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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 26, 2026

HamScan is committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how your personal information is collected, used, stored, and shared.

This Privacy Policy describes the information practices associated with the HamScan website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Services").

HamScan is initially operated by Donald Trynor and Alfarizy, based in New Brunswick, Canada (collectively referred to as "HamScan," "we," "us," or "our").

By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have been informed of the practices described in this Privacy Policy. Where consent is required by applicable law, we will request it separately.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information necessary to provide, maintain, secure, and improve HamScan.

1.1 Account Information

When you register for HamScan, we may collect:

You may register using an email address and password or through supported third-party authentication services, including Sign in with Apple and Google Sign-In.

When you use a third-party authentication service, we receive certain account information authorized by you and provided by that service.

We do not receive your Apple or Google account password.

1.2 Equipment Information

When you use HamScan, we may collect:

This information is used to provide equipment identification, research, valuation, and collection-management functionality.

1.3 Equipment Photographs

When you submit a photograph for equipment identification, HamScan processes the image using artificial intelligence and related technologies.

Photographs submitted solely for identification are deleted after processing, except for temporary technical copies and photographs separately authorized for AI model improvement or community contribution.

Photographs may be temporarily transmitted, processed, or cached as necessary to perform identification.

Photographs are retained for AI model improvement only with your separate, affirmative authorization. Community publication requires a separate authorization.

Additional information about photograph handling appears in Section 3.

1.4 Device and Usage Information

We may automatically collect information about your interaction with our Services, including:

We do not require access to your device's precise geographic location for ordinary equipment identification.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

We may use aggregated or de-identified information for statistical analysis, service development, and business planning, provided it cannot reasonably be used to identify an individual.

3. Equipment Photographs and Community Contributions

3.1 Private Equipment Identification

HamScan allows users to photograph amateur radio equipment for identification and research.

Photographs submitted for identification are private by default.

When you submit a photograph:

  1. The image is transmitted for processing.
  2. Artificial intelligence technologies analyze the image to identify the equipment.
  3. HamScan returns equipment identification results and related information.
  4. HamScan deletes the photograph after processing unless you separately authorize its retention for AI model improvement or its contribution to the community equipment database.

Temporary technical copies may exist during processing, and third-party AI providers may maintain their own processing records according to their applicable data-processing arrangements.

HamScan does not make identification photographs publicly available without your permission.

3.2 Optional AI Model Improvement and Onboarding Choice

With your separate, affirmative authorization, HamScan may retain selected equipment photographs to develop, evaluate, train, and improve its equipment identification systems and AI models. This authorization is optional and distinct from permission to publish a photograph in the community database. Declining it does not prevent ordinary equipment identification.

During app onboarding, we present a dedicated AI-training permission screen separately from acceptance of the Terms of Service and acknowledgement of this Privacy Policy. It explains the proposed use of selected equipment photographs and requires you to choose either “Yes, I agree” or “No, I decline.” Neither option is preselected. We do not treat acceptance of the Terms of Service, silence, or failure to make a selection as permission for AI training. We record your choice, the time of your decision, and the version of the consent notice shown to you. If you decline, we do not retain your identification photographs for our AI model training.

Before using authorized photographs for model improvement, we take reasonable de-identification measures, which may include removing account associations and embedded location metadata, obscuring visible identifiers where reasonably practicable, and restricting access to training photographs. De-identification does not guarantee complete anonymity. Visible callsigns, serial numbers, people, or other details may still identify someone. De-identified photographs that remain personal information continue to receive applicable privacy protections.

You may withdraw authorization for future training uses through available app controls or by contacting us. We will stop future use and delete photographs still reasonably linkable to your account, subject to applicable law and legitimate retention requirements. We may be unable to identify or retrieve photographs that have been irreversibly anonymized, or remove their influence from AI models already trained on them.

3.3 Voluntary Community Photograph Contributions

HamScan may invite users to contribute equipment photographs to its community equipment database.

Contributed photographs may be displayed to other users alongside information about the associated equipment, including manufacturer, model, and specifications.

Contributing photographs is entirely optional.

Users must explicitly authorize a contribution before their photograph is added to the community database.

Declining to contribute a photograph does not prevent users from accessing HamScan's equipment identification features.

3.4 Photograph Ownership

Users retain ownership of photographs they submit to HamScan.

By voluntarily contributing a photograph to the community database, users grant HamScan permission to store, reproduce, resize, crop, and display that photograph within the Services for equipment identification, reference, and educational purposes.

Additional terms governing photograph contributions may be included in HamScan's Terms of Service.

3.5 Removing Contributed Photographs

Users may withdraw permission for their contributed photographs to be displayed in the community database.

Requests may be submitted through available application features or by contacting:

Upon receiving and verifying a valid request, HamScan will remove the photograph from public display within a reasonable period.

Removal may not immediately eliminate copies previously cached, downloaded, or independently retained by third parties.

3.6 Photograph Content

Users should only submit photographs they own or are authorized to share.

We recommend avoiding photographs containing:

HamScan may remove contributed photographs that violate its Terms of Service or applicable laws.

4. Artificial Intelligence Processing

HamScan uses artificial intelligence technologies to identify equipment, generate information, and support equipment-related research.

These services may include technologies provided by:

When necessary to provide requested functionality, HamScan may transmit equipment photographs, descriptions, identification requests, or related information to these providers.

We seek to limit the personal information transmitted to what is reasonably necessary for processing.

Third-party AI providers may process information in jurisdictions outside Canada.

Their handling and retention of submitted information are governed by the applicable service agreements, technical configurations, and data-processing arrangements.

HamScan uses private equipment photographs for its own AI model improvement only with separate, affirmative authorization, as described in Section 3.2. This authorization does not by itself permit third-party AI providers to use photographs to train their own general-purpose models; any such use requires separate disclosure and any necessary consent.

We encourage users to avoid submitting sensitive personal information through equipment photographs or AI-assisted research features.

5. My Shack Equipment Collections

HamScan allows users to maintain a personal collection of amateur radio equipment through its My Shack functionality.

Information stored in My Shack may include:

My Shack collections are private by default.

Other HamScan users cannot view your equipment collection unless you explicitly authorize sharing through functionality that may be introduced in the future.

We do not publicly disclose individual equipment collections or associated ownership information without authorization.

6. Analytics and Application Diagnostics

HamScan uses or may use analytics and diagnostic technologies to understand service usage and improve performance.

Google Analytics

Used to understand website traffic, visitor interactions, and general website performance.

Firebase Analytics

Used to analyze mobile application usage, feature engagement, and application performance.

Firebase Crashlytics

Used to identify application crashes, diagnose technical problems, and improve application stability.

These services may collect device information, application usage data, identifiers, and diagnostic information.

Information collected through these services is handled according to the applicable provider's privacy practices and contractual arrangements.

Where required by law, HamScan will obtain appropriate consent before collecting or processing information through non-essential analytics technologies.

7. Advertising and Affiliate Relationships

HamScan may offer a free version of its Services supported by advertising.

We may use advertising platforms, including Google AdMob, to display advertisements within the application.

Advertising providers may collect or process:

This information may be used to deliver advertisements, measure advertising performance, prevent fraud, and, where permitted, personalize advertising.

HamScan will provide applicable privacy notices and consent choices where required.

On platforms that require additional authorization for tracking, HamScan will request that authorization before engaging in activities that require it.

HamScan may also include affiliate links to third-party retailers and marketplaces.

If you purchase products through these links, HamScan may receive a commission.

Third-party retailers and advertising services operate under their own privacy policies.

We do not directly sell user account information or private equipment collections to advertisers.

8. Subscriptions and Payments

HamScan may offer optional paid subscriptions providing access to additional features.

Initially, subscription purchases will be processed through:

Payment transactions are handled by the applicable platform.

HamScan does not directly receive or store complete credit card numbers associated with these transactions.

We may receive subscription-related information necessary to verify purchases, manage entitlements, provide customer support, and maintain subscription access.

Subscription purchases are also subject to the applicable platform's terms and privacy practices.

9. Email Communications

HamScan may send users communications related to their accounts and use of the Services.

These may include:

These communications are considered operational or service-related.

Promotional Communications

Users may separately opt in to receive:

Promotional communications are optional.

Users may unsubscribe from promotional communications using the unsubscribe instructions included in those messages or by contacting us.

Unsubscribing from promotional communications does not prevent HamScan from sending necessary account, security, or service-related messages.

10. Sharing Information with Service Providers

HamScan may share limited information with third-party service providers when necessary to operate the Services.

These providers may include:

We seek to work with providers that maintain appropriate security and privacy safeguards.

We may also disclose information when required by applicable law, valid legal process, or when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, or security of HamScan, its users, or others.

We do not sell personal account information or private equipment collections.

11. Data Storage and Security

HamScan takes reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

These measures may include:

No electronic storage or transmission system is completely secure.

Although we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Information may be stored or processed in Canada, the United States, or other jurisdictions where our service providers operate.

Information processed outside Canada may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions.

12. Data Retention

HamScan retains information only as long as reasonably necessary to provide its Services, meet legitimate operational requirements, or comply with applicable legal obligations.

Our general retention practices are as follows:

Information Retention Approach
Account information While the account remains active, subject to applicable retention requirements.
Equipment identification photographs Deleted after processing unless separately authorized for AI model improvement or community contribution.
Photographs authorized for AI model improvement Retained for model development while authorized and reasonably necessary, subject to withdrawal, de-identification, and applicable law. Irreversibly anonymized copies may not be retrievable by account.
Community-contributed photographs Until removed by the user or HamScan.
My Shack equipment information Until deleted by the user or associated account.
Subscription records As required for subscription administration and applicable legal obligations.
Analytics information According to configured retention periods and provider requirements.
Technical logs and diagnostics As reasonably necessary for security, troubleshooting, and service improvement.
Marketing subscription information Until consent is withdrawn, subject to necessary suppression records.

Certain information may be retained for longer periods when required by law, necessary to resolve disputes, or reasonably required for security and fraud prevention.

13. Account and Data Deletion

Users may request deletion of their HamScan account and associated personal information.

Account deletion requests may be initiated through the application account settings and through the website account deletion process. Until these processes are available during beta testing, requests may be submitted by contacting:

Upon receiving and verifying a valid request, HamScan will delete associated personal information and account-linked photographs, subject to applicable legal retention requirements. Irreversibly anonymized photographs that cannot reasonably be linked to an account may not be retrievable for deletion; de-identified photographs that remain personal information remain protected under applicable law.

Users may also request access to or correction of personal information associated with their accounts.

Deleting a HamScan account does not automatically cancel subscriptions managed by Apple or Google.

Users should cancel active subscriptions through the applicable platform's subscription management tools.

14. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The HamScan website may use cookies and similar technologies for:

Some cookies may be placed by third-party services, including Google Analytics.

Users can manage cookies through their browser settings.

Where required by applicable law, we will obtain consent before placing non-essential cookies or using similar tracking technologies.

15. Beta Testing

HamScan may make prerelease versions of its applications available to selected beta testers.

Beta testing may involve platforms such as Apple's TestFlight or other application distribution services.

During beta testing, HamScan may collect:

This information is used to evaluate application performance, identify problems, improve functionality, and prepare HamScan for public release.

Beta testing platforms may independently collect and process certain information under their own privacy policies.

Equipment photographs submitted during beta testing are subject to the same privacy and contribution practices described in this Privacy Policy.

16. Third-Party Websites and Resources

HamScan may provide links to external websites and resources, including:

These websites operate independently of HamScan.

We are not responsible for their content, privacy practices, or information security.

Users should review the privacy policies of external websites before providing personal information.

17. Children's Privacy

HamScan is intended only for users aged 18 or older. People under 18 may not create accounts or use the Services.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable privacy laws.

We do not offer registration by parental or guardian consent for users under 18.

If we become aware that information has been collected in violation of applicable children's privacy requirements, we will take appropriate corrective action.

18. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable privacy laws, you may have the right to:

Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide certain features when the associated information is necessary for those features.

We will respond to privacy requests in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Canadian users may also have rights under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other applicable privacy legislation.

19. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our Services, technologies, business practices, or legal obligations.

When changes are made, we will update the effective date at the beginning of this document.

Where changes materially affect how personal information is collected, used, or disclosed, we will provide additional notice or seek consent when required by law.

We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

20. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or HamScan's handling of personal information, please contact:

HamScan
Operated by Donald Trynor and Alfarizy
New Brunswick, Canada
Email:

We will review and respond to privacy-related inquiries in accordance with applicable privacy laws.