🔒 Privacy Policy

📋 1. Information We Collect

1.1 Images You Upload

When you use our plant identification service, we temporarily process the images you upload to provide AI analysis. These images are:

• Processed anonymously - no account or login required
• Temporarily stored only during analysis (typically 30-60 seconds)
• Automatically deleted immediately after analysis completion
• Never shared with third parties or used for training

1.2 Technical Information

We automatically collect limited technical information to ensure service functionality:

• IP address (for rate limiting and abuse prevention)
• Browser type and version
• Device type and operating system
• Usage statistics (anonymized)
• Error logs (for debugging purposes)

1.3 Analytics Data

We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with our service:

• Page views and session duration
• Geographic location (country/region level only)
• Referral sources and traffic patterns
• Feature usage and performance metrics

🚫 2. Information We DON'T Collect

IsWeed.com is committed to minimal data collection:

• No personal information - name, email, phone number, address
• No account creation - no passwords or user profiles
• No image storage - your photos are deleted after analysis
• No location tracking - we don't access your GPS coordinates
• No social media integration - no data from external accounts
• No payment information - our service is completely free

🤖 3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Plant Analysis

Your uploaded images are used solely for:

• AI-powered plant identification using GPT-4 Vision
• Generating analysis results and confidence scores
• Providing educational botanical information

3.2 Service Improvement

Anonymous technical data helps us:

• Monitor service performance and uptime
• Identify and fix technical issues
• Optimize user experience and loading times
• Prevent abuse and ensure fair usage

3.3 Legal Compliance

We may use information to:

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests from authorities
• Protect our rights and prevent misuse

🔄 4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

4.1 AI Processing

Your images are securely transmitted to OpenAI's GPT-4 Vision API for analysis. OpenAI's data handling:

• Images processed in real-time and not stored
• Subject to OpenAI's privacy policy and security measures
• Used only for providing the requested analysis
• Not used for training or improving AI models

4.2 Analytics Services

We use Google Analytics with privacy-focused settings:

• IP addresses are anonymized
• Data retention is limited to 26 months
• No advertising features enabled
• Subject to Google's privacy policy

4.3 No Other Sharing

We never sell, rent, or share your data with:

• Advertisers or marketing companies
• Data brokers or analytics firms
• Social media platforms
• Any other third parties for commercial purposes

🔐 5. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your information:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure servers with regular security updates
• Access controls limiting who can access systems
• Regular monitoring for security threats
• Automatic deletion of temporary files
• No persistent storage of sensitive data

🌍 6. International Data Transfers

Our service operates globally with data processed in:

• United States - primary servers and OpenAI processing
• European Union - GDPR-compliant data handling
• Secure cloud infrastructure with appropriate safeguards
• Standard contractual clauses for international transfers

⚖️ 7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access - request information about data we process
• Deletion - request deletion of your data
• Correction - request correction of inaccurate data
• Portability - request a copy of your data
• Objection - object to certain data processing

7.2 Opting Out

You can control your privacy by:

• Using private/incognito browsing mode
• Disabling cookies in your browser
• Using VPN services for additional anonymity
• Opting out of Google Analytics tracking

7.3 Data Retention

We retain data for minimal periods:

• Images: Deleted immediately after analysis
• Analytics data: 26 months maximum
• Technical logs: 90 days maximum
• Error logs: 30 days maximum

🍪 8. Cookies and Tracking

8.1 Essential Cookies

We use minimal essential cookies for:

• Remembering your theme preference (dark/light mode)
• Session management and security
• Basic functionality and error prevention

8.2 Analytics Cookies

Google Analytics may set cookies to:

• Distinguish unique visitors
• Track session duration and behavior
• Measure site performance

8.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through:

• Browser settings and preferences
• Third-party privacy tools
• Opting out of Google Analytics

👶 9. Children's Privacy

IsWeed.com is designed for educational purposes and general audiences:

• No age verification required for basic usage
• No personal data collection from any users
• COPPA compliant due to no data collection
• Educational content appropriate for all ages
• Parental supervision recommended for minors

📱 10. Mobile and App Usage

When using IsWeed.com on mobile devices:

• No app installation required - web-based service
• Camera access only when you choose to upload photos
• No background processing or data collection
• Same privacy protections as desktop usage
• No device scanning or additional permissions

🔄 11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect:

• Changes in our data practices
• New features or services
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• User feedback and privacy improvements

When we make changes:

• Notice: We'll update the "Last Updated" date
• Significant changes: May be highlighted on our homepage
• Continued use: Constitutes acceptance of changes
• Your choice: Stop using the service if you disagree