Privacy policy
Last updated 7 November 2026
Hotspot warns drivers in Ghana about traffic cameras and other hotspots ahead. This page says what the app collects, why, who else sees it, and how to delete it. We don’t sell your data, show ads, or track you across other apps and websites.
Your location
The app uses your location to warn you as you approach a hotspot and to show your speed against the limit. If you allow it, it keeps doing this in the background while a drive is on, so alerts still come with the screen off. This happens on your phone. Your location only leaves the phone when you:
- send a report (we keep where you were when you sent it),
- ask for directions (we send your start and end points to the route service below).
We don’t keep a history of where you drive.
Permissions the app asks for
Your phone asks you before the app can use any of these. You can say no, or turn them off later in your phone’s settings. The app still opens without them, but does less.
- Location while using the app, precise or approximate: to show where you are on the map and warn you about hotspots ahead. Without it, the app can’t warn you.
- Location in the background (“Always” on iPhone, “Allow all the time” on Android): so warnings keep coming while the screen is off or you’re in another app. On Android, a notification shows while this is on. Without it, warnings stop when you leave the app.
- Notifications: to show a warning when the app isn’t on screen. These are made on your phone; we don’t send push messages from our server.
- Background audio (iPhone): to speak warnings aloud while you’re in another app. The app doesn’t use the microphone.
- Run at start-up (Android): so warnings set up on your phone still work after it restarts.
The app doesn’t ask for your camera, microphone, photos, contacts or files.
Your account
You can use Hotspot without an account. If you create one, we keep your first and last name, your phone number and/or email address, and when you last signed in. We send you a one-time code to sign in; we keep only a scrambled copy of it, and only until it’s used or expires.
Reports
When you report a hotspot, or say one is still there or gone, we keep the kind of hotspot, where it is, which way you were heading, and when. Each install of the app has a random id that goes with its reports, so we can spot repeated or false reports. If you’re signed in, the report is also linked to your account. Every report is checked by a person before it changes the map.
Who else sees it
We use a few services to run Hotspot. Each gets only what it needs:
- Arkesel sends sign-in codes by text, and Resend by email. They get your phone number or email address and the code.
- Photon (by Komoot) finds places you search for, and OSRM plans routes. Our server asks them on your behalf, with your search words or your start and end points, not your name or account.
- Maptoolkit and OpenFreeMap supply the map. Your phone downloads map pieces from them directly, so they see your internet address and the area on screen.
- Your phone’s own maps service (Apple’s on iPhone, Google’s on Android) turns your position into a street name.
- Expo delivers app updates. The app checks with them for a new version, which shares your internet address and app version.
Our server also keeps short technical logs, with internet addresses and what was asked for, to keep it running and fix problems. We don’t share your data with anyone else unless the law requires it.
Deleting your data
In the app, open Settings and tap Delete account. You’re signed out and your account is closed straight away. We keep it for 30 days in case you change your mind: log in again in that time and it comes back as it was, reports and all. After 30 days, your name, phone number and email address are deleted for good, along with any sign-in codes. Reports you sent stay on the map, but no longer linked to you. You can also email us to ask what we hold about you, or to delete it.
Children
Hotspot is for drivers. It isn’t meant for children, and we don’t knowingly collect their data.
Changes
If we change what we collect, we’ll update this page and the date at the top. Big changes will also be shown in the app.
Contact
Questions, or a problem with a report? Send us a message, or email support@hotspottraffic.com.