Privacy Policy

Effective: April 10, 2026 · Last updated: April 17, 2026

WatchedLA.com ("we," "our," or "the app") is a free public interest project. This privacy policy explains what data we collect, what stays on your device, and what network requests the app makes on your behalf.

The Short Version

We do not operate any servers that receive your data. No account, no analytics, no tracking. We don't know who you are. However, some app features make network requests to third-party services on your behalf. Those services may log your device's IP address. We detail every such request below.

Data We Do NOT Collect

Personal information: No name, email, phone number, or account of any kind is required.
Usage analytics: No crash reporting SDKs, no event tracking, no session recording.
Advertising identifiers: No ad SDKs, no IDFA access, no third-party trackers.
Server-side storage: We operate no backend servers. Nothing you do in this app is transmitted to us.

Data That Stays on Your Device

Saved places: Home, Work, and other saved locations are stored locally in an encrypted file on your device only. They are excluded from iCloud backup and cannot be accessed by other apps.
Route history: Past route searches are stored locally in an encrypted file on your device only. They are excluded from iCloud backup. You can clear your history at any time from the app.
Scan results: Camera proximity checks happen entirely on-device by comparing your GPS to the bundled camera database. No network requests are made for proximity scanning.
Language preference: Your English/Spanish choice is stored locally.
Disclaimer acknowledgment: A simple flag noting you accepted the disclaimer. No content is stored.

Network Requests the App Makes

Watched LA makes the following network requests while you use the app. We do not control or have access to any data these services may log.

Feature	Service	What is sent
Address search (autocomplete)	Apple MapKit	Each keystroke of your search text, resolved coordinates. Subject to Apple's privacy policy.
Route directions	Apple MapKit Directions	Origin and destination coordinates. Subject to Apple's privacy policy.
Map tiles	Apple MapKit	The visible map region. Subject to Apple's privacy policy.
Address search (fallback geocoding)	OpenStreetMap Nominatim (`nominatim.openstreetmap.org`)	The address text you typed, your device's IP address, and a User-Agent header identifying this app. Subject to OSMF's privacy policy.
Camera database refresh	OpenStreetMap Overpass API (`overpass-api.de`)	A geographic bounding box for the Los Angeles area (not your location). Your device's IP address is visible to the server.

Camera Database

The app includes a bundled database of surveillance camera locations in Los Angeles. This data comes from:

OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL license)
FOIA/public records requests to LAPD and LADOT
Published city council disclosures
Investigative journalism and community reporting

The camera database is bundled into the app for immediate offline mapping. The app also makes background requests to the OpenStreetMap Overpass API to refresh this data. See the table above for details.

Location Permissions

The app requests location permission to:

Show your position on the map
Check for cameras near your current location (on-device only)
Auto-fill "Current Location" as your starting point for routes
Day Recording: if you enable background recording, the app tracks your movement to log camera encounters in real time. This requires "Always" location permission. Your trail data is stored only on your device.

You can deny location access and still browse the camera map and search for routes between addresses.

Third-Party Map Handoff

When you tap "Open in Apple Maps," "Open in Google Maps," or "Open in Waze," the app sends your selected destination coordinates to that third-party maps application. WatchedLA.com does not control what those apps do with that data. Please refer to their respective privacy policies.

Children's Privacy

WatchedLA.com is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Changes to This Policy

If we change this policy, we will update this page and the effective date above.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Email us at hello@watchedla.com.