Privacy Policy
Last updated: July 11, 2026. VisitHero is operated by EMYSTI and can be used without creating an account.
Location and map context
When you use My location, your browser or device asks for permission and uses the result to center the map. When you send an Ask request, the current map center or nearby location context, selected radius, language and question are sent to VisitHero's server so it can find nearby places and produce a relevant answer. Exact coordinates and full question text are not written to VisitHero's monetization event log.
AI Ask assistant
Ask combines AI language understanding with VisitHero's nearby place data and selected public information. The request and location context are processed through VisitHero's server and Google Cloud Vertex AI to generate the answer. Ask requires an internet connection. Do not enter passwords, payment details, passport numbers or other sensitive personal information.
Free nearby place lookup
VisitHero first searches its local place index. If the requested type is missing, the server may send the coordinates, language and a generic facility category to OpenStreetMap Nominatim for reverse geocoding and a bounded nearby lookup. The full Ask question and VisitHero identifiers are not sent to Nominatim. Administrative results are cached by an approximately 100-metre location cell to reduce external requests. Newly found public places may be retained in VisitHero's open-data cache without linking them to a user identity.
Recent Ask history on your device
To help you return to an earlier answer, VisitHero keeps a limited number of recent questions and answers in first-party storage on your browser or device. When you send a follow-up, a short recent excerpt is sent with the new Ask request so the AI can understand references such as 'that' or 'the previous one'. It is processed through the same VisitHero server and Google Cloud Vertex AI path as the new question, is not copied into the monetization event log, is not stored as an account history, and is not synced between devices. Use Clear chat to delete it from that device.
Spot submissions
A submitted spot may include its type, coordinates, optional name, note and compressed photo evidence. This information is stored for moderation. Photo evidence is available to administrators for review and is not automatically published on the map. Submit only content you are permitted to share and avoid personal information.
Operational analytics
VisitHero records limited events such as page views, Ask sent/answered status, ad and recommendation viewability or clicks, support-link interactions, HERO referrals, language and page path. Before analytics consent, these events are aggregate and do not include a persistent browser identifier. After consent, a random browser and session identifier may be used. To prioritize public-data additions, an unanswered nearby category may be counted with its service region and an approximately one-kilometre location cell. Event metadata does not include the full Ask text or exact coordinates.
Advertising, storage and consent
Essential first-party storage keeps your language, onboarding, map cache, safety state and frequency controls working. Analytics and third-party advertising are controlled by your privacy choices. Commercial cards are labelled as Advertisement, Sponsored, Partner or HERO recommendation. Google advertising for users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland is gated behind a configured Google-certified CMP integrated with IAB TCF. You can reopen Privacy choices from the map menu or page footer.
Current external services
Services currently active or required for core operation: OpenFreeMap / OpenStreetMap / Nominatim, Google Cloud Vertex AI. Advertising and support providers appear here only when enabled in VisitHero's backend. External payment providers process payment details on their own sites; VisitHero does not receive or store card numbers. VisitHero does not sell personal data.
Retention, choices and contact
We retain operational records only for service operation, security, moderation and aggregate reporting, and remove or aggregate them when no longer needed. You may change consent choices at any time. For privacy questions or a request concerning your submitted content, contact info@emysti.net and include enough detail for us to identify the relevant submission without sending additional sensitive information.