Scope
This policy explains how Sherlock Search ("Sherlock Search", "we", or "us") handles personal information when you use sherlocksearch.net, contact support, pay for a search, or submit a photo. Sherlock Search does not require a customer account.
Face images can be sensitive personal information and may be treated as biometric information in some places. Please read this policy before uploading an image.
Sherlock Search also offers reverse-phone, background-check, and possible criminal-record lookup tools. These tools process the details you deliberately submit, such as a phone number, adult name, optional location, or optional date of birth.
Information we collect
- Search data: the image you submit, its filename and technical properties, search status, possible result images, similarity or confidence information, public source links, timestamps, and error information.
- Public-record lookup data: the phone number, adult name, optional location, or optional date of birth submitted for a requested lookup, plus the result returned for that request. Sherlock Search processes this data in memory to return the requested page and does not write it to its application database.
- Checkout and payment data: the email entered at Stripe Checkout, order status, amount, currency, Stripe customer, checkout, payment, and refund identifiers. Stripe collects and processes your full card details; Sherlock Search does not store your full card number.
- Communications: information you send to our support address.
- Technical and security data: IP address, browser and device information, request logs, capability-token records, and information used to prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized access.
The photo you select may remain on your device while you prepare and confirm search access. It is submitted for processing only after paid or promotional free access is confirmed and you deliberately start the provider search.
How we use information
We use this information to:
- create and secure a guest search order;
- verify the Stripe payment and issue a receipt;
- submit your photo to the search provider and display possible matches;
- submit public-record lookup details to an authorized provider and display the response in the current browser tab;
- send a secure recovery link to the email entered at checkout;
- issue a refund when a technical or provider failure prevents the search from completing;
- answer support, privacy, abuse, and source-removal requests;
- diagnose errors, prevent misuse, and comply with applicable law; and
- improve service reliability and usability.
Sherlock Search does not use submitted photos to build its own biometric identity database, train its own face-search model, sell advertising profiles, or certify a person's identity.
Service providers
We disclose only the information needed to providers that operate the service or a feature you request. They include:
- an authorized third-party face-search provider, which receives the submitted image to perform the requested search;
- an authorized public-record lookup provider, which receives the details you submit to perform the phone, background, or possible criminal-record search;
- Cloudflare for application delivery, security, and object storage;
- Neon for managed database hosting;
- Stripe for hosted checkout, payment, receipts, refunds, and fraud prevention; and
- Resend for transactional recovery and support email.
These providers may process information in countries other than your own. Their own terms and privacy notices may apply when you interact directly with them, such as on Stripe Checkout.
We may also disclose information when required by law, to protect users or the service, during a business transfer, or with your direction or consent. We do not sell personal information.
Retention and deletion
- Submitted search images and cached result media are retained for up to 24 hours.
- Sherlock Search does not save reverse-phone, background-check, or possible criminal-record lookup inputs or results to its application database. The result is held in the current page state and is cleared when the page is refreshed or closed. The authorized provider may process and retain data under its own operating requirements.
- The secure guest result and recovery link is intended for the same 24-hour access window.
- Order, payment, refund, security, and support records may be retained longer when reasonably needed for accounting, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, legal compliance, and service security.
- A photo that remains only in your browser is controlled through your browser storage settings.
Backups and provider systems may take additional time to cycle after deletion where technically necessary or legally required.
Your choices and rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or obtain a copy of your personal information, and to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent. You may also have the right to complain to your local privacy regulator.
To make a request, email support@sherlocksearch.net. We may need to verify your identity and connection to the order before completing it.
Your responsibilities
Upload an image only when you have the legal right, permission, or other lawful basis to use it. Do not use Sherlock Search to stalk, harass, threaten, discriminate against, or systematically track anyone. Do not use results for employment, housing, credit, insurance, policing, immigration, or another high-impact decision.
Search results are possible visual matches. They can contain false positives or miss relevant pages and are not proof of identity. Review the linked source and its context before drawing any conclusion.
Security
We use safeguards designed to protect information, including encrypted network transport, access controls, server-side credentials, and capability-protected guest result links. Anyone with a valid recovery link may be able to access its result during the access window, so do not forward or publish it. No online service can guarantee absolute security.
Adults only
Sherlock Search is for adults aged 18 or older. Do not upload images of children or use the service to try to identify a child.
Changes and contact
We may update this policy as the service or law changes. The date above shows the latest version.
Questions, privacy requests, abuse reports, and image-removal concerns can be sent to support@sherlocksearch.net or through our contact page.