Privacy & Data

What we collect, what we don't, and how your scans help build Canada's safety database without ever identifying you.

Last updated: June 2026

The short version

  • No account is required to scan. You can use QRbolt anonymously.
  • Scans are aggregated. We know what was scanned, never who scanned it.
  • All data stays in Canada, on Canadian infrastructure.
  • We do not sell your data. We never have.
  • You can opt out of contributing to the Shelf Index at any time in the app settings.

What we collect

Scan data (anonymised)

When you scan a QR code, we record the destination URL and its classification result (GS1, dynamic, or legacy). This scan is associated with a session identifier, not your identity.

Aggregate statistics

We compute totals and percentages per brand and product category. These aggregates are what appear in the public Shelf Index. No individual scan is ever published.

App diagnostics (optional)

Standard crash reports and performance metrics, if you've enabled diagnostics in your device settings. These are never linked to scan content.

What we do not collect

  • Your name, email, or any account information (no account is required)
  • Your location (we do not request or store GPS data)
  • Device identifiers that persist across app reinstalls
  • The content of websites you visit after scanning
  • Any data from apps other than QRbolt

Canadian data residency

All data collected by QRbolt is stored and processed in Canada. We use Canadian cloud infrastructure, and no scan data is transferred outside of Canadian jurisdiction. This is not a future roadmap item. It is how the system was built from day one.

QRbolt's data practices are designed to be consistent with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and its provincial equivalents. We take a minimisation posture: we collect only what we need to operate the safety service and build the Shelf Index.

Opting out of the Shelf Index

Contributing to the Shelf Index is on by default, because the Index is only useful if enough Canadians participate. However, you can turn off Shelf Index contribution at any time in Settings → Privacy → Contribute to Shelf Index. Turning this off means your scans still get a safety check, but the result is not counted toward any brand or category aggregate.

Contact

Questions about data or privacy? Email us at privacy@qrbolt.com. For enterprise data inquiries related to qrbolt.com, visit qrbolt.com/privacy.

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