valuesPrivacy policy
Values is in an early, invite-only test. This policy covers that test. We’ll update it before Values opens to everyone and tell you in the app when we do.
Values is run by Values App Pty Ltd, an Australian company (“we”, “us”). We handle personal information under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy explains what we collect, why, who we share it with, and the choices you have.
The short version
- You choose what to share, and with whom: private, friends, followers or everyone.
- We never sell your personal information.
- Anything you tell us about your beliefs or views is optional and only used the way you choose.
- You can download your information or delete your account in the app at any time.
What we collect
Information you give us
- Your account: your name and email address.
- Your profile: photo, headline, the things you value, and anything else you add to your page.
- What you post: posts, photos, videos, voice notes, documents, links, reactions, replies at open tables, questions and answers, and saved posts.
- Your conversations: messages in Talks, Circles and communities.
- Your connections: who you follow, your friends, communities you join, and people you block or mute.
- Things you tell us: reports, support emails, and waitlist applications.
- Optional “About me” details: things like your faith, political leaning or worldview, if you choose to add them.
Information collected as you use Values
- Basic technical information our service providers record to keep the service running and secure, such as IP address, device type, app version and times you sign in.
Later features
- Identity checks for the verified tick, when they switch on, are done by Stripe. Stripe sees your ID document; we receive only whether the check passed and your verified name.
- Paid memberships, when they switch on, are paid through Apple. We never see your card details.
Sensitive information
Your religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs and political opinions are “sensitive information” under Australian privacy law. On Values you may share these in posts and on your page because that is what the app is for, and anything you post is shared with the audience you choose.
Separately, “About me” details are optional and hidden until you choose to add them. If you do, we use them only to:
- show you how people across different beliefs reacted to a post, always as group totals, and only for groups of 50 or more people; and
- suggest people and communities you may want to meet.
We will never use them to target sponsored posts at you unless you separately and clearly agree to that in settings. You can change or remove them at any time.
How we use your information
- To run Values: show your posts to the people you chose, deliver messages, and let you sign in.
- To keep people safe: review reports, remove content that breaks our rules, and stop abuse, spam and fake accounts.
- To contact you about your account, safety matters and important changes.
- To improve Values, using combined information that doesn’t identify you wherever we can.
- To meet our legal obligations.
Who we share it with
- Other people on Values, according to the audience you choose for each thing you share.
- Service providers who run parts of Values for us, under contracts that protect your information:
- Supabase: our database and file storage, hosted in Sydney, Australia.
- Google Workspace: our email.
- Resend: sends sign-in emails (United States).
- Stripe: identity checks and payments, when those switch on (United States and elsewhere).
- Apple: app distribution, testing and in-app payments.
- Authorities, when the law requires it, or when we believe someone is at risk of serious harm.
- A future owner, if Values App Pty Ltd is sold or merged. This policy would continue to apply to your information.
Some of these providers store or process information outside Australia, mainly in the United States. We take reasonable steps to make sure they protect it to Australian standards.
Sponsored posts
Sponsored posts are not switched on yet. When they are, we’ll update this policy first. Sponsors will never receive your personal information.
Keeping and deleting your information
We keep your information while your account is open. When you delete your account in the app (Profile → Settings → Delete your account), your profile, posts, photos, replies and messages are deleted from Values straight away. Copies may remain in our providers’ backups for up to 30 days before they are overwritten. We may keep a record of reports and safety decisions where we need to for safety or legal reasons.
Your choices and rights
- Choose the audience for each thing you share, and change it later.
- Edit or delete your posts and your page.
- Download a copy of your information from settings, or ask us for it.
- Ask us to correct information that’s wrong.
- Delete your account at any time.
To ask about any of these, email privacy@valuesapp.social. We’ll reply within 30 days.
Security
Your information is encrypted in transit and stored with access rules that limit each person to what they’re allowed to see. Only a small number of authorised people at Values can access account information, and only when they need to. No system is perfectly secure; if a data breach is likely to cause you serious harm, we will tell you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Age
Values is for people aged 18 and over. We don’t knowingly collect information from anyone younger. If you believe someone under 18 is using Values, email safety@valuesapp.social.
Questions and complaints
Email privacy@valuesapp.social. If you’re not happy with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.