Privacy Policy for EarthSort
Last Updated: September 1, 2025
Thank you for using EarthSort, an app designed to make recycling easier and smarter. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect data during this early testing phase.
1. Data We Collect
- Account Information: When you use the app, an account is created for you with a unique User ID. This is necessary to save your history and manage your data securely.
- Photos: Photos you upload are stored securely and associated with your User ID. They are used for recycling identification and to improve our AI models.
- Optional Personal Information: You may choose to provide us with additional information, which will be stored with your account:
- First Name: Used to personalize communications with you.
- Email Address: Used to communicate app updates or request feedback.
- Zip Code: Used for future features like localized recycling recommendations.
If you use the app without providing a name or email, your User ID remains anonymous to us. If you do provide this information, your User ID will be linked to it in our system.
2. How We Use Your Data
- Photos:
- Photos are used exclusively to identify recyclable materials and improve the AI models.
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Uploaded photos are processed by the Google Cloud Vertex AI Gemini API under EarthSort’s enterprise Google Cloud account.
Under Google Cloud’s enterprise terms, content sent through this API is not used by Google to train or improve its AI models
unless explicit data logging or tuning is enabled. EarthSort has not enabled these options. This provider handles the data
under its own privacy policy.
- Optional Data:
- First name and email help us contact you for feedback or updates.
- Zip code helps us improve features for localized recycling guidelines.
3. Data Sharing
- Third-Party AI Provider:
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All uploaded photos are sent to Google’s Vertex AI Gemini API for analysis. As per Google Cloud’s enterprise terms,
content processed through this API is not used by Google to train or improve its AI models. EarthSort has not
enabled any data logging or model tuning options that would permit this.
- No personally identifiable information (e.g., name, email, zip code) is shared with this provider—only the photo and your anonymous user ID.
- For more information, you can review the Google Cloud Data Processing Addendum.
- EarthSort Personnel: Authorized individuals at EarthSort may review photos as part of the app’s development and training process.
4. Data Retention
- Personal Information: Optional data such as your name, email, and zip code will be retained until you request deletion.
- Photos: Photos uploaded to the app are retained for purposes of improving the app’s functionality and training AI models. We take appropriate measures to ensure they are stored securely.
5. Content Policy
- Inappropriate Content: By using EarthSort, you agree not to upload images that contain illegal, explicit, or inappropriate content. Such content will be deleted immediately if detected, and further action may be taken if necessary.
6. Your Rights
- You can request deletion of your personal data (e.g., name, email, zip code) and any associated photos by contacting us at support@earthsort.com.
- Please note that photos used for AI model training are dissociated from your personal information. Once part of an aggregated
training dataset, they may not be identifiable for deletion.
7. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your data, including encryption in transit and at rest. Only authorized personnel at EarthSort can access uploaded photos or personal data.
8. Policy Updates
This is an early release, and this privacy policy may change as EarthSort evolves. You will be notified of significant updates.
9. Contact Us
For questions or concerns about this policy, please contact:
Email: support@earthsort.com
