Privacy Policy - vancam.ai Traffic Camera Service & Data Protection

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

1.1. Information You Provide

Account Information

When you create an account or sign in through Firebase Authentication, we may collect:

• Email address
• Display name (optional)

We do not collect passwords directly. Authentication is handled securely by Firebase.

1.2. Information Collected Automatically

Device Information

We may collect:

• Device model
• Operating system
• App version
• Anonymous identifiers (e.g., Firebase installation ID)

Location Information

We may collect:

• Approximate or precise location if you allow location permissions

Used only to:

• Center the map
• Show nearby cameras

We do not store or track your location server-side.

Usage Information

We collect anonymized analytics such as:

• Features you use
• Cameras viewed
• App performance events

This helps improve app performance.

1.3. Network Camera Images

VanCam displays publicly available traffic cameras from various transportation agencies and public sources.

We do not record, store, or modify camera content beyond temporary caching for speed.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide core app functionality
• Display real-time camera feeds
• Authenticate your account
• Enable MCP server API access for AI tools and third-party applications
• Improve app performance and reliability
• Prevent fraud or misuse of the service
• Respond to support requests

We do not use your information for advertising or selling data.

3. How We Store and Protect Information

We use secure cloud infrastructure:

• AWS (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3)
• Firebase (Google Cloud) for authentication
• Mapbox SDK for maps

Data is stored with industry-standard encryption:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS)
• Encryption at rest

We do not store sensitive personal information.

4. Sharing of Information

We do NOT sell your data.

We only share information in these cases:

4.1. Service Providers

We may share limited data with:

• Firebase (for authentication)
• Mapbox (for map rendering)
• AWS services (to run the app)

These providers must protect your data under strict contracts.

4.2. Legal Requirements

We may disclose data if required by law or government request.

5. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your region, you may have rights under GDPR, CPPA, CCPA, or similar laws, including:

• Access your data
• Delete your data
• Correct your data
• Limit processing
• Withdraw permission (such as location access)

If you want to request any of these, contact us below.

6. MCP Server and API Access

VanCam provides a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes camera data and metadata through a standardized API interface. This allows AI agents, development tools, and third-party applications to programmatically access traffic camera information.

6.1. MCP Server API

When you or AI tools interact with the VanCam MCP server, the following information may be accessed:

• Camera locations and metadata (asset IDs, coordinates, descriptions)
• Live camera images and snapshots
• Geographic search queries (coordinates, radius, routes, bounds)
• API request metadata (timestamps, query parameters, response data)

6.2. AI Agent Interactions

When you use AI-powered tools (such as Cursor, VS Code with AI extensions, or other AI agents) that connect to the VanCam MCP server:

• Your search queries and location parameters may be processed by the AI tool
• AI tools may cache or log API requests for functionality purposes
• Camera data accessed through AI tools is subject to the same privacy protections as direct API access
• We do not share your personal information with AI tool providers beyond what is necessary for API functionality

6.3. API Usage and Logging

For API functionality and security, we may log:

• API request patterns and frequency
• Geographic query parameters (coordinates, search areas)
• Error logs and performance metrics
• IP addresses for rate limiting and abuse prevention

We do not log or store personal identifiers unless you explicitly provide them through authenticated endpoints. API logs are retained for operational purposes and deleted according to our data retention policy.

6.4. Third-Party AI Tools

If you use third-party AI tools that access the VanCam MCP server, those tools may have their own privacy policies governing how they handle your queries and data. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any AI tools you use.

7. Third-Party Services Used by VanCam

VanCam uses the following third-party platforms:

• Firebase Authentication
• Mapbox Maps SDK
• AWS Cloud Services
• Transport agencies providing public cameras (e.g., DOT, provincial ministries)
• AI development tools and MCP-compatible platforms (when accessed through MCP server)

Each provider has its own privacy policy.

8. Children's Privacy

VanCam is not intended for children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy occasionally.

Updates will be posted on this page with a new "last updated" date.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

• Email: support@vancam.ai
• Website: https://vancam.ai