Autowa Privacy Policy

Version 1.0 — August 2026

Autowa (“we”, “our”, “the service”, “the platform”) is a traffic-evidence collection and documentation system designed to help users capture, classify, and submit information about traffic events, vehicle behavior, and roadway conditions. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, how we protect it, and what choices you have.

We believe in transparency, user control, and responsible data handling. We avoid collecting personal information unless it is necessary to provide the service, and we take steps to prevent linking vehicle data to identifiable individuals.

1. What Autowa Is

Autowa is a civic-technology platform that allows users to:

  • Upload images, video, and other media related to traffic events
  • Document vehicle behavior (e.g., speeding, infractions, unsafe actions)
  • Generate structured reports and evidence packages
  • Deploy cameras or devices for temporary monitoring
  • Review and manage their own submissions

Autowa does not issue tickets, enforce laws, or perform legal determinations. It provides documentation, basic analysis, opinion and commentary only.

2. Information We Collect

Autowa collects information in order to provide the service, improve accuracy, maintain security, and support future features. We collect only what is necessary for operation.

2.1 User Account Information

When you sign in using Google Login, we receive:

  • Google ID (gid)
  • Name
  • Email address

We do not receive your password or any other Google account data.

This information is used solely to authenticate you, maintain your account, and associate your submissions with your profile.

There are additional optional fields in your profile used to provide features and services to you.

2.2 Submission Data (Images, Video, and Metadata)

When you upload media, Autowa stores:

  • Images
  • Video files (future feature)
  • Extracted clips (future feature)
  • Frame-by-frame analysis outputs (future feature)
  • Plate text (OCR or manual entry)
  • Vehicle attributes (type, color, make, etc.)
  • Crop geometry (bounding boxes, transforms)
  • Location data (latitude, longitude, heading) (if provided)
  • Timestamps
  • Weather or environmental context
  • User-submitted notes or classifications (if provided)

EXIF Metadata

If present, Autowa may extract only certain EXIF fields to help pre-fill submission details (e.g., timestamp, orientation, GPS). We do not store full EXIF dumps.

2.3 Device and Deployment Information (Future Feature)

When users deploy a camera or device, Autowa will collect:

  • Unique device ID
  • Session tokens
  • Deployment history
  • Time and location of deployment
  • Encryption keys used for secure communication

Autowa does not track the ID of personal mobile phones. Only devices intentionally deployed for monitoring are logged. Sessions are created when a device is intentionally deployed.

2.4 System Logs and Diagnostics

Autowa may collect server logs, error reports, and debugging information. Whenever possible, logs are anonymized or discarded. Logs are used only to maintain system stability and security.

2.5 Cookies and Analytics

Autowa uses Cloudflare analytics for non-identifying traffic metrics and session cookies for login, flash messaging, and site features. Autowa does not use advertising cookies or behavioral tracking.

3. What We Do Not Collect

Autowa does not track people. We reject media that could identify a person, or associate a person to a vehicle, or place and time. As well as content that serves no purpose to the operation of the application, including:

  • Faces or occupants inside vehicles
  • Identifiable minors
  • House numbers, driveways, or identifiable private property
  • Any media that violates an expectaion of privacy
  • Rude or offensive photos
  • Media where a vehicle isn't the main subject or visible

Any media containing such content is deleted.

Autowa also avoids photos with:

  • Pedestrians
  • Automated captures where a vehicle isn't the main subject or visible

Such content will be deleted on a case by case basis

3.1 Social Features and Users

We take steps to ensure that our users can not be readly placed to a point in time, and to protect our users from being identifed. However the with the nature of submissions and the services we provide, users can opt in to levels of self identification and tracking to enable features.

4. How We Classify License Plates

Autowa treats license plates as vehicle identifiers, not personal information. However, plates may become personal information when combined with context linking them to an identifiable person. Autowa avoids collecting or publishing such context and does not assist in discovering plate owners.

5. How We Use Your Information

5.1 To Provide the Service

Data is used to authenticate users, store submissions, process media, run machine-vision analysis, generate reports, maintain device deployments, and ensure system security. This is based on contractual necessity and user consent.

5.2 To Improve Autowa

Aggregated or anonymized data may be used to improve machine-vision accuracy, enhance reporting tools, develop new features, and improve safety. Identifiable personal information is not used for these purposes.

5.3 Public Posting of First-Time Infractions

Autowa may publicly post images of first-time infractions. This system is automated, and not human reviewed. Any offending photos will be removed when found.

5.4 Legal Requirements

Autowa may disclose information if required by law, court order, or lawful authority request.

6. Automated Decision-Making

Autowa performs no automated enforcement and does not issue tickets. Future versions may classify events or generate structured reports, but Autowa does not perform legal determinations or enforcement actions.

7. Data Storage and Security

7.1 Storage Location

All data is stored on-premises in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

7.2 Encryption

All communication uses HTTPS. Data combining location, time, and user identity is encrypted at rest to prevent tracking if the database is compromised.

7.3 Access Controls

Currently, only one authorized operator has access to raw submissions. Access will remain limited as the platform grows.

8. Data Retention

8.1 Submissions

Submission data is retained indefinitely, as it forms the core of the service.

8.2 User Accounts

Users may request deletion of their account at any time.

8.3 Offensive or Violating Content

Media violating content rules (faces, minors, private property, etc.) is deleted.

9. Your Rights

Users may request account deletion, correction of account information, clarification about data usage, or deletion of violating media.

Contact: [email protected]

10. Third-Party Services

Autowa uses Google Login for authentication and Cloudflare for routing, traffic analytics and security. Raw submission data is not shared with third parties unless required by law. Future partnerships will be disclosed before activation.

11. Changes to This Policy

Autowa is an evolving platform. As new features are added, this policy will be updated. Changes may occur without prior notice. The version number and date will always be shown at the top.

12. Contact

For privacy questions or deletion requests, contact:

[email protected]