Privacy Policy
Deficit Engine doesn't have user accounts, so there isn't much data to talk about. Here's exactly what is and isn't collected.
Zip code searches
When you search for restaurants, the zip code you enter is sent to two public third-party APIs (Zippopotam.us for geocoding, and OpenStreetMap's Overpass API for nearby locations) to run the search. We don't store your searches on our servers or tie them to an identity.
Your browser's local search history
Your last zip code, radius, and search results are saved in your browser's sessionStorage so the form doesn't reset if you navigate away. This never leaves your device, isn't sent to us, and clears automatically when you close the tab.
IP address (rate limiting only)
To stop the API from being spammed, requests are rate-limited by IP address using a short-lived counter (about 60 seconds) in our Redis provider. It's used purely to detect bursts of traffic, is never linked to a profile, and isn't used for tracking, advertising, or analytics.
AI-generated menu & nutrition data
When you ingest a restaurant, its name and generated menu item descriptions are sent to OpenAI to produce menu items and nutrition estimates. No personal information about you is included in that request.
What we don't do
No accounts, no passwords, no cookies for tracking or advertising, no third-party analytics, and we never sell data — there isn't any personal data collected to sell.
This policy describes the app as it currently works. If that changes — for example, if accounts or analytics are ever added — this page will be updated to reflect it.