Privacy policy - CommonCTRL

Last updated October 6, 2026.

CommonCTRL is software run by Third Polar Arch (Boston, MA) to operate Boston Common LIVE, a 24/7 live skyline camera, and its website common.cold.fyi. It posts videos of the Boston skyline to accounts owned by Third Polar Arch on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, X and Pinterest.

YouTube API Services

CommonCTRL uses YouTube API Services to upload videos to, and manage, our own YouTube channel, and to show our own videos on our website. By using CommonCTRL or our website you are also subject to the YouTube Terms of Service. Google's handling of data is described in the Google Privacy Policy.

What it accesses

• Only accounts owned and connected by Third Polar Arch.
• The permissions needed to publish videos to those accounts and read basic information about them (channel or account ID, username, page name, our own videos' titles and our live stream's status and viewer count).

What it stores

• Access tokens for the connected accounts, stored on our own computer, never shared or sold.
• Information about our own channel's videos and live stream (video IDs, titles, view and viewer counts), kept privately for our own operations. It is refreshed while access is authorized (live viewer counts every few minutes while live, video titles weekly) and is never shown publicly as combined or calculated statistics.
• No personal data about viewers or other users is collected, stored or processed. Our website sets no tracking cookies.

The camera

The camera shows a wide public view of Boston Common and the skyline. It records no audio. Footage is used for the live stream, timelapses and short videos.

Deleting data and revoking access

Access can be revoked at any time from Google security settings (or the matching page of the other platforms). When access is revoked, the stored tokens and the YouTube data above are deleted within 7 days. Requests: hello@thirdpolararch.com.

Third Polar Arch privacy policy

The Third Polar Arch Privacy Policy also applies and is incorporated into this policy by reference. Where the two differ on CommonCTRL, Boston Common LIVE or YouTube data, this policy controls.

Contact

Third Polar Arch - hello@thirdpolararch.com - https://thirdpolararch.com