Preamble: A Constitutional Commitment to Clarity
The Visual Thinking Company (VTCo) is founded on the principle of "From Complexity to Clarity". Our mission is to build civic intelligence infrastructure that is legible, verifiable, and serves the public good. These Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy are not just legal requirements; they are an extension of our constitutional commitment to evidence over opinion, system legibility, and institutional trust. By using our services, you agree to operate within this framework.
Part I: Master Privacy Policy
1. Our Constitutional Privacy Principle: Canadian Data Sovereignty
VTCo's commitment is absolute: all user data and civic data processed through our systems resides exclusively within Canada. We operate in full compliance with British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
2. Information We Collect
- For Public Users: We collect anonymous, aggregated usage data (e.g., feature usage, search volumes) to improve our Services. We do not collect or store personal information.
- For Institutional & Commercial Users: We collect necessary account information, including names, email addresses, institutional affiliation, and payment information for billing and account management.
3. How We Use Information
- To provide, maintain, and improve our Services.
- To manage user accounts and process payments.
- To communicate with users about service updates and support.
We will never sell your personal information to third parties.
4. Data Security & Protection
We implement industry-standard security measures, including encryption, secure cloud hosting on Canadian servers, and strict access controls to protect your information.
5. OCAP® Commitment
VTCo operates under an OCAP®-aware framework. Any datasets related to Indigenous communities are subject to the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession. Such data will only be handled in accordance with protocols established with the relevant First Nations data stewards.