Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 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 [email protected].

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 and subscriptions

Downloads and Premium subscriptions are handled 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, 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 records and activation-key information stored in the app remain on the user’s device, subject to device, app and backup settings. LoneBuddy does not operate a central activation-key or licensing-record database for the currently released Android app. Separately, Firebase Analytics, Google Play, website analytics (where enabled), and support correspondence may involve information processed or retained by their respective service providers. Their retention periods depend on the relevant service settings and applicable law.

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 app 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 [email protected] 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.

19. Emergency audio recordings

Where available to Premium users, emergency audio recording may begin automatically when SOS or a duress-triggered SOS is activated, subject to device permissions and Android restrictions. Recording uses the microphone and is intended to be stored on the device. Recordings are not automatically transmitted to Buddies or uploaded to LoneBuddy. Users may play or delete locally retained recordings. Existing recordings may remain accessible after Premium expires.

Recordings may contain voices and other personal information about people nearby. Users are responsible for complying with applicable recording, privacy and employment laws.

20. Fall detection, duress and optional safety features

Where enabled and supported, fall or motion detection processes device sensor information to identify a possible fall and may start an SOS after a cancellation period. False alarms and missed detections are possible. A duress PIN may trigger a discreet SOS. Optional low-battery warnings, fake calls, safety profiles and voice feedback may process settings or device information locally. Availability depends on app version, permissions and entitlement.

21. Activation keys, subscriptions and gift codes

LoneBuddy provides Family, Business and gift-card Premium access using activation keys that are generated and checked locally, without sending the keys or validation requests to a LoneBuddy licensing server. The app stores the information needed to recognise an entitlement on the device. Activation keys are separate from Buddy contacts, safety logs, emergency recordings and location history. Purchasers do not receive a live location-monitoring dashboard.

Family and Business purchasers can issue, replace or revoke activation keys, subject to the app’s validation process. Gift recipients can contact [email protected] for assistance with a device change or a remaining entitlement. If you contact us, we may use the information you provide to administer your request. We retain relevant administration and support records only as needed for these purposes and applicable legal obligations. Contact us for details of information associated with your key.

22. Diagnostic reports and support attachments

If you choose to email a diagnostic report, its contents may include app and device information, technical logs and potentially contact details or other information present in those logs. Please review any report before sending it and avoid sharing information that is not needed for support. Reports sent by email are processed by the relevant email providers and retained as necessary to respond to the request, subject to the operator’s retention practices.

23. Activation keys and entitlement checks

In the currently released Android app, Family, Business and gift-card keys are generated and validated locally on the device. LoneBuddy does not maintain a central licensing database, receive activation-validation events or remotely track which device redeemed a key. The availability of replacement or revocation depends on the local key design and the app’s available functionality; remote revocation should not be assumed.

Activation and entitlement checks take place locally in the released app. LoneBuddy does not operate a remote licensing service or provide purchasers or administrators with a live location dashboard. For questions about information associated with an activation key, contact [email protected].

24. Retention and service-provider transparency

There is no LoneBuddy licensing backend or central activation-key retention period in the currently released app. Local activation information is subject to device storage, app deletion and backup settings. Other information, such as Firebase Analytics data, Google Play purchase records, website analytics (if accepted), and voluntary support emails, may be retained by the respective services under their applicable settings and legal requirements. Contact [email protected] with privacy requests.

LoneBuddy may use external providers for website hosting, email, Google Play purchases and analytics. Such processing does not mean that a central database of users’ safety logs or continuous location history is maintained. International transfers, where applicable, are subject to the safeguards required by relevant privacy law.