Last updated: September 7, 2026
1. Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to the UC Merced Hub mobile applications, the campus-map website, and related support or policy pages that link to this policy. Some map and browsing features can be used without creating an account. Account-based and community features require additional information described below.
2. Information We Collect
Account and authentication information
If you create an account, we may collect information needed to create, secure, and maintain it, including your email address, username or display name, internal account identifiers, authentication/session information, account status, and creation or update timestamps.
Student verification information
If you request student-only access, we may process a UC Merced school email address, verification status, and records necessary to complete or re-check the verification workflow.
User-generated content
If you submit posts, wildlife captures, images, captions, categories, timestamps, or map positions, we collect the content and information needed to display and manage it. Please avoid including unnecessary personal information about yourself or others.
Safety, blocking, reporting, and moderation information
We may collect block relationships, reports, reported content identifiers, report reasons, and moderation records to operate safety tools and enforce the Community Guidelines.
Location information
The app may request device location permission for map positioning, walking directions, routing, or similar location-aware features. We do not use the Service to build a continuous history of your movements. If you intentionally attach a location to a post, that location may be stored with the post and visible according to the feature's design.
Device, diagnostics, analytics, AI, and support information
We may process limited technical information for reliability and security, use Plausible Analytics for aggregate website traffic, use OpenAI for optional AI features and safety screening, and receive information you choose to send through support channels.
3. How We Use Information
We use information to provide maps, events, routing, search, account access, student verification, community content, optional AI features, content safety screening, blocking, reporting, moderation, support, account deletion, troubleshooting, aggregate usage analysis, and security.
4. Sharing, Service Providers, and Public Visibility
User-generated content may be visible to other users, including the content you submit and related metadata such as time, category, location, or account identity used by the feature.
Service providers may process information as needed for the services they provide to UC Merced Hub. Depending on the feature, those providers may include OpenAI, Supabase, UC Merced Hub image hosting, Plausible Analytics, hosting, email, mapping, routing, content-delivery, and security providers.
We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid legal process, protect users or the public, investigate abuse or security incidents, or protect the rights and integrity of UC Merced Hub. UC Merced Hub does not sell personal information or user posts for advertising purposes.
5. Data Retention and Deletion
We retain account information while your account is active or as reasonably necessary to provide the Service. User posts and related information are retained while they remain part of the Service unless you delete them, your account is deleted, they are removed through moderation, or limited retention is reasonably necessary for safety, security, dispute resolution, or legal compliance.
When you delete a wildlife post, we remove the post record and associated hosted wildlife image files, subject to limited retention for safety, security, abuse prevention, dispute resolution, or legal compliance.
You can initiate deletion of your account from within the app or use the external deletion instructions on the Support page. When deletion is completed, we delete or de-identify data associated with the account that is no longer needed to operate or protect the Service.
6. Your Choices and Controls
- Control location permission through your device settings.
- Use optional AI Search and AI Autofill only when you choose to submit information to those features.
- Delete posts where the Service provides deletion controls.
- Use blocking and reporting controls where available.
- Initiate account deletion in the app or through the Support page.
- Contact contact@ucmercedhub.com with privacy or data questions.
7. Security, Children, Third Parties, and Updates
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures designed to protect information and limit access to what is needed to operate the Service. No internet-connected service can guarantee absolute security.
The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
The Service may link to university pages, community sites, Discord, social platforms, map/data sources, or other third-party services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.
We may update this Privacy Policy as the Service changes. The current version will be posted here with an updated date.
8. Contact Us
Questions about privacy, account deletion, or data handling can be sent to contact@ucmercedhub.com. You can also use the Support page or review the Community Guidelines.