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Location and Trip Mode

When your position is recorded, who sees it, how long it lasts.

Last updated 20 September 2026

Draft. These documents describe what Petra does today, but they have not been reviewed by a lawyer yet, and anything in [square brackets] is still to be filled in. They will be final before Petra is released in the app stores.

Off unless you turn it on

Petra records your position only while trip mode is on in one of your groups. Trip mode is off by default. The group's organiser can turn it on for the whole group, only while the group is within its active dates, and it switches off by itself when those dates end.

Before joining a group, make sure you are happy for its organiser to do this. You stay in control: you can stop sharing at any moment by turning off location access for Petra in your phone's settings, or by leaving the group.

What is recorded

Who sees it

Members of a group see your positions recorded during that group's active dates, and nothing from before or after. Groups you are in that are not active see nothing.

While trip mode is on, every member of the group can see every other member's position and battery level, on the map and the compass.

How long it is kept

Positions are deleted automatically 30 days after they are recorded, and immediately if you delete your account. Leaving a group stops its members from seeing your positions.

Your phone's permission

Nothing is recorded unless you have allowed Petra to use your location. You can withdraw that permission in your phone's settings at any time; trip mode then records nothing from your phone. Seeing where you are on the map or compass on your own phone does not send your position anywhere.

Positions can be old, inaccurate or missing, for example with no signal or a flat battery. Never rely on Petra to locate someone in danger; contact the emergency services.