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Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 2, 2026

BorderSmart ("we," "us," or "our") is a free mobile application for iOS and Android that provides real-time and forecasted border crossing wait times for San Ysidro and Otay Mesa. We take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices and rights.

By downloading or using BorderSmart you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

BorderSmart does not require an account and does not ask for your name, email address, or any other personally identifying information to use its core features. If you opt in to email-based wait alerts (a feature that may be made available in a future version), we will collect only the email address you provide for the sole purpose of delivering those alerts.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the app, we may collect the following non-personal data:

  • Device identifiers — An anonymous, randomly generated identifier stored on your device. This is used to associate your saved preferences (crossing selection, alert thresholds, language) with your device. It is not linked to your identity and is not shared with third-party advertisers.
  • Crossing query history — A record of which crossing and lane type data you have requested, stored locally on your device and in our backend for up to 90 days. This data is used to improve forecast accuracy and is stored in aggregate, de-identified form on our servers.
  • Alert preferences — The crossing, lane type, and wait time threshold you set for push notifications. These are stored on your device and synced to our servers solely to enable alert delivery. They are retained until you delete them or uninstall the app.
  • Crash and diagnostic data — If the app crashes, anonymized crash logs may be sent to help us fix bugs. These logs do not contain personal information.
  • Usage analytics — Aggregate, anonymized data about which screens are visited and which features are used, to help us understand how the app performs and improve it over time. This data cannot be used to identify you individually.

1.3 Location Data

BorderSmart does not request or collect your precise GPS location. You manually select your crossing of interest within the app. No location permissions are required.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information described above to:

  • Provide, operate, and improve the BorderSmart app and its features
  • Deliver push notifications and (if enabled) email alerts you have requested
  • Diagnose and fix bugs and technical issues
  • Understand aggregate usage patterns and improve forecast quality
  • Comply with applicable legal obligations

3. What We Do Not Do

  • We do not sell your data to any third party, ever.
  • We do not share your data with advertisers or ad networks for targeted advertising.
  • We do not build individual profiles that can be linked to a real-world identity.
  • We do not collect or store payment information (any in-app purchases are processed entirely by Apple or Google).

4. Data Retention

  • Crossing query history is retained on our servers for a maximum of 90 days, after which it is automatically purged.
  • Alert preferences are retained until you remove them in the app or until you request deletion (see Section 7).
  • Crash and diagnostic logs are retained for up to 30 days for debugging purposes.
  • Data stored locally on your device is removed when you uninstall the app.

5. Third-Party Services

BorderSmart relies on the following third parties to operate:

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) API — We fetch official wait time data from the CBP public data feed. We do not send any user information to CBP; these are read-only requests.
  • Cloudflare — Our backend infrastructure runs on Cloudflare's network. Cloudflare processes request metadata (IP addresses, request times) as part of normal network operations. Their privacy policy is available at cloudflare.com/privacypolicy.
  • Apple App Store / Google Play — These platforms handle app distribution and any in-app purchases. They operate under their own privacy policies, which govern their collection of data related to your device and app usage.

We do not use third-party advertising SDKs that profile users. If we ever add advertising features in the future, this policy will be updated to reflect the specific SDKs and data practices involved.

6. Children's Privacy

BorderSmart is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Deleting Your Data

To request deletion of any data we hold associated with your device or email address, contact us using the information on our support page. We will process deletion requests within 30 days.

7.2 Opting Out of Analytics

Aggregate usage analytics can be disabled in the app's Settings screen. When analytics are disabled, no usage events are sent from your device.

7.3 Push Notifications

You can revoke push notification permissions at any time through your device's system settings (iOS: Settings → BorderSmart → Notifications; Android: Settings → Apps → BorderSmart → Notifications).

8. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion of your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. BorderSmart does not sell personal information. To exercise any CCPA right, contact us through our support page. We will respond to verifiable requests within 45 days.

9. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect the data we store, including HTTPS/TLS in transit and access controls on our backend. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We will notify affected users promptly in the event of a data breach that affects personal information.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, provide notice within the app. Continued use of BorderSmart after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please visit our support page for contact information. We will respond to all privacy-related inquiries within a reasonable time.