Privacy & measurement
CityView analytics
We measure page views, temporary visits, broad traffic sources, sharing actions, visible time and playback where supported. This helps us improve the camera experience.
CityView analytics does not store your name, email, IP address or full referring URL. A random identifier in session storage groups activity within a browser tab; it renews after 30 minutes without visible activity or on a new UTC day. There is no persistent visitor identifier or cross-site tracking in CityView analytics.
Measurements are sent to CityView approximately once a minute and when you leave a page. Reports cover 90 UTC days. Older records are removed in batches as new activity arrives. The private dashboard is accessible only to the owner. City popularity also uses a separate short-lived tab receipt and retains aggregates for about a month.
Your choice
CityView honors Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track. You can also turn off CityView measurement for this browser. This choice does not stop the cameras.
Third-party cameras
Camera and video providers receive requests when their players load and may use their own cookies, storage and measurement. CityView's preference controls only CityView analytics. Your hosting and camera providers may process connection information needed to deliver the service.
Virtual flights
When you choose Surprise me from the homepage or map, we use an approximate area derived from your connection by our hosting provider as the flight’s starting point. It may differ from your actual location, especially with a VPN. CityView does not request GPS access or store this location in its database. Rounded coordinates are held briefly in this tab to carry the animation to the next page, then removed. When location is unavailable, the flight still opens without claiming a departure city.
Map providers
The map uses geographic data, fonts and map tiles delivered by OpenFreeMap and Earth imagery delivered by NASA GIBS. These services receive the connection requests needed to display the map. CityView does not request your device location. Earth imagery is a historical composite; the camera videos are separate.