Privacy Policy

WildGuardian operates wildguardian.com.au. For any privacy question, to ask for access to or correction or deletion of your information, or to make a complaint, email us at support@wildguardian.com.au.

Photos you upload for identification

When you use the photo identifier, your browser first shrinks the photo. It is then sent to our server along with the optional animal type (snake or spider) and Australian state you choose, and our server passes it to Anthropic’s AI service to produce the result. We use it only to give you that result. We don’t ask for your name or email with the photo, and we don’t save the photo on our systems.

Photos can contain more than you intend to share, such as people or private property. Re-drawing the image in your browser normally removes hidden metadata such as GPS location, but please don’t upload photos of people, and stay at a safe distance from any animal you photograph.

Email subscriptions

If you subscribe, you give us your name and email address through a form processed by AWeber, our email service. We also record which page you signed up from. We send a confirmation email first, and you only join once you confirm. We use your details to send WildGuardian safety guides, seasonal wildlife alerts and tool updates. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

How the site is used

We use Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics to understand which pages are useful, how people find us and how the site performs. These tools collect information such as pages visited, approximate location (for example, city), device and browser type, and how you arrived, using cookies or similar identifiers. We use this to improve the site, not to identify you personally.

Technical and security information

To keep the free photo identifier fair and stop abuse, we limit how many photos one connection can submit. To do that we turn your IP address into a scrambled code (a salted hash) and store only that code, in counters that are deleted automatically within about 36 hours. Our hosting provider, Vercel, also keeps standard server logs (such as IP address, browser type and pages requested) to operate and secure the service.

When you contact us

If you email us, we keep your message and our reply so we can respond and improve the site.

We use service providers to run WildGuardian. They handle information on our behalf for the purposes above, and each has its own privacy policy:

• Anthropic (AI analysis of photos). Anthropic receives the photo and your optional animal type and state selections, not your name or email. Its handling of that data is covered by its own terms and policies. Anthropic’s privacy policy.
• AWeber (email subscriptions and sending). AWeber’s privacy policy.
• Google (Analytics and Tag Manager). Google’s privacy policy.
• Vercel (website hosting). Vercel’s privacy policy.

We don’t sell your personal information. We may disclose information if the law requires it or to protect someone’s safety.

These providers are largely based in the United States and may store or process information there or in other countries. We choose reputable providers, but we can’t control how their systems operate. By using the photo identifier or subscribing, you understand your information may be handled outside Australia.

Google’s tags set cookies or similar identifiers in your browser to measure site usage, and AWeber may set cookies when you submit its sign-up form. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install Google’s Analytics opt-out browser add-on. Blocking cookies won’t stop the site from working.

• Photos: we don’t keep them.
• Fair-use counters (scrambled IP codes): deleted automatically within about 36 hours.
• Email subscription details: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them.
• Analytics data: for the period set in our Google Analytics settings.
• Emails you send us: for as long as needed to deal with your message.

We use encrypted connections (HTTPS) and rely on reputable providers to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we can’t guarantee absolute security.

• Unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email, or by emailing us.
• Access, correction and deletion: email us and we’ll respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days.
• Complaints: contact us first so we can try to fix the problem. If you’re not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

WildGuardian is a general safety resource and isn’t directed at children under 16. We don’t knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has subscribed, email us and we’ll remove the details.

WildGuardian provides general information only. A photo result is a possibility, not a diagnosis, and nothing on this site replaces medical care. If you may have been bitten or stung, don’t wait for a photo result. Call 000.

We may update this policy from time to time. The “last updated” date at the top shows the current version. If we make a significant change, we’ll make it clear on the site.