Privacy Policy

Effective June 5, 2026

The San Francisco Welcome Department (the "Project") is a work of speculative civic design operated by BENEATH THE SIDEWALK, LLC ("we," "us," or "our"). It is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the City and County of San Francisco. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect when you use this website, take the text-message orientation, or visit the pop-up field office, how we use it, and the choices you have — including your rights under California law.

Information we collect

Contact form. If you write to us through the form on this site, we collect the name, email address, and message you provide.
Text-message orientation. If you text the Project, we (and our text-messaging provider) receive your mobile phone number and the content and timing of the messages you send and receive.
Pop-up field office. If you visit in person, you may choose to give us information as part of the "Civic Welcome Registry" and the Department's intake questions (for example, your name and your answers). Providing this is voluntary and is part of the artwork.
Basic technical data. Like most websites, our host may automatically log limited technical information (such as IP address and browser type) to keep the site secure and running.

How we use information

To deliver the text-message orientation and respond to messages you send.
To reply to inquiries you submit through the contact form.
To operate, document, and improve the Project and the pop-up field office.

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

Text messaging

By texting the Project, you consent to receive automated and manual text messages related to the orientation. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP, and reply HELP for help. We do not share mobile information with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

How information is shared

We share information only with service providers that help us run the Project — for example, our website host and form processor (Netlify) and our text-messaging provider — and only so they can perform those services for us. We may also disclose information if required by law. We do not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Data retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above and for the run of the 2026 Future of Us Festival, after which we delete or anonymize it. You may ask us to delete your information sooner (see below).

Your California privacy rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), gives you the right to:

Know what personal information we have collected about you and how we use it;
Request a copy of that information;
Request that we correct or delete it;
Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information (we do not sell or share); and
Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.

To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will verify your request before acting on it, as required by law.

Children

The Project is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Security

We use reasonable measures to protect personal information, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Effective" date above shows when it was last revised.

Contact

BENEATH THE SIDEWALK, LLC — for privacy questions or requests, write to us at saramakesamess@gmail.com or use the contact form on this site.

The San Francisco Welcome Department is a fictional, speculative agency. References to a "registry," "credential," or "intake" describe an art project, not official government records or services.