Frequently Asked Questions
Legality, privacy, GDPR — everything you need to know
How it works
Is my original message visible?
No. Only the AI-transformed version is published. Your original message remains strictly confidential.
Does the AI change the meaning of my message?
No. The AI preserves all factual information (reported danger, technical issue, thanks). It only changes the tone to make it courteous and constructive.
How does the driver see my message?
The driver can search for their plate on PlateWave to view messages addressed to them. They can also follow their plate to receive notifications.
Is my identity protected?
Yes. Your email is never displayed publicly. Only your username is visible to other users.
Privacy & GDPR
Is it legal to associate a message with a license plate?
We believe the processing of license plates can be based on legitimate interest (Article 6.1.f of the GDPR), a legal basis also used by parking apps, road reporting systems and navigation platforms. PlateWave does not collect any data on drivers. As this is a legitimate question, we have proactively contacted the Data Protection Authority (DPA) to submit our platform for review. We are awaiting their response and are committed to complying with their recommendations.
Can PlateWave identify the driver of a vehicle?
No. PlateWave has no access to vehicle registries and does not collect any name, address, or information about the driver. The plate is used solely as a vehicle identifier, not a person identifier.
I'm not registered but my plate appears. What are my rights?
You have a free right to object (Article 21 of the GDPR). You can request to block your plate at any time via our dedicated page or by email to optout@platewave.be. Upon blocking, all existing messages are automatically deleted and no new message can be sent.
What happens to my original message after AI transformation?
Your original message is never displayed publicly. Only the courteous version is visible. The original is kept solely for moderation purposes and cooperation with authorities when necessary.
Can PlateWave be used to harass someone?
We have strict measures to prevent this: each user is limited to 2 messages per plate, the AI transforms every message into courteous wording, an automatic 4-level moderation system detects and hides problematic content, and any user can be reported and banned.
Is my data sold or shared?
No, never. No personal data is sold or shared with third parties for commercial purposes. The only third-party services used are Google reCAPTCHA (security), OpenAI (message transformation, with no personal data transmitted) and Google Analytics (only after your consent).
How do I delete my account and data?
You can delete your account at any time from the app settings or by contacting our support. Deletion results in complete anonymization of all your personal data (email, username, tokens, subscriptions).
How does PlateWave moderate messages?
Each message goes through two filters: first the AI transformation (which rephrases into courteous language, rejects vulgar or off-topic content, and automatically removes precise location and time information), then an automatic moderation system that evaluates content on a risk scale. At-risk content is hidden and flagged to our team.
Does PlateWave use cookies?
PlateWave uses essential technical cookies (session, authentication) that do not require consent. Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) are only activated after your explicit consent via the cookie banner. No advertising cookies are used.
Where is my data hosted?
Your data is hosted in France (o2switch, Clermont-Ferrand). AI message transformation goes through OpenAI, covered by the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. No personally identifiable data is transmitted to OpenAI — only the message text.