Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 2026 · Questions? [email protected]

The short version: We collect only what we need to run Zaitgeist. We don't sell your data. Photos you upload may be shown to other users in connection with the artworks they depict. AI processes your photos to identify artworks. You can request deletion of your data at any time.

Who we are

Zaitgeist, Inc. is a Delaware C-corp building a cultural discovery app that maps connections between artworks, design movements, and cultural objects. This policy covers data collected through our web app and iOS app.

Contact: [email protected]

What we collect

Data	Why we collect it	How long we keep it
Anonymous user ID (auto-generated)	To associate your uploads and activity with your session	Until you request deletion
Photos you upload	To identify artworks, power discovery features, and display to other users	Until you request removal
Search and interaction activity	To improve the app and personalize your experience	To be determined
Device type and OS	To ensure compatibility and diagnose issues	Aggregated; not stored individually
Analytics data (coming soon)	To understand how the app is used and improve it	Per analytics provider policy

We do not collect your name, email address, or payment information unless you voluntarily provide them.

How we use your data

To operate and improve Zaitgeist
To identify artworks in uploaded photos using AI
To surface relevant photos to other users browsing the same artwork
To generate aggregate, non-identifiable statistics (e.g. "52 photos of this work")
To detect and prevent harmful or illegal content
To respond to your requests or support inquiries

We do not use your data for advertising, and we do not sell it to third parties.

Photos and other users

Photos you upload may be displayed to other users when they search for or view the same artwork. Your photos are not attributed to you by name or linked to any personally identifiable information.

We only accept photos where an artwork or cultural object is the primary subject. We may reject or remove uploads that don't meet this requirement.

AI and third-party processing

Uploaded photos are sent to Google Vision API for artwork identification and visual analysis. Google processes these images according to their own privacy terms. We do not use your photos to train AI models without your explicit consent.

When we add additional analytics or AI tools, we will update this policy to name them.

Data sharing

We share data only in these limited circumstances:

With service providers who help us operate Zaitgeist (currently: Google Vision API, Netlify for hosting)
When required by law or to respond to valid legal process
To protect the rights, safety, or property of Zaitgeist or our users
In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets — you will be notified if this occurs

Cookies and tracking

We currently use minimal cookies necessary to operate the app (e.g. session identifiers). We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies at this time. When we add analytics, we will update this section and, where required, ask for your consent.

Your rights — all users

Regardless of where you live, you can:

Request a copy of the data we hold about you
Request deletion of your data and account
Request removal of a specific uploaded photo
Ask questions about how your data is used

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We'll respond within 30 days.

Your rights — EU / GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Right to access, correct, or erase your personal data
Right to restrict or object to processing
Right to data portability
Right to withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent
Right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority

Our legal basis for processing your data is: legitimate interests (operating the service), contract performance (providing features you request), and consent (for any non-essential processing such as analytics).

As a US-based company, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for data transfers from the EEA to the US. For GDPR inquiries, contact us at [email protected].

Children's privacy

Zaitgeist is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data. No system is perfectly secure — if you believe your data has been compromised, contact us immediately.

Changes to this policy

We'll update this policy as Zaitgeist evolves, particularly as we add analytics tools and new features. Material changes will be communicated through the app. The effective date at the top reflects the most recent update.

Contact

[email protected]
Zaitgeist, Inc. · Delaware C-corp