Privacy Policy

Who we are

Hornet Watch Malta is a community project run by Stefan Buttigieg, who is the data controller. Contact: info@stefanbuttigieg.com.

What we collect

• Report details you choose to submit: report type, map location, date, counts, behaviour, nest status, hive numbers, intervention type, notes and an optional photo.
• Anonymous counters when you confirm or flag a report.
• We do not ask for your name, email or phone number, and there are no user accounts.
• Like any website, our hosting provider processes technical data (such as IP address and browser type) to deliver the site and keep it secure.
• To stop abuse, each report you send records a scrambled, one-way code made from your IP address (not the address itself, and never shown with your report). It is used only to limit everyone to 5 reports an hour and is deleted after 2 days.

Why we use it (legal basis)

To map oriental hornet activity and measure which interventions work, in the public interest of protecting bees and beekeeping in Malta (GDPR Art. 6(1)(e) and legitimate interests, Art. 6(1)(f)).

Who can see it

• Reports (except photos) are public on the map, the impact page and in the CSV download.
• Photos are stored privately and only shown through short-lived links.
• Please don't put names, phone numbers or home addresses in notes or photos.

Third parties

• Lovable (hosting and database), with data processed in line with the GDPR.
• OpenStreetMap tile servers, which load map images and see your IP address.
• Google Fonts, which loads the site's typefaces and sees your IP address.

How long we keep it

Reports are kept while the project is active, as a long-term record of the hornet situation. Spam or wrong reports are hidden or removed by moderators.

Your rights

You may ask for access to, correction or erasure of information you submitted, or object to its use. Use our data request page for step-by-step instructions and a ready-made email, or email info@stefanbuttigieg.com with the date and location of the report. We reply within one month. You can also complain to Malta's Information and Data Protection Commissioner (idpc.org.mt).