Privacy Policy

Overview

VetAtlas ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding that information.

Information We Collect

VetAtlas is designed with privacy in mind. We minimize data collection as much as possible.

Information You Provide

• Feedback Messages: If you submit feedback through our feedback form, we receive the category you select and the message you write. We do not require your name, email, or any personal information to submit feedback.

Information Collected Automatically

• Analytics: We use Google Analytics 4 with privacy-protective settings to understand general usage patterns. We collect aggregate data such as page views, visitor counts, country-level location, general device type (mobile vs desktop), traffic sources, and session duration. We have disabled Google Signals, ad personalization, cross-device tracking, and granular location/demographic data collection. IP addresses are anonymized automatically. This data helps us understand which resources are most useful to veterans so we can improve the site.
• Server Logs: Our hosting provider (Vercel) may collect standard server log information including IP addresses, browser type, and pages visited. This data is managed by Vercel under their privacy policy.

What We Do Not Collect

• We do not require or store user accounts, passwords, or login credentials.
• We do not store personal information in databases.
• We do not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties.
• We do not track you across other websites.
• We do not collect granular location data (city/region), detailed device information, or demographic data.

Session Storage

VetAtlas uses your browser's session storage to temporarily save your Session Report data (items you bookmark while browsing). This data exists only in your browser, is never transmitted to our servers, and is automatically deleted when you close the browser tab. We have no access to this data.

Cookies

VetAtlas uses a limited number of cookies for analytics and advertising:

• Analytics Cookie: Google Analytics sets a cookie ("_ga") to distinguish unique visitors. We have configured this cookie to expire after 60 days (instead of the default 2 years). This cookie does not contain personal information and is not used to identify you individually.
• Advertising Cookies: Google AdSense may set cookies to serve ads relevant to your interests. We have disabled ad personalization signals on our end, but Google may still use limited cookies for ad delivery and frequency capping.

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies will not affect the core functionality of VetAtlas — all content remains fully accessible without cookies.

Third-Party Services

Our site may include the following third-party integrations:

• Hosting: Our site is hosted on Vercel. Vercel may collect standard web traffic data subject to their privacy policy.
• Affiliate Links: Some links on our site may be affiliate links. Clicking these links may set cookies on the affiliate partner's site, which is governed by their respective privacy policies. We clearly label affiliate/sponsored content.
• Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics 4 with restricted settings (Google Signals disabled, ad personalization disabled, IP anonymization enabled, restricted data processing enabled). Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy. You can opt out of Google Analytics using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Google AdSense: Advertisements on our site are served by Google AdSense. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your browsing activity. You can manage your ad preferences at Google Ad Settings.
• External Links: Links to external websites (VA.gov, etc.) are governed by those sites' own privacy policies.

Children's Privacy

VetAtlas 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 through our feedback form so we can address it.

Your Rights

Because we do not collect or store personal information, there is generally no personal data for us to provide, correct, or delete. If you have submitted feedback and wish to inquire about it, you may contact us through the feedback form on our site.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of VetAtlas after any changes indicates your acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please reach out using the Feedback button on our site or join our Discord community.