Camera Policy
How Pipe Home handles camera (Tuya) data — recording, storage, encryption, access control.
Last updated: 2026-04-27
This document supplements the Privacy Policy, focusing on video data from cameras you connect through Pipe Home (via the Tuya integration).
1. Scope
This applies when you:
- Link your Tuya account with the Pipe Home app
- Add a Tuya / Smart Life-compatible camera to your home
- Use live view, playback, or motion alerts through the app
It does not apply to cameras from other brands that you view through that brand’s own app (outside Pipe Home).
2. How cameras record
Depending on your settings:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Continuous | Always recording, ring-buffer storage |
| Motion-triggered | Records only when motion is detected |
| Manual / Event | Records only when you tap in the app or trigger from an automation |
You have full control to change the mode in the app’s camera settings.
3. Where video is stored
Tuya cameras support two storage targets:
3.1. SD card in the camera
- Video is stored locally on the SD card you insert
- Pipe Home cannot access this data; only the camera itself + you (via the app) see it
- Lifecycle: the card overwrites when full
3.2. Tuya Cloud (paid plan)
If you subscribe to a Tuya Cloud Storage plan:
- Video is uploaded to Tuya cloud
- Encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES) — per Tuya’s commitments
- Region: the Tuya data center you selected when creating your Tuya account (Asia – China or India)
- This is not Pipe Home data — we only act as a viewing bridge; we do not store the video ourselves
⚠ Important: your use of Tuya Cloud Storage is governed by Tuya’s Privacy Policy. Please read it carefully.
4. Who can view video
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| You (account owner) | Full: live view, playback, download |
| Home members (you invited) | Per the permission you grant (view / no view) |
| Pipe Home (us) | No access. We cannot view your video feeds. |
| Tuya | Per Tuya’s terms — only as needed to operate the cloud service; does not view content |
When required by law (lawful requests from competent authorities), Tuya or we may have to provide data — limited to the minimum necessary.
5. Encryption
- In transit: TLS 1.2+ between camera ↔ Tuya cloud, app ↔ Tuya cloud, app ↔ Pipe Home backend
- At rest (Tuya cloud): AES per Tuya’s standards
- On SD card: depends on the camera — most Tuya cameras do not encrypt the SD card by default. Set a PIN on the camera and physically secure the card if this matters to you.
6. Retention
| Type | Retention |
|---|---|
| SD card | Lifecycle (overwrites when full) |
| Tuya Cloud (7-day plan) | 7 days |
| Tuya Cloud (30-day plan) | 30 days |
| Motion-alert snapshots | 30 days on Tuya cloud |
| Clips you download to your device | You manage these yourself |
7. Your responsibility — legal compliance
When placing a camera, you are responsible for complying with Vietnamese law, in particular:
- Decree 13/2023/NĐ-CP on personal data protection — you must obtain consent from people who will appear in the frame (except for narrow exceptions such as internal security)
- Civil Code 2015 Article 32 — the right of the individual to their image
- Public areas — you may not record where it would invade others’ privacy (bathrooms, changing rooms, neighbors’ private spaces…)
⚠ Pipe Home is not responsible for cameras placed in unlawful locations. If we receive a substantiated complaint, we may temporarily suspend the account while we investigate.
Practical recommendations:
- Post “Camera in use” signs where appropriate
- Inform guests / household staff
- Avoid pointing cameras at public roads or neighbors’ homes
- Periodically review who has shared access
8. Deleting camera data
- Unlink the camera: in the Pipe Home app → tap the camera → Delete device. This unbinds the camera from your Tuya account.
- Delete cloud video: in the Tuya app, open the video timeline → delete clips individually or all at once
- Delete SD card video: format the card via the camera’s app, or remove and format externally
When you delete your Pipe Home account, the link to Tuya is revoked, but video already stored on Tuya cloud is not automatically deleted — you must delete it separately in your Tuya account or delete the Tuya account itself.
9. Contact
- Legal email: legal@mpipe.org
- Camera content complaints: legal@mpipe.org — we commit to respond within 3 business days
Effective date: 2026-04-27