Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2025

Our Commitment to Privacy

CIV.IQ is a civic utility designed to provide transparent access to public government data. We are committed to protecting your privacy while delivering valuable civic information. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

Information We Collect

Search Queries

When you search for representatives by ZIP code or name, we:

  • Store your recent searches locally in your browser for convenience
  • Do not send search history to our servers
  • Allow you to clear your search history at any time

Analytics Data

We collect anonymous usage statistics to improve our service:

  • Page views and feature usage (anonymized)
  • General geographic region (state level only)
  • Device type and browser (for compatibility)
  • No personally identifiable information

Technical Information

For security and performance, we may collect:

  • IP addresses (for rate limiting and security)
  • Error logs (to fix bugs and improve reliability)
  • Performance metrics (load times, API response times)

How We Use Information

Service Delivery: To provide accurate representative information and district data

Performance: To optimize load times and API efficiency

Security: To prevent abuse and ensure service availability

Improvement: To understand usage patterns and improve features

What We Don't Do

  • ✗We do not sell, rent, or share your data with third parties
  • ✗We do not require account creation or personal information
  • ✗We do not use tracking cookies or advertising networks
  • ✗We do not store your searches on our servers

Data Retention

Local Storage: Search history is stored only in your browser and can be cleared at any time

Server Logs: Technical logs are retained for 30 days for security and debugging

Analytics: Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely in anonymous form

Third-Party Data Sources

CIV.IQ aggregates data from official government sources. When you use our service:

  • We fetch data from government APIs on your behalf
  • Your IP address is not shared with these data sources
  • We cache public data to improve performance and reduce API load
  • Each data source has its own privacy policy and terms of use

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:

Email: privacy@civ.iq

Web: https://civ.iq/contact

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. For significant changes, we may provide additional notice on our homepage.

This privacy policy is part of our commitment to transparency and civic engagement. CIV.IQ is a public utility designed to make government data accessible to all citizens.