Privacy Policy — Environmental Intelligence

LandOpps (a product of ViSteps Pty Ltd, "we", "us", "our") provides a search and research tool for public environmental records. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and professional affiliation. This information is used to manage your access and communicate essential service updates.

Usage Data: We collect data on how you interact with the platform, including search volume, frequency, feature usage, and session activity. This data is used to maintain system performance, detect unauthorized automated access, and improve the platform.

Device & Browser Data: We automatically collect technical information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers through cookies and similar technologies.

2. Third-Party Service Providers

We use the following third-party services to operate the platform. Each provider receives only the minimum data necessary to perform its function.

Stripe (Payment Processing): All subscription and payment processing is handled externally by Stripe. LandOpps does not store, process, or have access to your full credit card details. Your financial information is handled entirely by Stripe's secure, PCI-compliant infrastructure. See Stripe's Privacy Policy for details.

Auth0 (Authentication): User authentication and login are managed by Auth0. Auth0 processes your email address and login credentials to verify your identity and secure your account. LandOpps does not store your password. See Auth0's Privacy Policy for details.

Google Analytics (Usage Analytics): We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with the platform in aggregate. Google Analytics collects anonymized usage data including pages visited, session duration, and general geographic region. See Google's Privacy Policy for details.

Microsoft Azure (Data Hosting): All platform data is hosted on Microsoft Azure infrastructure located in the United States (West US 2 region). See Microsoft's Privacy Statement for details.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide and maintain your access to the platform
Process payments and manage your subscription through Stripe
Authenticate your identity and secure your account through Auth0
Monitor platform performance and detect unauthorized automated access
Analyze aggregate usage patterns to improve the platform through Google Analytics
Enforce our Terms of Service, including Fair Use and Anti-Scraping policies
Protect the integrity of our proprietary search index
Comply with applicable laws, legal obligations, and respond to lawful requests

4. Cookies & Tracking

Essential Cookies: We use cookies to keep you authenticated during your session and to remember your preferred search settings, such as your default county selection. These cookies are necessary for the platform to function and cannot be disabled.

Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics places cookies on your device to collect anonymized usage data. These cookies help us understand how the platform is used in aggregate. You may opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not serve targeted advertisements.

5. Data Sharing & Confidentiality

No Third-Party Sales: We never sell your personal information or search history to third parties, advertisers, or competitors.

Confidential Research: We recognize the professional nature of your work. Your specific search queries are treated as confidential and are not shared with government agencies or other users.

Limited Disclosure: We may disclose your information only in the following circumstances: (a) to comply with a valid legal obligation, court order, or government request; (b) to enforce our Terms of Service; (c) to protect the rights, safety, or property of LandOpps, our users, or the public; or (d) with your explicit consent.

6. Sourcing of Public Records

Independent Platform: LandOpps aggregates and indexes public records from official California state sources, including GeoTracker and EnviroStor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a part of any government agency.

Data Integrity: We provide a search layer for existing public information. We do not host private or confidential documents.

7. Data Retention

Account Data: We retain your account information and usage data for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter for record-keeping and legal compliance purposes.

Post-Cancellation: Following account cancellation, we will retain your account data for up to 90 days to allow for reactivation or to resolve any outstanding billing matters. After this period, your data will be deleted or anonymized.

Usage Logs: Aggregated and anonymized usage data may be retained indefinitely for platform improvement and performance monitoring purposes.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure authentication through Auth0, PCI-compliant payment processing through Stripe, and access controls on our Azure-hosted infrastructure. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights Under California Law (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: You may request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.

Right to Delete: You may request the deletion of your personal information. Deletion requests will be honoured subject to any data we are required to retain for billing resolution, legal compliance, or fraud prevention purposes as described in Section 7.

Right to Opt Out of Sale: We do not sell your personal information. No opt-out is required, but this right is noted for completeness.

Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@landopps.com. We will respond to verified requests within 45 days.

10. Children's Privacy

LandOpps is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have collected information from a user under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

11. Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify affected users by email within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law. We will also take immediate steps to contain and remediate the breach.

12. Changes to This Policy

LandOpps reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. We will notify you of material changes by email at the address associated with your account. Your continued use of the platform following notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

For questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, contact us at info@landopps.com