Privacy

1. Who we are

StreetFreebies is a free community service, an initiative by ComingWave based in Sydney, Australia (comingwave.com.au). For any privacy question or request, email ask@streetfreebies.com.au.

2. Information we collect

• Account: your email address and display name, and an identifier from the sign-in method you use (for example Google). We never receive your Google password.
• Listings: the photos, title, description, condition, category, pickup spot and suburb you post.
• Inside pickups: your private pickup instructions, the times you offer and the requests you receive or make.
• Activity: items you save, your "Still there" and "Gone" votes, and reports you send.
• Alerts: the email address, suburb, distance and categories you choose.
• Technical: one essential cookie, and standard server logs kept by our hosting provider, such as IP address, browser type and the pages requested.

3. How we use it

We use this information to run the service: to sign you in, show listings to people nearby, arrange inside pickups, send the emails you ask for, prevent abuse and review reports.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.

4. What is public and what is private

Public: your listing's photos, title, description, condition, category, suburb, listing times and vote counts. For outside pickups the pickup spot is also public so people can find the item.

Private: your email address, your saved items, who voted or reported, and your private pickup instructions. For inside pickups only the suburb is public; the instructions are shared with the one collector you approve, and you can stop sharing at any time.

5. Location

When you type an address to choose a pickup spot, the text is sent to Google Maps to suggest addresses. StreetFreebies keeps the spot and the suburb, not the typed address.

If you tap "Use my location", your device asks for permission first. We use the location to find your suburb or place the pin. We remember the last suburb you searched so the homepage opens there.

6. Photos and AI title suggestions

Photos are resized before they are stored, and location metadata in the image file is removed.

When AI title suggestions are on, compressed copies of the photos you add to a new listing are sent to an AI service (Google Gemini) to suggest a title and, for mixed items, a list of what is included. Make sure photos show only the items, and check the suggestion before you publish.

7. Companies that help us run the service

• Google Cloud hosts the site and its database in Sydney, Australia.
• Google provides sign-in and Maps, and the AI title service.
• An email delivery provider sends sign-in links and alerts when those features are on.

These companies process information on our behalf to provide their service. Some of them may process information outside Australia.

8. Cookies

StreetFreebies uses one essential cookie. It keeps you signed in and remembers the suburb you last searched. It is not used for advertising or tracking, and there are no third-party advertising cookies.

9. When we share information

We share information only:

• with the companies listed above, so they can provide their service
• with the collector you approve, for an inside pickup
• with moderators, to review reports and keep the service safe
• when the law requires it, or to protect someone's safety.

10. How long we keep it

Listings stop being public when they are collected, removed or expire. We keep account, listing and moderation records for as long as needed to run the service, deal with reports and meet legal obligations.

When you delete your account, your email address and name are erased, your listings are taken down, your saved items are deleted and your alerts stop. Some moderation and audit records may be kept.

11. Security

Connections to the site are encrypted. Private pickup instructions are stored encrypted, and access to personal information is limited to what is needed to run and moderate the service. No online service can be completely secure, so please avoid putting sensitive details in listings.

12. Your choices

• Download a copy of your data or delete your account from your account page.
• Change or stop alerts with the links in any alert email.
• Ask us to correct or give you access to your information by emailing ask@streetfreebies.com.au.

13. Children

StreetFreebies is intended for adults. People under 18 should only use it with a parent or guardian.

14. Questions and complaints

If you have a concern about how your information is handled, email ask@streetfreebies.com.au and we will look into it. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.

15. Changes to this page

We may update this page as the service changes. The date at the top shows the latest version.