Privacy

Your files stay in your browser.

This policy explains the current WhatTheFile website at whatthefile.org in plain language.

Effective and last updated: 22 August 2026

Files you choose

JPG, PNG and WEBP processing happens locally using browser features such as Canvas and object URLs. WhatTheFile does not transmit, store or inspect the selected image or prepared download on a server.

When you check a PDF, the check also happens locally. WhatTheFile does not currently provide server-side PDF processing.

Accounts, cookies and analytics

WhatTheFile currently has no user accounts, advertising, analytics tracker or application cookie. The site does not build a profile of your activity.

Ordinary hosting data

The static website is intended to be hosted by AWS Amplify. Like most web hosts, AWS may process ordinary request information needed to deliver and protect the site, such as an IP address, timestamp, requested URL, browser user agent and diagnostic or security logs. This infrastructure data does not contain the image bytes that remain in your browser.

Links to other sites

WhatTheFile may link to its source repository or external documentation. Those sites have their own privacy practices.

Changes to this model

If analytics, remote error reporting, cloud storage, accounts, server-side processing or another data-collecting feature is added, this policy and the on-page privacy wording must be updated before that feature is released.

Your choices

You can close or refresh the tab to clear the selected file and generated in-memory download. Downloaded files remain wherever your browser saves them and are controlled by you.

Questions

Privacy and technical questions can be sent to support@whatthefile.org. Do not attach a sensitive personal photo.