Privacy Policy and Grant holder

Privacy Policy for the PragmaTick Mobile Application

The Application and the Data Controller

The PragmaTick mobile application enables users to record and submit tick observations.

The Data Controller responsible for the processing of personal data in connection with the PragmaTick mobile application is:

HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research
Registered office: 29 Karolina út, 1113 Budapest, Hungary
Privacy contact email: kullancs@ecolres.hu

The PragmaTick mobile application was developed by Civitta Hungary Zrt.

Data Processed and Purpose of Processing

When using the PragmaTick mobile application, the following personal data may be processed:

• Email address: used to create and manage the user account and to identify the user.
• Full name: may be provided voluntarily by the user and is not required.
• Location data: the application may access the user’s device location with the user’s permission. Location data is used to determine and record the location of a tick observation. The user may enter or adjust the observation location using the Google Maps-based map interface. The recorded location is submitted as part of the observation.
• Photographs: the user may take and submit a photograph related to an observation. The application may access the device camera with the user’s permission for this purpose.
• Observation data: the application processes data recorded and submitted by the user in connection with tick observations.

The above data are processed for the purposes of collecting and documenting tick observations, scientific research, analysing the occurrence and distribution of ticks, and operating and maintaining the PragmaTick application. Access to the device location and camera is subject to the permissions granted by the user through the Android operating system.

Offline Use and Data Transmission

The PragmaTick application can also be used without an internet connection. If a user records an observation without an internet connection, the observation data may be temporarily stored on the user’s device. When an internet connection becomes available, previously recorded observation data may be uploaded to the application’s backend system.

Public Display of Observation Data

Submitted tick observations may be used for scientific research and may be displayed on the map within the PragmaTick application. The public map displays the location of an observation as a map point. The user’s name, email address, user account or other information directly identifying the user is not displayed publicly in connection with the observation. The submitted observations, which are anonymised and are not linked to the user’s account or personal data, may be made available to researchers for scientific research purposes. PragmaTick does not currently transfer submitted observations to GBIF or another general-purpose public open-data database.

External Services and Data Processors

PragmaTick uses external technology services to provide certain functions of the application. The application uses Google Firebase services for certain technical and operational functions. Depending on the Firebase services used, technical and application-related data may be processed. The application uses Google Maps for displaying the map and allowing users to enter or adjust the location of an observation. When using Google services, Google may process data in accordance with its own privacy policies and terms. The Data Controller does not sell personal data. Technology service providers used to operate PragmaTick may process data to the extent necessary to provide their services.

Data Retention and Deletion

The user may delete their account directly within the application. When the account is deleted, the personal data associated with the user account will be deleted, unless their continued retention is required by law.

Previously submitted tick observations may remain after account deletion for scientific research purposes. In such cases, the observations are retained separately from the user’s account and personal data in a form that does not allow the observation to be linked back to the user. The observation location may therefore continue to be displayed as a map point after the user’s account has been deleted.

The user may also contact the Data Controller at kullancs@ecolres.hu regarding the deletion of personal data.

Data Security

The Data Controller applies appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction. Data temporarily stored on the user’s device while offline may be transmitted to the application’s backend system when an internet connection becomes available.

Rights of Data Subjects

Under applicable data protection legislation, users may have the right to request access to their personal data, correction or deletion of their data.

Requests and questions concerning the processing of personal data may be submitted to kullancs@ecolres.hu.

For matters not specifically addressed in this Privacy Policy, the provisions of the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research’s general privacy policy applicable to the PragmaTick application shall apply.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

The Data Controller may update this Privacy Policy where necessary, in particular if the functionality of the PragmaTick application, the technologies used, or applicable legislation changes.

Effective date: 01.09.2026

Centre for Ecological Research

The main task of the Centre for Ecological Research is to conduct high-level research on biodiversity and ecosystems, including both the freshwater and the terrestrial habitats and the cultivation of evolutionary basic and applied research at all relevant levels of the organization.

The institution mainly hosts ecological and evolutionary biology research, but many studies are related to, for example, the effect of agriculture and forestry on biodiversity, traditional ecological knowledge, water utilization, ecological and evolutionary dynamics of emerging infectious diseases, evolutionary processes (biological, cultural, technological and economic) conceptual and dynamic analysis and other interdisciplinary topics.

The Centre for Ecological Research, as the leading Hungarian research institution dealing with ecology, regards itself as the “nation’s advisor” on various issues related to biodiversity and wildlife. It is committed to perform and promote public tasks on a scientific basis and to support the development of Hungarian ecology and evolutionary biology.