Photo Privacy and Storage in Probe

What Probe needs to perform analysis

Probe needs the source image to run scene analysis. The photo is sent for processing so the system can identify visible objects, review scene layout, assign confidence, and generate overlays and evidence notes.

Without the image itself, there is nothing to analyze. The important privacy question is what happens after that processing step is complete, what remains in case history, and how you should think about sensitive visual records before uploading them.

Think of uploads as case material

A scene photo can contain more than the detail you care about. It may include addresses, faces in the background, license plates, documents, receipts, screens, interior layouts, personal items, or other information that was incidental to the photo. Before uploading, treat the image as case material and ask whether everything in the frame is appropriate to store and review later.

Probe is not designed to identify people or decide legal outcomes. The privacy habit is still the same: minimize unnecessary exposure, keep your own records organized, and delete history when it no longer serves a legitimate purpose.

What is kept in case history

Probe keeps the text results of the analysis and a compressed thumbnail for your case file history. In deployments where full case reopening is enabled, the uploaded source image may also be retained so you can review the original frame later.

The case file exists so the app stays useful after the initial scan. It gives you continuity across scenes instead of making every analysis disposable. On the web platform, that history is part of the product value: visual evidence reports are meant to be reopened, compared, and reviewed from a larger screen.

Why the source image may also be kept

Some Probe environments keep the uploaded source image alongside the thumbnail so a full case file can be reopened later. That is useful when you want to inspect the original frame instead of relying only on a lightweight preview.

If a scene is sensitive, you should treat app history as retained case material and delete it when the record is no longer needed. If you need strict retention rules for a workplace, legal, medical, insurance, or regulated setting, follow the policy for that environment rather than assuming an analysis app is the system of record.

Why saved case assets still matter

The written case output, thumbnail, and any retained source image make it easier to compare past scenes, share findings, and reopen a review without starting from scratch. That matters when you are tracking property condition over time, checking whether damage changed, or returning to a report after a conversation.

If you need stronger archival control, keep your own originals in the system you trust most and remove app history when the case is closed. Probe should support your recordkeeping process, not silently become the only place important originals live.

Before uploading sensitive photos

When to review your privacy options

Common privacy mistakes

The first mistake is focusing only on the subject of the photo. A damaged item may be harmless, but the background may contain a shipping label, family photo, computer screen, badge, or location detail. The second mistake is uploading a photo and then forgetting that case history exists. Useful history is still retained history.

The third mistake is relying on screenshots or heavily edited copies without keeping the original somewhere appropriate. If a record may matter later, keep a deliberate archive under your own control and use Probe for analysis and review rather than as your only storage plan.

How privacy fits the web-first workflow

The web platform is designed for reports you can reopen. That is valuable for visual evidence work, but it also means users should be intentional. Before you upload, decide whether the scene belongs in a retained case file. After you finish, decide whether the report should stay available for comparison or be removed.

For high-sensitivity situations, avoid uploading unnecessary material, consult the relevant policy or professional guidance, and use Probe only when the benefit of analysis is appropriate for the image involved.

Sharing reports responsibly

When you share a Probe report, remember that the recipient may see more than the written conclusion. Overlays, thumbnails, source images, and case notes can reveal context that was not obvious in a short message. Share only with people who need the material, and avoid forwarding sensitive reports as casual screenshots when a narrower summary would be enough.