Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-09-23

This policy explains what personal data Swear Atlas (swearatlas.com) collects and how we handle it. We deliberately collect as little as possible. The data controller is the Swear Atlas operator, contactable at privacy@swearatlas.com.

No accounts, minimal data

You don't need an account to use Swear Atlas, and we don't ask for your name, email or profile. There is no advertising tracking and no third-party analytics cookies.

What we collect

Search telemetry (privacy-conscious)

To make search better we record aggregate information about searches: the normalised query text, which entry (if any) it matched, the match method (exact, fuzzy, phonetic, AI), a confidence score, the language where known, and whether the AI fallback was used. This helps us learn, for example, that many people type “koorvah” meaning “kurwa”, and improve matching.

We do not store your search history against your identity, because we don't know your identity. We do not retain raw IP addresses for analytics; where an IP is briefly processed for security and rate-limiting it is not stored in a form linked to your searches, and is discarded or truncated shortly afterwards.

Privacy-conscious usage analytics

We use lightweight, first-party analytics to understand traffic (page views, referrers, approximate country, device type) without cross-site tracking. These do not build advertising profiles and do not set third-party cookies.

Server logs

Our hosting provider processes standard technical request logs for security and reliability. These are kept only as long as needed for those purposes.

The AI fallback and your search text

Most searches are answered entirely from our own catalogue and never leave our systems. Only when the local catalogue cannot identify what you typed may your query text be sent to our AI provider (currently OpenAI) to attempt a tentative identification. In that case the AI provider processes the query text on our behalf as a data processor. We do not send them any identifier for you. If you'd rather not have a query sent to the AI provider, avoid entering text you don't want processed; ordinary dictionary lookups do not trigger it.

Merchandise

If you choose to buy merchandise you'll be taken to a third-party print-on-demand provider. Any personal or payment data you give them is handled under their privacy policy, not ours. We only receive aggregate, non-identifying information about referrals.

Cookies and local storage

We aim to avoid non-essential cookies. Any storage we use is strictly functional (for example, remembering that you've acknowledged the adult-content notice). See our Cookie Policy for the current details.

Who processes your data

• Amazon Web Services — hosting, storage and delivery (primarily in the London region).
• OpenAI — AI processor for the search fallback only, when triggered.
• Our print-on-demand merchandise provider — only if you choose to buy something.

Legal basis and retention

Where UK/EU data protection law applies, our basis for processing minimal, aggregated telemetry and functional data is our legitimate interest in operating and improving the Site securely. We keep telemetry only in aggregate/de-identified form and no longer than necessary.

Your rights

Depending on where you live you may have rights to access, correct, delete or object to processing of your personal data. Because we don't hold data that identifies you, we usually can't link records to an individual — but you're welcome to contact us at privacy@swearatlas.com with any request or question.

Children

Swear Atlas is an 18+ service and is not directed at children.

Questions about this policy? Contact us at hello@swearatlas.com.