Walk Places

1. Overview

Walk Places (“the App”, “we”, “us”) is a location-based geocaching mobile game. We respect your privacy and believe in minimal, transparent data practices. This Privacy Policy explains what information the App collects, how it is used, and how your data is protected when you download and play Walk Places on Android or visit walkplaces.org.

We manage personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (“APPs”), alongside applicable mobile app store policies.

2. Location Data (Foreground Only)

Walk Places is a walking and geocaching game built around real-world movement. To participate in gameplay, the App requests permission to access your device’s precise and approximate location (GPS):

• Foreground Operation Only: The App only accesses your location while the application is actively open and running in the foreground on your screen. Walk Places does not request background location access, nor does it track your movement when the App is closed or minimized.
• Purpose of Location: Your coordinates are used in real-time to position your avatar on the map, determine your deterministic 60-metre grid area, uncover in-game finds, and compute proximity to hidden geocaches.
• No Continuous Location Tracking or Sale: Your real-time movements and geographic tracks are processed directly on your device to update your map position. We will never sell, rent, or monetize your location information to third parties.
• Community Geocaches: If you intentionally create or hide a geocache for other players to discover, the static geographic coordinates of that specific cache location are saved to our database and made visible to other players in the game.

3. Account & Gameplay Data

In accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 2 (“Anonymity and Pseudonymity”), we designed Walk Places so that you can interact with the game without revealing your real identity:

• Anonymous / Guest Play: You can play Walk Places completely anonymously without creating an account. In guest mode, an anonymous authentication identifier is generated via Firebase to keep your save data linked to your device without collecting any personal details.
• Pseudonymous Accounts: If you choose to create a player profile, you only need to choose a pseudonym (username) and password. We do not require your real name, email address, physical address, or phone number to play.
• Cloud Saved Data: If you create an account, your gameplay progress (including collected items, XP level, in-game balance, visit history, and statistics) is saved locally on your device and backed up securely to our cloud database to prevent progress loss.

4. Third-Party Services & Overseas Disclosure

We rely on select industry-standard cloud infrastructure to provide backend functionality:

• Google Firebase: We utilize Firebase Authentication and Cloud Firestore (provided by Google LLC) for secure account authentication, cloud save synchronization, and community geocache sharing. Firebase manages data under Google’s rigorous security and privacy standards. For details on Google’s data practices, visit the Google Privacy Policy.
• Map Services: Open-source mapping tiles provided by Stadia Maps, OpenStreetMap contributors, and OpenMapTiles are fetched to display spatial map data within the game.

Overseas Transfer of Data: In accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 8 (“Cross-border disclosure of personal information”), please be aware that our cloud service provider, Google LLC, may store and process data on secure servers located outside of Australia, including in the United States and other global Google Cloud regions. By using the App, you acknowledge and consent to this cross-border storage and processing.

5. Access, Correction & Account Deletion (Principles 12 & 13)

We retain your gameplay and account data for as long as your account remains active.

Access and Correction: Under Australian Privacy Principles 12 and 13, you have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if you believe any information is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, or misleading. You may submit an access or correction request by emailing alex@walkplaces.org. We will respond to your request within 30 calendar days at no charge.

Account & Data Deletion: You have the right to delete your account and all associated data at any time. You can delete your account directly inside the App via the in-game Settings menu (“Reset & Delete Account”), or by submitting an email deletion request to alex@walkplaces.org with your registered username. Upon request, your authentication record and all associated cloud save data stored in Cloud Firestore are permanently and irreversibly removed.

Note regarding community content: Planted geocaches and public logbook signatures may be retained in an anonymized format under a generic pseudonym (“Former Explorer”) to preserve game world continuity for other players.

6. Children’s Privacy

Walk Places is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us at alex@walkplaces.org so that we can promptly delete such information.

7. Security

We implement technical and organizational measures to safeguard your information, including encrypted transmission over HTTPS/TLS and strict database security rules. While no digital service can guarantee absolute security, we strive to minimize data collection and use trusted enterprise infrastructure.

1. Real-World Conduct & Safety

Walk Places encourages outdoor physical exploration. You agree to obey all traffic laws, pedestrian signals, local municipal regulations, and park hours. Always remain fully aware of your surroundings, look up from your screen when crossing streets, and never operate a vehicle, bicycle, or machinery while interacting with the app.

2. Assumption of Risk

You explicitly acknowledge that outdoor walking and exploration entail inherent risks, including but not limited to uneven surfaces, slips, trips, falls, collisions, vehicular traffic, weather extremes, physical exertion, and encounters with domestic animals or wildlife. You voluntarily participate in gameplay entirely at your own risk and are solely responsible for your personal health and physical safety.

3. Private Property & Trespassing

Walk Places strictly prohibits trespassing. You must never enter private residential or commercial property without explicit owner consent, nor access restricted areas such as active railway corridors, construction sites, government facilities, or sensitive ecological zones. Geocaches and virtual discoveries must never be placed in locations that encourage or require trespassing.

4. In-Game Balance & Virtual Collectibles

All in-game coins, balance, supplies, containers, booster packs, and collectible items are strictly virtual entertainment goods earned solely through gameplay. In-game currency and collectibles possess zero cash value, real-world monetary value, or investment value, and cannot be redeemed, refunded, or exchanged for legal tender, cryptocurrency, or real-world goods. Virtual items cannot be transferred, sold, or bartered outside the game.

5. Acceptable Content & Moderation

Usernames, geocache titles, clues, and logbook entries must remain civil, family-appropriate, and lawful. Hate speech, harassment, vulgarity, threats, spam, or promotional material are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove non-compliant content and suspend or terminate offending player accounts without notice.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties & Limitation of Liability

Walk Places and all associated mapping, coordinate, and cartographic data are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including the Australian Consumer Law), Walk Places and its developers disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages, personal injury, property damage, or fines arising from or relating to your use of the app or participation in real-world exploration.

7. Governing Law

These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New South Wales, Australia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Walk Places is powered by open geographical data, cartography, typography, and open-source software libraries. We gratefully acknowledge the following providers:

Contact Us

If you have questions, feedback, or legal inquiries concerning Walk Places, please contact:

Walk Places
Email: alex@walkplaces.org
Website: walkplaces.org