SearchCans

Privacy Policy

Updated on: October 26, 2025

SearchCans ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our API services (the "Services").

Core Principle: Data Minimization
Unlike traditional data platforms, SearchCans acts as a real-time infrastructure pipe. We purposefully design our systems NOT to persist the content you scrape.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you register for an account, we collect:

  • Identity Data: Email address and encrypted password.
  • Billing Data: Payment details. Depending on your region, this may include Stripe customer IDs or WeChat Pay transaction records. We do not store full credit card numbers or raw payment credentials.

1.2 Usage Data & Logs

When you use our API or website, our servers automatically record certain metadata, including:

  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type, and operating system.
  • API Metadata: Timestamps, API endpoints accessed, HTTP status codes, and latency metrics.
  • Request Parameters: The target URLs or search queries you submit (stored only as logs for debugging and security, not as content databases).

2. How We Handle API Data (Crucial)

We explicitly distinguish between "Account Data" and "API Payload Data" (the results from SERP or Reader API):

2.1 Transient Processing

When you use our Reader API or SERP API:

  • We fetch the data from the target source in real-time.
  • We process/convert it (e.g., to Markdown or JSON).
  • We deliver it to you immediately.
  • We DO NOT store, cache, or archive the body content (HTML, text, images) of your requests. Once the response is sent to you, the content payload is discarded from our RAM.

2.2 Controller vs. Processor

  • SearchCans as Controller: We are the "Controller" of your Account Information (email, billing).
  • SearchCans as Processor: For the data you retrieve via our API (e.g., third-party web content), SearchCans acts solely as a "Data Processor" acting on your instructions. You are the "Controller" responsible for that data.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected logs and account data for the following legitimate business purposes:

  • Service Provision: To authenticate your API requests and process billing.
  • Security & Fraud Prevention: To detect abnormal traffic patterns, prevent scraping abuse, and enforce rate limits.
  • Debugging: To help you troubleshoot failed API requests using log metadata.
  • Communication: To send you transactional emails (invoices, password resets) or critical service updates.

4. Data Retention

We adhere to strict retention policies:

  • API Content Payload: 0 days (Not stored).
  • Access Logs (Metadata): Retained for up to 90 days for security auditing, then aggregated or deleted.
  • Account Information: Retained as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your personal data within 30 days, retaining only necessary financial records for tax compliance.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell your data. We share data only with trusted infrastructure providers necessary to run the service:

  • Payment Processing:
    • - Stripe (Global payments)
    • - WeChat Pay (China payments)
  • Cloud Infrastructure: AWS, Cloudflare, Tencent Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud (for hosting, WAF protection, and global CDN).
  • Analytics: Google Analytics and Baidu Analytics (for website traffic analysis, anonymous).

6. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

  • Access & Portability: Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
  • Deletion: Request that we delete your account and associated data ("Right to be Forgotten").
  • Correction: Update inaccurate personal information.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@searchcans.com.

7. International Data Transfers

SearchCans operates globally with infrastructure in multiple regions. Data may be processed in the United States, China, or other jurisdictions depending on your location and the service node you connect to. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for cross-border data transfers.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

SearchCans Privacy Team
Email: support@searchcans.com