Privacy Policy — SparkMap

Overview

SparkMap ("we," "us," or "our") is a geospatial advocacy platform that visualizes publicly available census-tract-level data for Maryland. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use SparkMap at sparkmap.org or any associated services.

SparkMap is a public-interest, non-commercial project. We do not sell your data, run advertising, or track you for profit.

Information We Collect

We collect minimal information necessary to operate the platform:

Usage data: Anonymous page views, feature interactions, and map navigation events collected through standard server logs. Logs are retained for up to 30 days and are not linked to individual identities.
Contact form submissions: If you email us at contact@sparkmap.org, we retain your email address and message solely to respond to your inquiry.
No accounts or authentication: SparkMap does not require you to create an account. We do not collect names, passwords, or demographic information.

How We Use Your Information

To operate and improve the SparkMap platform.
To diagnose technical issues and monitor platform health.
To respond to inquiries sent directly to us.

We do not use your information for marketing, profiling, or automated decision-making.

Cookies and Local Storage

SparkMap may use browser local storage to remember map settings (e.g., active lens, zoom level) between sessions. This data stays on your device and is never transmitted to our servers.

We do not use third-party tracking cookies, advertising pixels, or analytics services that share data with external parties.

Third-Party Data Sources

SparkMap displays data sourced from publicly available datasets:

Opportunity Atlas (Harvard / U.S. Census Bureau)
Child Opportunity Index 3.0 (diversitydatakids.org)
U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line shapefiles, ACS)
OpenStreetMap (Points of Interest)

These datasets are used under their respective public licenses. SparkMap does not control or assume responsibility for the privacy practices of these external sources.

Data Security

SparkMap uses industry-standard practices to protect data in transit (HTTPS/TLS). However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We retain minimal data to limit exposure.

Children's Privacy

SparkMap is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date above. Your continued use of SparkMap after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at contact@sparkmap.org.