Aussie Christmas Lights – Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 2025

Introduction

Aussie Christmas Lights (“we”, “our”, or “the App”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

By using Aussie Christmas Lights, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

Account Information
When you sign in with Apple, we may collect:

  • Your Apple ID user identifier (a unique, anonymous ID)
  • Your name (if you choose to share it)
  • Your email address (if you choose to share it)

Display Information
When you add a Christmas light display, we collect:

  • Street address and location coordinates
  • Display title and description
  • Operating hours and dates
  • Feature tags (e.g., “Music Synchronised”, “Wheelchair Accessible”)
  • Photos you upload of your display

User-Generated Content

  • Photos you upload to any display
  • Reports you submit about displays

Information Collected Automatically

Location Data

  • With your permission, we access your device location to show nearby displays
  • Display addresses are geocoded to show on the map

Usage Data

  • View counts on displays (anonymised, no personal identification)
  • Favourite displays you save

Device Information

  • We use UserDefaults to store your preferences locally on your device
  • This includes settings, recently viewed displays, and rate limiting data

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

  • Display Christmas light locations on the map
  • Allow you to save favourite displays across your devices
  • Enable you to add and manage your own displays
  • Show your display to other users
  • Prevent abuse through rate limiting
  • Improve the app experience

Data Storage and Sync

Your data is stored using:

  • Apple CloudKit: Your account data, displays, and favourites sync securely through Apple’s iCloud infrastructure
  • Local Storage: Preferences and cached data are stored on your device

We do not operate our own servers. All cloud data is managed through Apple’s secure CloudKit service.

Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information only in these circumstances:

  • Publicly visible content: Display information (address, photos, descriptions) you submit is visible to all app users
  • Legal requirements: If required by law or to protect our rights
  • With Apple: Data syncs through Apple’s CloudKit service, subject to Apple’s Privacy Policy

Photo Privacy

To protect your privacy:

  • All photos uploaded through the app have EXIF metadata (including GPS coordinates, camera information, and timestamps) automatically stripped before upload
  • Only the image itself is stored, with no hidden location data

Third-Party Services

The app uses these third-party services:

Data Retention

  • Your account data is retained while your account is active
  • Display information remains visible while the display is active
  • You can delete your account at any time, which removes your personal data

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access: View your data within the app
  • Correction: Update your display information at any time
  • Deletion: Delete your account and associated data through the app settings
  • Portability: Your data syncs via iCloud and can be accessed on any of your Apple devices

Deleting Your Account

To delete your account and all associated data:

  1. Open the app
  2. Go to Profile/Settings
  3. Select “Delete Account”
  4. Confirm deletion

This will permanently remove your account, profile information, and any displays you own.

Children’s Privacy

Aussie Christmas Lights is a family-friendly app rated 4+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The app can be used without an account to browse displays.

Security

We implement appropriate security measures including:

  • Secure authentication via Sign in with Apple
  • Server-side validation for admin operations
  • Input sanitisation to prevent injection attacks
  • Encrypted data transmission via Apple’s CloudKit

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the app and updating the “Last Updated” date.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

Email: [Your Contact Email]

Developer: Cody Media Design

Australian Privacy Act

This app complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). As an Australian app, we are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with Australian privacy law.

This privacy policy is effective as of November 2025.