Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Information We Collect
- How We Use Your Information
- Data Sharing & Disclosure
- Data Retention
- Data Security
- Your Rights (POPIA, GDPR, CCPA, VCDPA, LGPD)
- How to Opt-Out / Delete Your Data
- Children's Privacy
- AI Features Disclosure
- Third-Party Services
- Data Controller & DPO
- Changes to This Policy
- Contact Us
1. Introduction
Welcome to the Makoti Free-Range Farm App ("App"), developed by Makoti 3007 Tech Tutorials ("we", "us", "our"). This App is designed to help South African farmers manage free-range poultry flocks, egg production, feed stock, finances, and animal health.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you use our App. It also explains your rights under applicable privacy laws including South Africa's POPIA, the EU GDPR, the US CCPA/CPRA, Virginia's VCDPA, and Brazil's LGPD.
By using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
| Data Type | Category | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Personal identifier | Provided at registration | Account personalisation |
| Email Address | Personal identifier | Provided at registration | Authentication, account recovery |
| Phone Number | Personal identifier | Provided at registration | Account profile |
| Password | Authentication data | Hashed by Firebase Auth — never stored in plain text | Authentication |
| Farm Records | User-generated content | Flock names, counts, breeds, mortality logs, vaccination notes | Core app functionality |
| Egg Production Logs | User-generated content | Daily egg counts and notes | Core app functionality |
| Financial Records | Financial information | Income and expense entries you create | Finance tracking feature |
| Feed Stock Records | User-generated content | Feed item names, quantities, supplier info you enter | Feed management feature |
| AI Chat Messages | User-generated content | Health questions you type in AI Health Chat | AI response generation via Anthropic |
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
| Data Type | Category | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device Type & Model | Device information | Phone model, manufacturer | App compatibility & crash reporting |
| Operating System & Version | Device information | Android version | App compatibility |
| App Version | App diagnostics | Current version of the Makoti app installed | Bug fixing & updates |
| Firebase Installation ID | Device identifier | Anonymous ID assigned by Firebase | App analytics & crash reporting |
| Push Notification Token | Device identifier | Token generated by your device for notifications | Sending health & stock alerts |
| App Usage Events | Usage data | Which screens you visit, actions taken | Improving app performance |
| Crash Logs | App diagnostics | Error reports when the app crashes | Bug fixing |
| Network Request Data | Network information | Requests made to Firebase and Anthropic API endpoints | Core app functionality |
2.3 External Storage & Media Permissions
The Expo framework used to build this App requests the following storage permissions on certain Android versions. These permissions are included by the framework and are not used by the App to access, collect, read, or store your personal media files:
| Permission | Data Types Covered | Used By Our App? |
|---|---|---|
| READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE | Photos, Videos, Voice or Sound Recordings | ❌ No — framework only |
| WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE | Photos, Videos, Voice or Sound Recordings | ❌ No — framework only |
⚠️ Important: Although these permissions appear in the App's manifest due to the Expo build framework, the Makoti Free-Range Farm App does not access, read, collect, upload, or store any of your photos, videos, or sound recordings at any time. We are actively working to remove these permissions in a future update.
2.4 Data We Do NOT Collect
We do not collect, access, or store: your photos, videos, or voice/sound recordings, precise GPS location, contacts, camera or microphone input, biometric data, health/fitness sensor data, payment card details, government IDs, or social media profile information. Storage permissions present in the App are included by the Expo build framework only and are not exercised by the App.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes, based on the indicated legal basis:
| Purpose | Legal Basis |
|---|---|
| Create and manage your account | Contract performance |
| Authenticate and secure your account | Contract performance / Legitimate interest |
| Store and sync your farm data across devices | Contract performance |
| Send push notifications (low stock, health alerts) | Consent (you can withdraw at any time) |
| Provide AI Health Chat responses via Anthropic | Consent / Contract performance |
| Improve app performance and fix bugs | Legitimate interest |
| Comply with legal obligations | Legal obligation |
We do not use your personal information for advertising, profiling, or marketing purposes. We do not sell your personal data to any third party.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App's services.
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account information (name, email, phone) | Until account deletion |
| Farm data (flocks, eggs, finance, feed) | Until account deletion or manual deletion by user |
| Firebase Auth credentials | Until account deletion |
| Push notification tokens | Until permission is revoked or account deleted |
| AI chat messages | Not stored by us; subject to Anthropic's retention policy |
When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 30 days, unless we are required by law to retain it longer. You can request deletion at any time by contacting us at the address below.
6. Data Security
We take the security of your data seriously and implement the following measures:
- Passwords are hashed by Firebase Authentication — never stored in plain text
- All data transmission uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Firebase Firestore security rules restrict access to authenticated users' own data only
- Local device caching via AsyncStorage is used for offline functionality
Despite these measures, no system is 100% secure. If you suspect unauthorised access to your account, please contact us immediately.
7. Your Rights Under Applicable Privacy Laws
Depending on your location, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
7.1 South Africa — POPIA
- Right to access your personal information
- Right to correct inaccurate information
- Right to object to processing
- Right to deletion (right to be forgotten)
- Right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at www.justice.gov.za/inforeg
7.2 European Union — GDPR
If you are located in the EU or EEA, you have the right to:
- Access, rectify, or erase your personal data
- Restrict or object to processing
- Data portability
- Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior lawful processing
- Lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA)
7.3 United States — CCPA / CPRA (California Residents)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:
- Right to Know: Request information about what personal data we collect, use, and share
- Right to Know About Data Sales: We confirm we do not sell your personal data to any third party
- Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
- Right to Opt-Out of Data Sale: As we do not sell data, there is nothing to opt out of. However, you may contact us to confirm this at any time
- Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at [email protected]
7.4 Virginia — VCDPA (Virginia Residents)
If you are a Virginia resident, you have the right to:
- Access and correct your personal data
- Delete personal data provided by or obtained about you
- Obtain a portable copy of your data
- Opt out of the sale of personal data (we do not sell data)
- Opt out of targeted advertising (we do not conduct targeted advertising)
- Appeal our decisions regarding your rights requests
7.5 Brazil — LGPD (Brazilian Users)
If you are located in Brazil, you have the right to:
- Confirm whether your personal data is processed
- Access your personal data
- Correct incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated data
- Anonymise, block, or delete unnecessary data
- Port your data to another service provider
- Delete personal data processed with your consent
- Obtain information about entities your data is shared with
- Lodge a complaint with the ANPD (Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados)
To exercise any of the above rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
8. How to Opt-Out / Delete Your Data
🚫 We do not sell your personal data. We do not serve targeted advertisements. There is no opt-out required, but your full rights are described below.
8.1 Opt-Out of Data Sale
We do not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with any third party for commercial purposes. This is a firm policy. To exercise your right to opt out of data sale, or to receive written confirmation that your data is not sold, email us at: privacy@makoti3007techtutorials.net
8.2 Opt-Out of Targeted Advertising
The Makoti App does not display any advertisements and does not use your data for targeted or behavioural advertising. To confirm this in writing, contact: privacy@makoti3007techtutorials.net
8.3 How to Opt-Out of Data Sharing
The only third parties we share data with are Firebase (for app functionality) and Anthropic (for AI chat, only when you use that feature). To opt out of Anthropic data sharing, simply do not use the AI Health Chat feature — no messages are sent unless you actively submit them.
8.4 Opt-Out of Push Notifications
You can disable push notifications at any time via your device's system settings (Settings → Apps → Makoti Farm → Notifications) or within the App under Settings → Notifications.
8.5 How to Delete Your Account and All Data
To permanently delete your account and all associated personal data:
- Email us at privacy@makoti3007techtutorials.net with subject line: "Delete My Account – [your registered email]"
- We will delete your Firebase account and all Firestore farm data within 30 days
- You will receive a confirmation email when deletion is complete
9. Children's Privacy
The Makoti Free-Range Farm App is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through our App, please contact us immediately and we will delete that information.
10. AI Features Disclosure
⚠️ AI-Generated Content Notice: The "AI Health Chat" feature in this App uses Anthropic's Claude AI to generate responses to your animal health questions. Responses are generated by artificial intelligence and are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute professional veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian for medical treatment of your animals.
When you use the AI Health Chat, your typed messages are sent to Anthropic's servers to generate a response. We do not store these messages. Anthropic's privacy policy is available at anthropic.com/privacy.
11. Third-Party Services
The App integrates the following third-party services. Please review their privacy policies for details on their data practices:
- Google Firebase — firebase.google.com/support/privacy
- Anthropic Claude API — anthropic.com/privacy
- Expo (EAS Build Platform) — expo.dev/privacy
Regarding the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission: This permission may be requested by the Expo framework for certain device functionalities. We do not use this permission to access your personal photos or files. We are reviewing whether this permission can be removed in a future update.
12. Data Controller & Data Protection Officer
12.1 Data Controller
The data controller responsible for your personal information is:
Organisation: Makoti 3007 Tech Tutorials
App: Makoti Free-Range Farm (com.makoti3007.farmapp)
Website: makoti3007techtutorials.net
Email: [email protected]
Country: South Africa
12.2 Data Protection Officer (DPO)
As a small developer, we have designated a privacy contact who handles all data protection matters:
Role: Privacy & Data Protection Contact
Organisation: Makoti 3007 Tech Tutorials
Email: [email protected]
Response time: Within 30 days of receiving your request
12.3 Supervisory Authority / Right to Lodge a Complaint
You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority:
- South Africa: Information Regulator — www.justice.gov.za/inforeg
- EU/EEA: Your local Data Protection Authority
- UK: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — ico.org.uk
- Brazil: ANPD — gov.br/anpd
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- Notify you via a push notification or in-app message if changes are significant
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us: