Question:

How does the Everbridge Mobile app use a mobile device's location information?

Answer:

See the respective sections below for information about how the Everbridge Mobile app uses a mobile device's location information:

Location information for Incident Zones

When contacts are using Everbridge Mobile app and when it is allowed to refresh in the background, the device's location will be used to notify the contact via a push notification when entering an area in which an incident is occurring, or when the location has an incident alert issued. Authorized federal, state, and local agencies using Everbridge have the option to send push notifications to devices about incidents in the area.

All location information is handled securely and anonymously. The device's location latitude and longitude coordinates are passed to a secure Everbridge server over a secure connection, and is not associated with any other information. Location information is not shared with any person or entity, and can never be viewed or monitored.

If registered to an organization's member portal, the Everbridge Mobile app profile will contain personal information, such as a name and email address. However, personal information and location are never associated, and are stored separately. For example, logging in to the Everbridge Mobile app as a registered contact, the location information remains secure and anonymous, and can never be viewed or monitored, even by the organization the contact belongs to.

Location for Safety Connection

When an organization uses Safety Connection, it allows the Everbridge Mobile app to check in with the organization during an incident, or send an SOS if you need immediate attention. Use of location information for these features is separate from the use of a device's location when accessing the map, and is encrypted with AES 128. For more information on these features, see the article: Using Safety Connection Features in the Everbridge Mobile App.

The device's location information is used in the following ways for Everbridge Safety Connection™:

Check In

When contacts check in, the location is securely sent to the Everbridge server and is only accessible by an authorized user from the private organization. The authorized user will be able to view the device's location and the contact's name on a map within Everbridge Suite.

SOS

When contact's send an SOS, your location is securely sent to the Everbridge server, and is only accessible by an authorized user from the private organization. Similar to the check in feature, the authorized user will be able to view the contact's device's location and the contact's name on a map within the Everbridge Suite. Additionally, the location may be sent to authorized contacts from the private organization via email, SMS, or push notification to ensure that responders know where the contact is.

Safe Corridor

Contacts can use safe corridor, where they enter a four-digit code and the device's location is securely sent to the Everbridge server, and is only accessible by an authorized user from the private organization. Similar to the check in and SOS features, the authorized user will be able to view the device's location and the contact's name on a map within Everbridge Suite.

If the four-digit code is not entered, entered incorrectly multiple times, or if the duress code is entered, the Everbridge Mobile app will automatically send an SOS to the organization.

Emergency Call

An emergency call uses the country configured as the contact's current location to ensure that any call is properly routed through the local telecommunications provider.