Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 5, 2026
Effective date: March 9, 2026
Introduction
Welcome to TraceVault. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collected through our website and services.
By using TraceVault, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
We collect information that you voluntarily provide when using our services:
- Account Information: Name, email address, profile photo (via Clerk authentication)
- Lost/Found Reports: Item descriptions, photos, location data, contact preferences
- Claims: Messages, verification details, and communication with other users
- Profile Data: Optional information you choose to add to your profile
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
We automatically collect certain information when you use our services:
- Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on platform
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
- Log Data: IP address, access times, referring URLs
- Cookies: Session cookies for authentication and preferences (see Cookie Policy)
1.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from:
- Clerk Authentication: Basic profile data when you sign in
- Analytics Services: Aggregated usage statistics (if applicable)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
- Provide Services: Enable you to report lost items, browse found listings, and make claims
- Communications: Send you notifications about claims, updates, and important announcements
- Platform Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve features and user experience
- Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
- Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations
- Support: Respond to your questions and provide customer service
3. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We DO Share:
- Public Listings: Lost/found reports you post are visible to all users
- With Claimants: Contact information when you choose to connect with someone
- Service Providers: Third-party services that help us operate (e.g., Clerk, MongoDB, Vercel)
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
We DO NOT:
- ❌ Sell your personal information to third parties
- ❌ Share your data with advertisers
- ❌ Use your information for unrelated marketing purposes
- ❌ Share your private messages without consent
4. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:
- Encryption: Data transmitted over HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Authentication: Secure authentication via Clerk with industry best practices
- Access Controls: Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
- Regular Audits: Security reviews and updates to our systems
- Data Minimization: We only collect data necessary for our services
Note: No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
- Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from non-essential communications
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where applicable
To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@tracevault.com
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:
- Active Reports: Retained while active and for 90 days after resolution
- Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
- Log Data: Retained for up to 12 months for security purposes
7. Children's Privacy
TraceVault is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
8. International Data Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Email: officialtracevault@gmail.com
GitHub: Open an Issue
Response Time: We aim to respond within 48 hours