Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 9, 2026 · Operator: Ali Kathem, United States

1. Information we handle

When you visit this website

The website does not have a registration form, payment form, advertising pixels, or analytics scripts added by DriveShift. Its hosting and network providers may process your IP address, browser and request information, and operational or security logs to deliver and protect the website.

When you contact us

If you email us, we receive your email address, message, and any name or attachments you provide. We use this information to answer questions, handle privacy requests, troubleshoot issues, or discuss partnerships. Please do not send passwords, payment information, or unnecessary personal documents.

When you use the development app

Depending on the feature you choose, the app processes vehicle details you enter, symptoms, answers to follow-up questions, diagnostic codes, OBD readings, and generated explanations. Vehicle profile information can include year, make, model, engine, mileage, and a VIN if provided. A VIN can identify a specific vehicle; avoid providing it unless needed for the feature.

The development code also includes image and audio analysis tools. When available and used, these process selected vehicle images or recordings and related observations. These tools are not necessarily included in the eventual public release. Do not include faces, license plates, private conversations, or other personal information when it is not needed.

2. Local storage and permissions

The app stores vehicle preferences and saved diagnosis history or reports locally on the device. Some information you choose to submit for analysis is also sent to the backend; local storage does not mean that all processing stays on your phone.

• Bluetooth: connects to a compatible OBD adapter and obtains vehicle diagnostic data.
• Camera or image selection: supports vehicle-image or diagnostic-code analysis when that feature is used.
• Microphone: supports vehicle-sound recording when an audio feature is used.

You can manage permissions in your device settings. Denying or revoking a permission may prevent its associated feature from working. Choosing to browse this website does not grant permission to access your device’s camera, microphone, or Bluetooth.

3. Server processing and AI

Online analysis sends the submitted request and relevant vehicle or diagnostic context to the DriveShift backend hosted on Vercel. The development services use OpenAI APIs for AI-assisted analysis. Relevant text, vehicle information, and, for enabled image or audio features, selected images, audio, or derived observations may be processed by OpenAI to produce a response.

AI output may be incomplete or incorrect. We do not represent it as a confirmed diagnosis. Avoid submitting sensitive personal information in free-text fields or media. The public release must clearly describe third-party AI processing and obtain the applicable permission before sending personal data; visiting this policy alone is not consent to AI processing.

These providers have their own privacy terms and operational data practices. See OpenAI’s privacy policy, Vercel’s privacy policy, and Cloudflare’s privacy policy. Website publication uses ChatGPT Sites hosting infrastructure. Support email is handled using Gmail.

4. Why we use information

• Provide the analysis or diagnostic explanation you request.
• Save preferences and reports on your device.
• Respond to support, partnership, and privacy inquiries.
• Maintain service availability, investigate errors, prevent abuse, and meet applicable legal obligations.

The website does not sell products or operate an advertising or data-broker service. No live affiliate retail integration is currently offered. Any future retail or affiliate integration will be disclosed before use.

5. Sharing and external links

Information is handled by the service providers needed for hosting, AI processing, and email support, as described above. It may also be disclosed when legally required or necessary to address fraud, security threats, or protect lawful rights. Data may be processed in the United States or other locations where these providers operate.

Opening a third-party retailer or other external website is governed by that website’s policies. DriveShift does not receive your retailer password or payment details through this informational website.

6. Retention and deletion

Local vehicle preferences and reports remain until they are removed using available app controls or the app’s stored data is deleted. In the current development version, History has a delete control, Reports supports removal of saved items, and vehicle settings have a reset function. Clearing one category does not necessarily clear every category. Device backups may retain copies under your backup settings.

Support messages are kept while needed to handle the inquiry, maintain relevant support records, resolve disputes, or satisfy legal obligations. You may request deletion by email. We do not promise that server or provider logs disappear immediately after a response: operational logs and provider records are governed by their configured retention and applicable legal requirements. Retention settings for the final release will be reviewed and reflected in this policy before launch.

7. Your choices and requests

You can stop submitting requests, revoke device permissions, remove locally saved records, and contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we hold. Email ali.kathem.edu@gmail.com with the subject “DriveShift privacy request.” Include only enough information to identify the relevant request. We may need to verify your identity and may retain information where legally required.

Clearing local app history does not by itself delete previous emails or provider logs. We will explain any limits when responding to a privacy request.

8. Security and children

Online requests use HTTPS. No electronic storage or transmission method is completely secure. DriveShift is intended for drivers and is not directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, please contact us so we can investigate and address it.

9. Updates and contact

We will update this page when data practices change and revise the effective date. Material app changes will be reflected before the affected features are released.

Privacy contact: Ali Kathem · ali.kathem.edu@gmail.com.