PeaceWheel ("we", "us", or "our"), developed by Thick Rim LLC, is dedicated to protecting driver privacy. PeaceWheel turns the real-world Jeep wave into a multiplayer game layer while minimizing data collection at every step.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how long it is retained, and your choices regarding your personal data.
Core Privacy Principles:
• We never track your location continuously or outside of an active drive.
• Raw GPS coordinates are automatically purged from our servers after 10 minutes.
• Encounters store only a coarse ~5 km geohash; your live location is never displayed to other users.
• Identity (name, handle, vehicle photo) is revealed only after mutual consent via "Wave Back".
• We contain zero third-party analytics or advertising SDKs. We do not sell your data.
1. Information We Collect and Why
PeaceWheel collects only the minimal data necessary to deliver the encounter matching engine and core gameplay:
| Data Category | Data Collected | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Precise Location | Latitude and longitude coordinates during an active drive. | Used solely to match encounters when two drivers cross paths within 80 meters and 8 seconds. Coordinates are rounded to 4 decimals on your phone and automatically purged from the server after 10 minutes. |
| Coarse Location (Geohash) | 5-character geohash (~5 km resolution). | Logged with an encounter to record the general region of a wave without exposing specific roads or street addresses. |
| Account Credentials | Apple User ID and Apple Relay Email. | Authentication via Sign in with Apple. Your Apple ID is used to manage your profile and credentials securely. We do not receive your actual email unless you choose to share it. |
| Profile Information | First name (or nickname) and handle. | Displayed to other drivers only if both drivers mutually tap "Wave Back" on an encounter. Editable at any time in Settings. |
| Vehicle Information & Photo | Jeep model, generation, trim, color, custom notes, and one optional vehicle photo. | The vehicle description is shown anonymously during encounters ("Granite Crystal JL Rubicon"). The photo is revealed only upon mutual Wave Back. |
| Device Identifier | Apple's identifierForVendor (IDFV). |
Attached to active drive sessions strictly to prevent fraudulent self-waving between multiple accounts on a single physical device. |
| Push Notification Token | APNs device token (if notifications are enabled). | Delivers alerts when another driver waves back to an encounter. Notifications are never used for marketing. |
2. What We Never Collect
PeaceWheel does not collect, request, or monitor:
- Contacts, address books, or phone numbers.
- Financial, payment, or credit card information.
- Browsing history or app usage outside PeaceWheel.
- Advertising identifiers (IDFA) or third-party tracking cookies.
- Health, fitness, or biometric data.
3. Location Data Handling & Retention
PeaceWheel requests iOS "While Using" location permission. We never request or use "Always" location access.
- During a Drive: The app utilizes the standard iOS background location indicator (blue status bar) while a drive is underway. GPS pings are sent securely to our backend encounter engine.
- Auto-Stop: The app automatically halts location reporting if you remain stationary/parked for 15 minutes, and our server terminates quiet drives after 30 minutes.
- 10-Minute Retention: Raw drive coordinate fixes are deleted from the server 10 minutes after submission. Once an encounter is matched, only the timestamp and coarse 5-character geohash (~5 km) are retained.
- No Live Tracking: Your real-time position is never shown on a map to any user or public interface.
4. Consensual Reveal (Wave Back)
When you cross paths with another PeaceWheel user, both drivers see only an anonymous vehicle description ("White JL Rubicon").
Personal identifiers—including your first name, handle, and vehicle photo—are revealed only when both drivers independently tap "Wave Back" on that encounter. If either driver does not wave back, your information remains permanently anonymous.
5. Content Moderation, Reporting & Blocking
To ensure a safe and respectful community, a report and block mechanism is present on every encounter screen. When you block a user:
- All mutual profile details and photos are immediately revoked and hidden from both sides.
- Future encounters between your vehicles will be suppressed and will not trigger notifications or waves.
- Reported content is reviewed by our moderation team for violations of our community standards.
6. Third-Party Services & Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or monetize your personal or location data under any circumstances.
We use reputable infrastructure providers under strict confidentiality agreements:
- Apple Inc.: Sign in with Apple and Apple Push Notification service (APNs).
- Backend Infrastructure: Secure cloud servers hosted in enterprise data centers enforcing TLS encryption in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest.
7. Account Deletion & Data Rights
You have the complete right to access, export, or delete your account at any time:
- In-App Deletion: Navigate to Settings → Delete account → Delete my account. Deletion is instantaneous and permanent.
- What is Deleted: Your profile, display name, handle, vehicle specs, vehicle photo, drive logs, waves, XP, and badges are permanently erased.
- Past Encounters: Drivers you previously passed will retain their numerical wave count, but your side of the encounter will display only the generic vehicle description without any personal data or photo.
- Web-based Deletion: If you have already removed the app from your device, you can request account deletion by emailing [email protected] with your Apple User ID.
8. Children's Privacy
PeaceWheel is intended for licensed automotive drivers aged 16 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a minor has provided information to PeaceWheel, please contact us immediately for prompt deletion.
9. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of PeaceWheel after modifications indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact:
Thick Rim LLC
Email: [email protected]
Web: peacewheel.thickrim.app