you, Spark, or other users, we may disclose relevant information as required to handle the matter.

Business Transfers

If Spark undergoes a business restructure, sale, merger, or acquisition, your information may be transferred to the new entity, provided that entity agrees to uphold this Privacy Policy (with reasonable changes considered).

Service Providers and Partners

We may share personal information with trusted service providers who help us deliver the Spark services (e.g., hosting, push notifications, customer support, analytics). These providers must comply with confidentiality and security requirements.

In the future, Spark may work with advertising partners or research organisations. In such cases, we may share aggregated or anonymised data (which cannot reasonably identify you) to support services like personalised advertising, campaign measurement, or AI training.

Advertising and Analytics

Spark does not currently use advertising partners, but if this changes, we may share device identifiers (such as Advertising ID) and app usage data with advertising and measurement services for the purposes of serving relevant ads and understanding performance. You will be able to manage your advertising preferences in your settings.

How Your Activity Appears to Others

Please note that some information you provide or generate in Spark may be visible to other users.

Your username, parking reports, and any alerts you submit (such as sightings of parking rangers or chalked tires) will be displayed on the Spark map and may be visible to other users in your area.

Any content you share publicly, including reports, comments, or ratings of parking spots, may be associated with your username or community identifier.

Friends or contacts you connect with in Spark may also see your profile information (username, profile picture, and any other details you choose to share).

Choosing Your Visibility

Spark allows you to control how visible you are within the app:

You can enable "Private Mode" in your account settings to hide your location and parking activity from other users.

While in Private Mode, you will still receive all notifications and alerts, but other users will not see your contributions on the map.

Note: Some Spark features, such as contributing to AI predictions and community reports, may be limited while Private Mode is enabled.

Even if you choose to limit visibility, Spark may still collect location and usage data to deliver personalised alerts, improve the service, and train the AI system in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Controlling Your Personal Information

You can review and update certain information in your Account Settings within the Spark Community app, such as your username, profile photo, email address, and notification preferences.

Your search history, report history, and location history are associated with your account and are used to improve your experience (for example, showing you relevant nearby parking alerts).

It is your responsibility to keep your information accurate and up to date. Inaccurate or outdated information may affect your ability to use some features of Spark Community.

You can disable notifications in your device or app settings and clear your parked location at any time. To revoke location access, adjust your device's location settings.

Privacy Controls

Spark Community gives you control over how your data is used:

Account Settings: Update your profile information and notification preferences.

Privacy Settings: Choose whether your username is visible to others when you submit reports. Users can manage consent for notifications and revoke it at any time through OS prompts.

Location Settings: Control whether the app can access your location. You can modify this at any time in your device's system settings. Please note that some features, such as real-time alerts, may not work properly if location services are disabled.

Deleting Your Information

If you would like to delete your Spark Community account, you can do so through the Delete Account option in the app's Privacy Settings.

When you request deletion:

Your account will be deactivated immediately, and your data will no longer be used to personalise your experience.
We will begin the process of safely and permanently deleting your data from our systems.
Please note that full deletion from backups may take up to 60 days due to routine system maintenance and security processes.
Parked location and radius are automatically deleted after parking duration or when cleared, and push tokens deleted after 12 months of inactivity.

You can also contact us directly at support@sparksafeparking.com to request deletion or correction of your information.

How Spark Community Retains Data

Spark Community stores user information in secure databases to provide app functionality and improve your experience. Depending on the type of information, we retain data for different periods:

1. Information retained until you remove it

Some information, such as your account email, username, and preferences, is kept in your Spark Community account until you choose to update or delete it.

2. Data that expires after a specific period of time

Certain temporary data, such as location history used for live parking alerts, may only be retained for a limited period to provide relevant services. Once it is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it automatically.

3. Information retained until your account is deleted

Some aggregated information, like the number of reports you submit, may be kept for the life of your account to help us improve Spark Community. When you delete your account, this information will also be removed.

4. Information retained for extended periods for limited purposes

In some cases, business or legal requirements may require us to retain certain information for longer periods, such as:

Preventing fraud, abuse, or security breaches
Financial record-keeping (for subscription payments)
Complying with legal or regulatory requirements

All data is stored securely in our databases with access limited to authorised personnel only. We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.

Use of Aggregated Information

Spark Community may use anonymous, statistical, or aggregated information — including anonymous location information — in a form that does not enable the identification of any specific user. This information helps us:

Operate and maintain the app properly
Improve the quality and accuracy of our services, including parking alerts
Enhance your experience within Spark Community
Develop new features, services, or customised experiences
Modify, change, or remove existing content or services
Conduct internal, commercial, and statistical analysis, including for advertising purposes

We may also share anonymous, statistical, or aggregated information with:

Other Spark Community users, for example, to show overall parking activity in an area
Our service providers and partners, to support and improve app functionality
Third parties, such as local councils or cities, to provide insights for traffic or parking planning
Advertisers, in aggregated form only, to analyse app usage trends

At all times, this aggregated information is anonymous and cannot be used to identify individual users personally.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Spark Community may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies on both our website and mobile app. These are small packets of information stored on your device or sent between your device and our servers to help us operate the app and website effectively.

We use these technologies for purposes such as:

Remembering your login details and app preferences
Improving the functionality and performance of the app and website
Collecting statistical information about how the app and website are used
Enhancing security and verifying account information
Customising content and providing a personalised user experience

Some cookies or similar technologies expire at the end of your session, while others are stored on your device until they are deleted. You can manage or block cookies through your device or browser settings. However, please note that disabling cookies may limit certain features or functionality of Spark Community.

Advertising Campaigns

Spark Community may allow advertisers to run ad campaigns within the app or on our website.

Ads you see may be targeted based on your activity within Spark Community, such as the areas you check for parking alerts, reports you submit, or general app usage patterns. For example, if you search for "parking near Balmain Wharf," you may see an ad for a nearby café or service.

Depending on your settings, you may also see ads personalized based on:

Information you provide to Spark Community, such as your saved preferences or account details
Past app activity, including search and report history
Information from our trusted advertising partners

You can control ad personalization through your in-app Privacy Settings. Turning off personalized ads does not remove ads entirely; it only limits targeting.

Please note:

Spark Community does not knowingly collect or target ads based on sensitive categories, including race, religion, sexual orientation, or health.
Personal information, such as your name or email, will not be shared with advertisers without your explicit consent. For example, if you click a "contact" button in an ad, we may facilitate the connection, but only with your permission.
Spark Community may work with third-party advertising partners for analytics, ad measurement, and ad delivery. These partners may receive aggregated or anonymized information to improve the relevance of ads.
Ads from third parties may use cookies or other tracking technologies on your device; their use is governed by the third party's privacy policies, not Spark Community's.

Internal messaging and user contact:

Spark Community includes an internal messaging system that may be used to send you marketing messages about products or services related to parking, transportation, or other relevant community services.

Other users may not use your contact details or Spark Community messaging system for commercial advertising. Any violations should be reported through the in-app "Contact Us" feature.

Disclaimer:

Spark Community is not responsible for the content, products, or services advertised by third parties, and you agree that we will not be held liable for any loss, damage, or cost resulting from such advertisements.

Information Security

Spark Community considers the security of your information a top priority. Our app and website are built with strong security features designed to protect your personal information from theft, loss, damage, or unauthorized access.

We implement a combination of technical, administrative, and physical safeguards, including:

Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
Regular review of our data collection, storage, and processing practices
Restricted access to personal information, limited to authorised personnel who require it to perform their duties
Confidentiality agreements for employees, contractors, and agents who access personal information

We also continuously monitor our systems to detect and prevent potential security threats.

However, no system is completely immune to risks. While we take all reasonable precautions to protect your information, Spark Community cannot guarantee absolute security. You should be aware that unauthorised access, data breaches, or other forms of misuse may still occur despite our security measures.

Compliance & Cooperation with Regulators

Spark Community is committed to complying with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). We regularly review this Privacy Policy and ensure that our practices align with these regulations.

Data Transfers

Your information may be stored and processed on servers located in Australia or in other countries. While data protection laws may vary internationally, Spark Community applies the same privacy safeguards to your information, regardless of where it is processed.

Responding to Complaints

If you have a privacy complaint, please contact us through our in-app support or at support@sparksafeparking.com. We will investigate your complaint promptly and, where appropriate, work with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or other relevant regulatory authorities to resolve issues that cannot be resolved directly with you.

Legal Grounds for Processing Information

We process your information under the following legal grounds:

1. With Your Consent

Where we ask for your consent to process your information for specific purposes (such as targeted app notifications or email communications), you may withdraw your consent at any time via your in-app Privacy Settings.

2. For Legitimate Interests

We may process your information for legitimate business purposes while applying appropriate safeguards to protect your privacy, including:

Providing, maintaining, and improving Spark Community services
Developing new app features and functionalities
Understanding how users interact with the app to improve its performance
Customising services to enhance your experience
Sending relevant marketing communications or notifications
Detecting, preventing, or addressing fraud, abuse, security, or technical issues
Protecting the rights, property, or safety of Spark Community, our users, or the public
Performing research to improve our services and benefit the public
Enforcing legal obligations or terms of use

3. When Providing a Service

We process your data to provide services you request under your account and Spark Community's Terms of Service.

4. When Complying with Legal Obligations

We may process your information when required by law, regulation, or enforceable governmental request.

Your Rights Under Australian Privacy Law

You have the right to:

Access your personal information held by Spark Community
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Request deletion or de-identification of your personal information, subject to legal obligations
Complain to Spark Community or the OAIC if you believe your privacy rights have been breached

You can contact us at support@sparksafeparking.com to exercise your rights, make a complaint, or ask questions about our privacy practices.

Delete Your Account

You can delete your Spark account directly in the app:

Open the Spark app
Go to Settings
Tap Delete Account
Confirm the deletion

This will permanently delete your account and associated data stored in our systems, including your user profile and saved parking data. Some anonymous or aggregated data may be retained for analytics and safety purposes and cannot be linked back to you.

If you are unable to access the app, you can request account deletion by contacting us at support@sparksafeparking.com with the email address associated with your account.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

Spark Community may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements.

Substantial changes will take effect 30 days after we notify users through:

An in-app notification explaining the changes
A notice on our website, including a comparison of the previous and updated Privacy Policy

Other changes will take effect 7 days after posting on our website or in the app.

If changes are made to comply with legal or regulatory requirements, they may take effect immediately upon posting.

By continuing to use Spark Community after changes are posted, you agree to be bound by the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any of the changes, you should stop using the app and services immediately.