Concerned about the risk of being tracked for no reason ? Read below to be reassured.
The Resident app is designed as a platform that bridges the gap between citizens and their local government, allowing users to submit requests, questions, suggestions, and feedback.
It's a unique blend of a social media platform and a ticketing system, designed to foster civic engagement and improve public services.
Resident Mode for Public Users:
For regular Resident app users, background location may be used only with their consent to improve their experience and engagement. For instance:
- Service Request Alerts: The app may alert users when they are near a service request while walking, giving them an opportunity to confirm whether the issue has been addressed and to provide feedback on public services.
Citycare Mode for Government Employees:
For users who are government employees, the app includes a special "Citycare mode." These users can authenticate themselves by providing and validating their official work email addresses. Once authenticated, they gain access to Citycare mode, which enables them to respond to resident requests and address public service needs efficiently.
To facilitate their work, Citycare mode uses background location tracking only during their working shifts to:
- Dispatch Work Efficiently: When government employees are out in the field, the app tracks their location to assign tasks based on their proximity, ensuring faster response times and more effective use of resources.
- Guide Service Routes: The app offers pre-programmed service routes for tasks like snow removal, road inspections, street cleaning, and waste collection. Using background location tracking, it provides real-time navigation, helping workers complete their routes as efficiently as possible. This also allows residents to see when their service requests will be completed and when services like snow plows or garbage trucks will arrive in their area.
Click here to watch a short video which explains Copilot, the feature within Citycare that allows government users to use the features described above.
Your Privacy Matters:
We understand that location data is sensitive. That’s why background location tracking is only used to enhance the features of the app for both Citycare mode users (government employees) and Resident mode users (public citizens). Here’s what you can expect:
- No Tracking Without Consent: We never track users without their explicit consent. Background location is utilized solely when it is relevant to the features of the app, such as identifying when a Citycare user starts driving while on duty.
- Privacy Protection: Location data is never stored on our servers for any purpose that could compromise user privacy. It is exclusively used to empower civic engagement and operational efficiency, and not for any activities that could be detrimental to your privacy.