Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 31, 2026

Bug Connect helps people upload a pest photo, receive an AI-assisted pest identification estimate, and, when requested, connect with a participating local pest professional. This policy explains what information we collect and how we use it during the pilot.

Bug Connect is an owner-operator-built pest identification and connection platform developed with direct pest-control industry experience. Its identification system is designed to provide practical, accuracy-focused guidance using images and available location context. Results are AI-assisted and may be incomplete or incorrect; they are not a substitute for an inspection or determination by an appropriately licensed pest-control professional.

Information We Collect

We may collect pest images, scan information, AI identification results, approximate location details, ZIP code, name, phone number, email address, preferred contact method, notes, consent records, timestamps, and basic technical information needed to operate and protect the service.

Location permission is optional. If you allow location access, Bug Connect uses approximate regional context to improve pest identification and local provider matching. You can decline location access and still use the identification flow.

How We Use Information

We use information to create pest scans, store private pest images, generate AI-assisted identification estimates, show regional context when available, route requests using geography, verified provider eligibility, provider preferences, and routing availability, prevent abuse, maintain records, troubleshoot errors, respond to support and privacy requests, and improve the pilot service.

AI identifications are informational estimates. They are not guaranteed and may not identify a pest at the exact species level.

Sharing With Local Professionals

When you affirmatively request Local Help, accept the Local Help disclosure, and choose to send your request to the participating pest-control provider shown to you, Bug Connect provides that provider with the information reasonably necessary to review and respond to your customer service request. A pest package may include your scan ID, pest image reference or secure image access link, AI result, confidence/category, ZIP or location context, name, phone/email, preferred contact method, notes, and submission time.

Participating pest professionals are independent businesses. They may use the information to review your request and contact you about pest services.

Service Providers

Vendors such as Supabase, OpenAI, Resend, hosting/infrastructure providers, and, when configured, messaging providers may process information solely to operate, secure, and support Bug Connect. These vendors may help host the app, store private images and records, run AI identification, send provider email alerts, deliver transactional messages, and maintain the service.

Mobile Information and SMS Consent

Bug Connect does not sell personal information to unrelated advertisers. We do not sell or share mobile phone numbers or SMS opt-in consent information with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes. Mobile information may be shared with service providers only as necessary to operate or deliver the messaging service, or as required by law.

SMS Privacy

Participating providers may separately and affirmatively opt in to SMS messages from Bug Connect through the provider application or the Provider SMS Consent page. SMS consent is optional and is not required to submit a provider application or participate in Bug Connect. These messages are for provider applications, notifications about new customer service requests, and provider account/service updates. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. Reply HELP for help.

Security and Retention

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards for the pilot, including private storage for pest images, server-side credentials, and time-limited secure image links where appropriate. No internet service can promise absolute security.

Abandoned or non-request scan images are targeted for deletion after approximately 24 hours. Pest images linked to a Local Help request are targeted for deletion after approximately 30 days unless an operational, support, complaint, fraud-review, legal, or other retention hold applies.

Local Help request and customer contact information is retained operationally for approximately 90 days and then minimized where appropriate. Minimized analytics may retain structured non-image data such as scan or request identifiers, ZIP, territory, pest category, provider or routing outcome, timestamps, AI confidence, conversion metrics, and non-identifying campaign/source attribution.

Support cases, complaints, safety concerns, privacy requests, or other operational issues may create retention holds so relevant records or evidence are preserved while the matter is reviewed.

Provider application and credential documents are stored privately and are governed separately from consumer scan-image retention. They are used for provider review, verification, onboarding, and related business records.

Your Choices

You can choose not to provide location permission. You can choose not to request professional help. You can ask privacy questions or request access, correction, or deletion by contacting us at privacy@bug-connect.com. Some records may need to be retained where legally or operationally required.

California Privacy Note

California residents may have rights to know, access, delete, correct, or limit certain uses of personal information, and to opt out of sale or sharing where applicable. Bug Connect does not currently sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Contact

For privacy, access, deletion, or correction requests, contact privacy@bug-connect.com. For general support, complaints, or technical problems, contact support@bug-connect.com or use the Support page.