# What are privacy zonesUnderstand how privacy zones work, how they differ from places, and how they protect your privacy automatically.

A privacy zone is a private area on the map that protects your actual location in places where you want extra privacy. When you enter a privacy zone, Paralino automatically obfuscates your position and shares an approximate area instead. This allows you to protect your privacy without having to turn off location sharing entirely.

![Privacy zones](images/paralino-zone-empty-state.png)

## How privacy zones protect you

Unlike places, which are shared with the entire group, privacy zones are completely private. Only you can see where your zones are, and they are protected with end-to-end encryption. Other group members cannot see your zones on the map, and they do not receive notifications when you create, enter, or delete a zone.

Privacy zones are created within specific groups rather than your Personal Space.

## How it works

{{< callout context="danger" title="Privacy zones are not about deception" icon="outline/info-circle" >}}
Privacy zones are not lying or faking your location. They protect it by sharing an approximate area instead of your exact coordinates. Therefore you cannot fake that you are in London while you are actually in Paris.
{{< /callout >}}

When you enter a privacy zone, Paralino automatically hides your precise location.

To do this, the app picks a random point inside your zone to act as the center of your shared approximate area. This shared radius is at least 500 meters or the radius of your zone, whichever is larger. The maximum shared radius is twice your zone radius to ensure the entire zone is covered.

Your map marker remains at the selected random point while you are inside the zone. If you leave the zone and enter it again later, Paralino picks a new random point. Once you step outside the zone, normal location sharing resumes automatically.

If you have both manual approximate location sharing and a privacy zone active at the same time, the setting with the larger radius takes precedence.

## What others see

Other group members only see your approximate location on the map. They never see your real position or the boundaries of your privacy zone.

You can customize what is displayed on your member card when you are inside a zone. If you share your zone status, you can set a custom short message (such as "Secret shopping" or "Just for me") to let others know you are safe. If you disable the custom status message, others will only see that approximate location sharing is active. 

![Privacy zones](images/paralino-zone-member-preview.jpg)

If you disable device status sharing from the sharing settings, other members will only see that your location is not accurate regardless of what zone status setting is used.

## Limitations while in a zone

Because your location is obfuscated while you are inside a privacy zone, some features are restricted. Alerts for entering or leaving places do not work for any places that are inside or overlap with your privacy zone. Your speed and elevation details are also not shared with other group members while you are in a zone.