Privacy Policy

Last updated: 3 October 2026

1. Who we are

LoneBuddy™ is a personal-safety app and website operated from Scotland, United Kingdom. For privacy enquiries or requests concerning personal information directly controlled by LoneBuddy, contact hello@lonebuddy.com.

2. Scope and countries

This policy applies to the LoneBuddy Android app and the LoneBuddy website at lonebuddy.com. LoneBuddy is currently intended for distribution in the United Kingdom and other countries where LoneBuddy is made available, and may be made available in additional countries over time. Mandatory privacy and consumer rights that apply where you live are not excluded by this policy.

3. Core app information stored locally

Depending on the features you use and permissions you grant, the app may handle Buddy contact details, safety profiles, check-in information, location information and safety logs. These core safety records are designed to be processed and stored locally on your device using Android app storage rather than uploaded to a LoneBuddy-operated cloud database.

If you uninstall LoneBuddy, clear its app data, change device or use device backup/restore features, locally stored information may be deleted, retained or restored according to Android and your device or backup settings. LoneBuddy generally cannot retrieve a server-side copy of information that exists only on your device.

4. SMS and Buddy alerts

When a LoneBuddy feature sends an SMS alert, the information in that message is transmitted from your device through your mobile network to the Buddy or recipient you selected. An alert may include safety-status information and location coordinates where the relevant feature uses location. LoneBuddy does not operate an SMS relay or server that stores the content of these app-generated safety messages. Your network provider, the recipient's provider and the recipient's device may process or retain message information under their own terms and privacy notices.

5. Location

LoneBuddy does not use constant location tracking as a general background monitoring service. Location may be accessed on your device when a feature requires it, such as SOS or an active safety alert. Premium functionality may obtain updated location during an active alert, currently at approximately 15-minute intervals where the device and permissions allow. Location used by these safety functions is not uploaded to a LoneBuddy-operated location-history server.

6. Contacts and device permissions

LoneBuddy may request permissions needed for features you choose to use, including contacts, location, SMS, notifications and foreground-service functionality. Contacts access is used to help you select a Buddy; LoneBuddy does not upload your address book to a LoneBuddy server. Permissions can be managed through Android settings, but disabling a permission may prevent the related safety feature from working.

7. Optional app analytics

LoneBuddy uses Google Analytics for Firebase only when you choose to allow app analytics. Analytics collection is designed to be disabled before consent and can be disabled again through the app's settings. We use analytics to understand high-level app usage and the onboarding and feature funnel so we can improve LoneBuddy.

Our custom analytics events are designed not to include Buddy names or phone numbers, contact-book contents, SMS contents, precise or approximate safety location, safety-log contents or free-text safety information. We do not use the Android Advertising ID for this analytics implementation and advertising-personalisation signals are disabled.

Google Analytics for Firebase may nevertheless process technical and pseudonymous information required to provide analytics, such as an app-installation identifier, device/app information, automatically collected analytics events and usage information. This information is processed by Google under its applicable terms and privacy arrangements and may be processed outside your country. Withdrawing analytics consent stops future analytics collection by the app, but does not necessarily erase information already processed by Google under applicable retention rules.

8. Website analytics and cookies

The LoneBuddy website uses optional Google Analytics only after you choose to accept analytics cookies or similar technologies. If you reject optional analytics, the site is designed not to enable that analytics measurement. Website analytics may measure visits, engagement and clicks to Google Play. Advertising storage and personalised advertising are not enabled by that website analytics choice. See our Cookie Policy.

9. Google Play, subscriptions and trials

Downloads, Premium subscriptions and any eligible free trial are processed through Google Play. Google may process Google-account, device, payment, transaction and service information independently under Google's terms and privacy policies. LoneBuddy does not receive your full payment-card details. The Google Play purchase screen is authoritative for the offer available to you, including price, currency, taxes, trial eligibility, renewal date and billing period.

10. Support and communications

If you contact LoneBuddy by email or another support channel, we may receive your contact details and whatever information you choose to provide. Please do not send passwords, full payment-card details, unnecessary health information or other unnecessary sensitive information.

11. Purposes and lawful bases

Where LoneBuddy directly processes personal information, we use it only as reasonably necessary to provide requested services and support, operate and secure the app and website, understand use where optional analytics consent has been given, comply with legal obligations, and establish or defend legal claims. For UK users, the lawful basis depends on the processing: consent is used for optional analytics; contractual necessity may apply to providing paid services; legitimate interests may apply to proportionate security, support and service administration; and legal obligation applies where the law requires processing.

12. Retention

Core safety data held only on your device remains subject to your device, app and backup settings rather than a LoneBuddy server-retention schedule. Analytics information is retained according to the settings and retention arrangements applicable to our Google Analytics/Firebase configuration. Support correspondence and business records directly received by LoneBuddy are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for support, administration, security, accounting, legal or dispute-resolution purposes.

13. Sharing and recipients

LoneBuddy does not sell your core safety information. Depending on how you use LoneBuddy, information may be processed by or disclosed to the Buddy you choose, mobile-network/SMS providers, Google Play, Google/Firebase for consented analytics, hosting and email/service providers, professional advisers, regulators or authorities where legally required. These organisations may act as independent controllers or service providers depending on the circumstances.

14. International processing

LoneBuddy is UK-based and may serve users in the United Kingdom and other countries where LoneBuddy is made available. Google, mobile networks, hosting/email providers and other third parties may process information internationally. Where LoneBuddy is responsible for an international transfer of personal information, we use an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism where required. If you select a Buddy in another country, sending that person an alert is a transfer initiated through the feature you chose to use.

15. Your rights

UK users may have rights including access, correction, erasure, restriction, objection and data portability where applicable, plus the right to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent. Because much of LoneBuddy's core safety data is held only on your device, LoneBuddy may not possess a server-side copy to access, correct or delete for you. You can contact hello@lonebuddy.com about information directly controlled by LoneBuddy.

UK users may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Users in other countries may have rights and complaint routes under applicable local privacy law and may contact the relevant privacy regulator.

16. Children

LoneBuddy is not designed as a child-directed service. Parents or guardians should consider whether the app and its safety features are appropriate before allowing a child to use it and should supervise use where required by law or appropriate to the child's circumstances.

17. Security

We use technical and organisational measures intended to protect information that LoneBuddy controls. Local-first storage reduces the amount of core safety information held by LoneBuddy, but no device, software, network or transmission method can be guaranteed completely secure. You are responsible for maintaining appropriate security on your device.

18. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when LoneBuddy's features, analytics, international availability, service providers or legal requirements change. We will update the date above and, where required, bring material changes to users' attention before new processing begins.