Privacy Policy
Effective Date: December 1, 2025
Last Updated: December 1, 2025
GovWatch Ja is a civic engagement and accountability platform owned and operated by the Lesma Ellis Foundation (“LEF”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). We are committed to protecting your privacy, promoting responsible civic participation, and complying with the Jamaica Data Protection Act, 2020.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use the GovWatch Ja platform.
1. Our Commitment to Privacy and Civic Safety
GovWatch Ja exists to strengthen transparency, accountability, and community participation in Jamaica. We are equally committed to:
- Protecting your personal data
- Encouraging responsible and safe public reporting
- Minimizing the collection of personal information
- Using data only for the purposes of this platform
We strongly encourage users not to publish personal identifiable information (PII) about themselves or others when making public reports or posts.
2. Information We Collect
a) Information You Provide Voluntarily
When you create an account or use GovWatch Ja, we may collect:
- Email address (used only for account access, notifications, and platform updates)
- Display name (publicly visible)
- Reports, comments, posts, and feedback you submit
- Subscription and notification preferences
⚠️ Display Names
- Display names do not need to be verified.
- If an account is verified (for example, an official organization or representative), the app will clearly notify users that the account is verified.
b) Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect
We do not require or encourage you to provide:
- National ID numbers
- Exact home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Financial information
- Sensitive personal data about yourself or others
3. Public Content and User Responsibility
GovWatch Ja includes public-facing features such as reports, comments, and community discussions.
- Content you post may be publicly visible
- You are responsible for ensuring that your submissions do not include personal identifiable information, such as:
- Full names of private individuals
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Identification numbers
- Images or documents revealing sensitive personal data
We may remove content that puts individuals at risk or violates platform guidelines.
4. How We Use Your Information
We collect and use information only for the purposes of GovWatch Ja, including to:
- Operate and improve the platform
- Enable reporting, tracking, and discussion of public issues
- Provide civic education through the Budget Explainer and Project Tracker
- Send platform notifications and updates (if you opt in)
- Maintain platform security and prevent misuse
- Support accountability reporting and aggregated insights
We do not sell, rent, or trade user data.
5. Email and Communications
- Your email address is never shared with third parties
- Emails are used only for:
- Account-related communications
- Notifications you subscribe to
- Important platform updates
You may opt out of non-essential notifications at any time.
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not share personal user data with third parties, except:
- When required by Jamaican law or a lawful court order
- To protect the rights, safety, or integrity of the platform
- In aggregated or anonymized form for research, reporting, or advocacy purposes (no personal identifiers)
7. Data Protection and Security
In compliance with the Jamaica Data Protection Act, 2020, we:
- Collect only data that is necessary
- Store data securely using appropriate technical and organizational safeguards
- Limit access to personal data to authorized personnel only
- Retain data only as long as necessary for platform purposes
8. Your Rights Under the Data Protection Act (Jamaica)
You have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your account and associated personal data (subject to legal obligations)
- Withdraw consent for certain data uses
Requests can be made by contacting us using the details below.
9. Account Verification
Some accounts (e.g., organizations, officials, or oversight bodies) may undergo verification.
- Verification is optional
- Verified accounts will be clearly labeled within the app
- Verification does not grant special privileges over other users’ voices
10. Children and Youth Participation
GovWatch Ja encourages youth civic engagement. Users under 18 should only use the platform with parental or guardian guidance. We do not knowingly collect unnecessary personal data from minors.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do:
- Updates will be posted on the platform
- The “Last Updated” date will be revised
Continued use of GovWatch Ja constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or data requests, contact:
Lesma Ellis Foundation
Website: https://thelef.foundation