Join the beta
Beta version, October 2026

Privacy policy

Coil is a community map of snake sightings. This policy covers the Coil iPhone app and this website.

What we collect

  • Your email address, to sign you in with a one-time code, or to send you the beta invite if you join the waitlist.
  • The display name and cartoon snake avatar you choose, shown next to your comments.
  • Sightings you post: any photos or videos you add, the pin you place, when you saw the snake, where it is now, an optional place description, what you think you saw, and any notes.
  • Your location while the app is open, to show sightings near you. It isn't stored unless you post a sighting or turn on snake alerts.
  • If you turn on snake alerts: a notification token for your phone, the area where you last opened Coil (rounded to within about a kilometre, never your exact spot), and the alert distance you chose.
  • Optional sign-up answers: your home town, how you heard about Coil, and whether you'd like beta emails.
  • Feedback, reports and blocks you send, so we can improve Coil and moderate the community.
  • Your agreement to the terms: which version you accepted, when, and the safety acknowledgements you ticked.
  • Handler applications: name, business, phone, email, service area and licence details.
  • Forms on this website: what you type into the beta sign-up or contact form.

How your location is protected

The exact pin you place is stored privately and only you can see it. Everyone else sees an approximate spot, moved to within about a kilometre. Photos are re-saved before upload, which removes hidden data such as the GPS position your camera records. Videos have the location your phone records removed before upload.

Who processes your data

  • App data is stored with Supabase in its Sydney, Australia region.
  • Sighting photos are sent to Anthropic, the maker of the Claude AI, to suggest a species. Under Anthropic's commercial terms, these photos are not used to train its models. Videos and written descriptions are not sent for AI identification.
  • Snake alerts are delivered through Expo's notification service and Apple. They receive your phone's notification token and the alert text.
  • This website and its forms are hosted by Netlify.
  • Apple handles any App Store purchases. We never see your card details.

We don't sell your information or use it for advertising.

Your choices

  • Delete any sighting you posted from within the app.
  • Turn snake alerts off any time in the app (Account > Snake alerts) or in your iPhone's Settings. Signing out turns them off too.
  • Delete your whole account in the app under Account > Delete account. That removes your sightings, photos and comments. We keep only the record of the terms you agreed to, in case it's needed for a legal claim.
  • Ask what we hold about you, correct it, or leave the waitlist, by emailing admin@coilapp.com.au or using the contact form.

We follow the Australian Privacy Principles. If you're unhappy with how we handled your information, contact us first. You can also complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.