Privacy Policy for NTX Drone Services
Effective Date: September 2, 2024
1. Introduction
Welcome to NTX Drone Services (“we,” “us,” or “our”). We value your privacy and are dedicated to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our drone services, which include photography, videography, photogrammetry, thermal inspections, animal recovery, tower inspection, and utilities inspection for both private and commercial projects. Our company is based in Texas, and this policy complies with state and federal privacy regulations.
2. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information, including:
- Personal Identification Information: This includes your name, contact information (e.g., phone number, email address), and billing details when you request or purchase our services.
- Service Details: Information about the specific services you request, including job details, location, and any special instructions for private or commercial projects.
- Technical Data: Information about your device, such as IP address, browser type, operating system, and usage data related to our website.
- Media: Images, videos, and thermal images captured during our service operations, which may include images of individuals and children, especially when requested by parents or guardians.
- Children’s Information: Photos or videos of children may be captured at the request of their parents or guardians.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
- To Provide and Manage Services: To deliver and perform the services you have requested, such as photography, inspections, and recovery operations.
- To Process Payments: To handle billing and transactions related to our services.
- To Communicate with You: To respond to inquiries, provide updates, and notify you of any changes to our services or policies.
- To Improve Our Services: To analyze data to enhance the quality and effectiveness of our services.
- To Comply with Legal Obligations: To adhere to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
4. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- With Subcontractors: Some projects may be subcontracted to third-party companies who assist in delivering our services. We ensure that these subcontractors are bound by contractual obligations to protect your information and use it only for the purpose of providing services on our behalf.
- With Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers for tasks such as payment processing, technical support, and other business operations.
- For Legal Purposes: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect our rights and the rights of others.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the business assets.
5. Security of Your Information
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure.
6. Your Choices
You have several rights regarding your personal information:
- Access and Correction: You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us.
- Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving promotional communications from us by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in those communications.
- Data Deletion: You may request the deletion of your personal information, subject to legal or contractual obligations that may require us to retain certain data.
7. Children’s Privacy
We may capture photos or videos of children at the request of their parents or guardians. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we have collected such information without proper consent, please contact us to take appropriate action.
8. Overflight of Other Properties
In the course of providing our services, it may be necessary for our drones to fly over properties that are not the primary target of our mission. We understand that this may raise privacy concerns for property owners and residents.
Purpose of Overflight: The overflight of other properties is solely for the purpose of reaching the designated mission site efficiently and safely. We do not intentionally capture images or videos of properties that are not part of the service request.
Minimizing Impact: We strive to minimize the impact on privacy by adhering to the following practices:
- Flight Path Planning: We carefully plan our flight paths to avoid unnecessary overflight of residential areas whenever possible. Methods of avoidance include:
- Altitude Adjustment: Flying at higher altitudes over non-target properties to reduce the visibility and detail of any incidental captures.
- Route Optimization: Selecting flight paths that minimize the time spent over residential areas and prioritize flying over public or less sensitive areas.
- Time of Flight: Scheduling flights during times when privacy concerns are likely to be lower, such as during the day when fewer people are outdoors.
- Hovering in Position: In some cases, hovering in position may be required to stop and make adjustments or to log and record information for the primary flight mission. This is done to ensure the accuracy and quality of the mission while minimizing unnecessary overflight.
- Right-of-Way Access: In certain situations, right-of-way access may apply, allowing our drones to legally fly over properties to reach the mission site. Examples include flying over utility easements, public roads, and other areas where right-of-way access is granted. We ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and respect the rights of property owners.
- Notification: We will make every attempt to notify property owners where overflight is required to reach a mission site if it is reasonably required or warranted. This helps to ensure transparency and address any privacy concerns in advance.
- Data Handling: Any incidental data captured during overflight is not stored or used unless it is directly relevant to the mission.
- Compliance: Our operations comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations regarding drone flights and privacy.
Your Rights: If you have concerns about drone overflights over your property, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any privacy concerns and ensuring that our operations respect the privacy of all individuals.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on our website with the updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
10. Contact Us
For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:
NTX Drone Services
178 HCR 1361
Hillsboro, TX 76645
Phone: (254) 540-5433
Email: joey@ntxdroneservices.com
Thank you for choosing NTX Drone Services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information.
11. Texas State-Specific Information
As a Texas-based company, NTX Drone Services complies with Texas state privacy laws, including the Texas Privacy Protection Act. If you have questions about our compliance with Texas privacy regulations or need further information, please contact us directly.
Texas Privacy Laws
As of 2023, Texas does not have specific privacy laws dedicated solely to drone operations. However, several existing laws and regulations can impact how drones are used and how data collected by drones must be handled, particularly concerning privacy issues. Here’s an overview of relevant Texas laws and regulations that can affect drone operations:
1. Texas Privacy Laws and Drone Operations
- Texas Privacy Protection Act (TPPA): While not specific to drones, this act establishes consumer rights related to personal data, including access, correction, and deletion of data. Drone operators must be mindful of these rights when collecting personal data, such as images or videos.
- Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act: This act requires businesses to protect personal data from unauthorized access and to notify individuals in case of a data breach. If drones capture personal data and a breach occurs, this law would be relevant.
2. Texas Law Regarding Drone Use
- Texas Government Code § 423: This law regulates the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and sets forth privacy protections, including:
- Prohibition on Surveillance: Law enforcement agencies must obtain a warrant to use drones for surveillance purposes, except in certain emergency situations.
- Restrictions on Data Retention: Data collected by drones cannot be retained for more than 180 days unless it is related to an ongoing investigation or if the data is deemed to have evidentiary value.
- Notification: Certain drone operations may require public notification if they involve capturing images or videos in public places.
- Texas Penal Code § 43.03: This statute criminalizes the use of drones to photograph or record individuals in certain circumstances without their consent, particularly if done with the intent to invade their privacy.
3. Federal Regulations
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations: The FAA regulates the use of drones in U.S. airspace. While FAA rules focus on operational safety, they do not specifically address privacy concerns. However, drone operators must comply with federal laws, including those related to data collection and privacy.
- Federal Privacy Laws: General privacy laws such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations on data privacy may also apply to drone operators, particularly if the collected data is used for commercial purposes.
4. General Privacy Considerations for Drone Operators
- Consent: Obtain consent from individuals before capturing images or videos, especially if the footage includes private property or personal identifiers.
- Data Management: Implement measures to secure and manage data collected by drones, including proper storage, retention, and deletion practices.
- Transparency: Clearly communicate how data collected by drones will be used and provide notice where necessary.
