Privacy Policy for IRVO

Last Updated: 09/10/2025

Thank you for using IRVO, a mobile application developed by Dato Co. Technologies to assist users in quickly checking on the well-being of their contacts and sharing real-time location updates. Your privacy is essential to us, and this policy details the types of data we collect, how it is used, and your rights regarding your personal information. By using IRVO, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

1. Information Collection and Use

IRVO only collects data essential to its core functionality:

Contacts Access: IRVO requires permission to access your contacts to identify which of your contacts have also installed IRVO. This is a temporary identification and does not result in any contact data being stored, shared, or used beyond this purpose. No data from your contacts is permanently stored in the app or database.
Location Access: IRVO temporarily accesses your device’s location to enable GPS navigation and to allow users to share their current location with friends upon request. The location is processed ephemerally and is not stored on IRVO’s servers. The app may store only the last known friend coordinate and calculated travel time locally on your device to enhance navigation accuracy and reduce data usage. This information never leaves your phone.
User Data: The only data IRVO stores permanently is the active user’s identifier, which ensures app functionality and user-to-user communication.

2. Permissions and Data Access

To operate, IRVO requires the following permissions:

Contacts: Access is used solely to identify contacts who are also IRVO users.
Location (GPS): Used only while the app is active to calculate travel time, navigation routes, and allow users to send or receive location updates. The app does not collect, track, or store your continuous movement history.
Notifications: IRVO uses notifications to facilitate user communication, allowing you to send and receive predefined or location-based messages through app notifications.
Internet: Required for network communication and sending notifications to ensure IRVO’s core functionalities work seamlessly.
Advertising Identifier (AD_ID): The app requests permission for com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID. This permission enables IRVO to utilize a unique advertising identifier to support aggregated analytics and performance tracking. The AD_ID is used solely for understanding app usage patterns and enhancing the user experience. It does not track individual user behavior outside the app, nor is it used for personalized advertising purposes.

3. Location and Navigation Data

IRVO introduces a location-sharing and navigation feature that allows users to request and receive GPS coordinates from their contacts to estimate travel time and direction. The following principles apply:

Location data is processed only while the app is active and visible on screen.
When a user shares their location, it is sent directly and securely to the requesting user — not stored or relayed through our servers.
IRVO may store the last known friend coordinate and the most recent calculated travel time in the device’s local database to improve responsiveness and accuracy. This data remains local and is automatically overwritten during the next update.
No continuous tracking or background location collection is performed.

4. Aggregated Data Collection and Usage

To improve app performance and understand usage patterns, IRVO may collect aggregated, anonymized data, which is periodically transmitted to external services. This data does not contain personal or identifiable information and is used exclusively to enhance the app's performance, improve services, and understand user interactions at a broad level.

5. Google Analytics and Third-Party Services

IRVO integrates with third-party services to enhance functionality and user experience. To better understand user behavior, IRVO uses Google Analytics to collect and analyze information about how users interact with the app. This data helps us improve features, identify issues, and optimize the overall user experience.

These third parties may collect certain non-identifiable information to support their services. Each third-party service has its own Privacy Policy, which governs how they handle and process data. Please review the policies of these third-party services:

6. User Communication and Notifications

IRVO uses notifications to facilitate communication, allowing users to send predefined queries, responses, and GPS-based updates (such as “Where are you?”) to contacts within the app. These communications occur in real-time, with no message history or location logs retained by the app or our servers.

7. Data Retention and Security

IRVO is designed to retain as little user data as possible. No message history, detailed logs, or GPS tracking data are stored on our servers. The app retains only:

The active user identifier (for functionality).
The last known friend coordinate and calculated travel time, stored only locally on the user’s device.

We employ industry-standard security measures to safeguard any data handled within IRVO, and while we strive to use commercially acceptable means of protection, please note that no method is 100% secure.

8. Advertising Identifier (AD_ID) Usage

IRVO includes the permission com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID to comply with Google’s requirements for applications utilizing Google services. The AD_ID is used exclusively for aggregated analytics and to help us understand how users interact with IRVO. This data is entirely anonymous and is not linked to any identifiable information. IRVO does not use this identifier for targeted advertising or to track user activities outside the app.

9. Future Changes to Data Handling and User Settings

Currently, IRVO does not offer specific privacy controls within the app beyond the permissions required. As IRVO evolves, we may add additional privacy features and settings, and this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly to reflect any changes.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed of how we are protecting your information.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Email: dato.co.technologies@gmail.com