This Privacy Policy explains how FastaChommie ("we", "our", or "the Platform") collects, uses, protects, and discloses information when participants use our digital mobile and web interventions (available across React and Flutter applications).
Research Context: FastaChommie is an academic eHealth research initiative conducted jointly by Högskolan Väst (Sweden) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) (South Africa), evaluating interactive digital tools for adolescent health, physical activity, and nutrition.
1. Information We Collect
We collect only the minimum necessary information to provide the application features and conduct the research study:
- Account & Authentication: Email address and a securely generated unique user identifier (UID) managed via Google Firebase Authentication.
- Health, Lifestyle & Activity Data:
- Dietary recall responses and hydration logs.
- Physical activity workout duration and traditional games engagement.
- Daily emotional check-ins (Emotions Wheel) and gratitude diary entries.
- Camera & Meal Images (Smart Plate Scanner): Photos of meal plates captured within the app are processed ephemerally using Google Gemini AI to analyze food balance. Photos are never sold, shared with third parties, or used for commercial training.
- Technical & Telemetry Diagnostics: Anonymized performance metrics (app startup latency, frame rendering, battery drain rate, offline queue status) used to contrast application frameworks under African network conditions.
2. How We Use Information
- To provide personalized feedback, gamified milestone rewards (Carrot score), and wellness tracking.
- To evaluate the comparative usability and health impact of digital interventions as part of the HSRC clinical trial.
- To monitor platform stability, fix software bugs, and optimize offline capabilities.
3. Data Protection & Security (POPIA & GDPR)
We implement industry-standard administrative, physical, and technical safeguards:
- Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3 (HTTPS) and encrypted at rest in Google Cloud Firestore.
- Access Control: Data access is strictly restricted to certified research personnel authenticated through role-based access control.
- Compliance: The platform complies with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
4. Third-Party Services
FastaChommie uses trusted infrastructure providers solely for core app functionality:
- Google Firebase / Google Cloud Platform: Authentication, encrypted database storage, and Cloud Functions.
- Google Gemini API: Ephemeral multimodal food plate analysis.
We do not display third-party advertisements or sell user data to data brokers.
5. Your Rights & Data Deletion (Right to Erasure)
You have full ownership of your data and may exercise your privacy rights at any time:
- Access & Review: You can review your logged activities directly within the app dashboard.
- Instant Account Deletion: You can permanently delete your account, login credentials, and all recorded data directly inside the app under Account > Delete Account.
- Public Web Deletion Request: If you are unable to sign in, you can request permanent deletion through our web form at fastachommie.org/delete-account.html.
6. Children & Youth Privacy
FastaChommie is designed for study participants in accordance with institutional ethics approval. Where participants are under the legal age of consent, participation is conducted with appropriate parental/guardian consent and institutional oversight.
7. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact the research team:
- Högskolan Väst (University West): Gustava Melins gata 2, 461 32 Trollhättan, Sweden
- HSRC South Africa: 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Project Lead Email: william.jobe@hv.se