Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 2026
1. The Short Version
Here is the summary upfront: we do not collect your personal info, we do not have user accounts, and we do not track you across the web. You can explore the map freely without giving away your identity.
2. How "Find My Plate" works with your location
When you click the "Find My Plate" button, your browser asks for permission to check your current location.
Your coordinates stay on your device:
Your GPS latitude and longitude are calculated purely inside your browser using client-side JavaScript. The app compares your point to local plate polygons right in your device memory. Your coordinates are never uploaded to our servers, never logged, and never stored.
If you do not want to share your location, just hit Deny. The rest of the map works exactly the same.
3. Offline storage and Progressive Web App cache
TectonicPlateMap.org can work offline like a native app. To make that happen, your browser saves static assets locally:
- Service Worker Cache: Stores HTML, stylesheets, map icons, and plate boundary files so the app can load without an internet connection.
- Local Storage: Remembers your chosen map theme (such as Dark mode or Satellite) so you do not have to switch it every time you visit.
- None of this offline storage contains any personal tracking data.
4. Live data from third parties
When you have an internet connection, your browser pulls real-time earthquake feeds directly from the USGS (earthquake.usgs.gov) and public map basemap tiles from CartoDB and OpenStreetMap. Those network requests follow the public privacy policies of those respective services.
5. Cookies and analytics
We do not use advertising tracking cookies, Facebook pixels, or invasive tracking scripts. We want the site to be fast, clean, and respectful of your browser.
6. GDPR and CCPA rights
Because we do not store personal profiles, sell personal data, or run backend user databases, there is no personal data for us to sell, trade, or delete under European (GDPR) or California (CCPA) privacy laws.
7. Contact
If you have questions about privacy or how the client-side code works, email us anytime: