At ArtisansConnect, your privacy is our priority. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our platform, website, and services. By using ArtisansConnect, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Personal Information You Provide
When you register for an account, we collect personal information including but not limited to:
- Full Name – for identification and communication
- Email Address – for account verification, notifications, and password recovery
- Phone Number – for customer support and job coordination
- Physical Address – to match you with local artisans or customers
- User Type – whether you are a customer or an artisan
- Service Category & Specialization (for artisans) – to match you with relevant jobs
- Years of Experience & Bio (for artisans) – to build your professional profile
- Passport Photo – for profile identification
- KYC Documents (for artisans) – ID type, ID number, and uploaded ID document for verification
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you use our platform, we automatically collect certain technical information:
- IP Address – to approximate your location and for security purposes
- Browser Type and Version – to optimize platform performance
- Device Information – to ensure mobile compatibility
- Pages Visited and Time Spent – to improve user experience
- Search Queries – to understand user needs and improve search features
- Cookies and Similar Technologies – to remember preferences and track usage patterns
1.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from third parties, such as:
- Payment Processors – to confirm subscription payments (we do not store full payment card details)
- Social Media Platforms – if you choose to log in via social media accounts
- Referral Partners – if you were referred to our platform
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- Account Management – to create, maintain, and secure your account
- Service Delivery – to enable customers to post jobs and artisans to submit bids
- Communication – to send job updates, bid notifications, and important platform announcements
- Customer Support – to respond to your inquiries and resolve disputes
- Payment Processing – to manage artisan subscriptions and referral payouts
- Platform Improvement – to analyze usage patterns and enhance user experience
- Fraud Prevention and Security – to detect and prevent fraudulent activities
- Legal Compliance – to comply with applicable laws and regulations
- Marketing Communications – with your consent, we may send promotional emails about platform updates and offers
3. Legal Basis for Processing (for GDPR compliance)
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), our legal basis for collecting and using your personal information depends on the specific context. Generally, we rely on:
- Contractual Necessity – to perform our contract with you (e.g., providing our services)
- Legitimate Interests – to improve our platform, prevent fraud, and market our services
- Legal Obligation – to comply with applicable laws
- Consent – for marketing communications and optional data collection
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- With Other Users – Your profile information (name, service category, rating) is visible to customers when you bid. Job details are visible to artisans who browse available jobs.
- Service Providers – We engage third-party vendors for hosting, payment processing, email delivery, analytics, and customer support. These providers only receive information necessary to perform their functions and are bound by confidentiality agreements.
- Legal Requirements – We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request.
- Business Transfers – In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new owner.
- With Your Consent – We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:
- Encryption – SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Access Controls – Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
- Regular Security Audits – We review our security practices regularly
- Secure Storage – Passwords are hashed using bcrypt; sensitive documents are stored with restricted access
However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with services. After account closure, we may retain certain information for:
- Legal Compliance – To comply with tax, accounting, or legal record-keeping requirements (typically 5–7 years)
- Fraud Prevention – To investigate and prevent fraudulent activities
- Dispute Resolution – To resolve disputes with customers or artisans
- Legitimate Business Interests – For analytics and platform improvement (anonymized where possible)
7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
- Access and Correction – You can review and update your personal information through your account settings
- Data Portability – You may request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Account Deletion – You may request account deletion by contacting support (some information may be retained for legal purposes)
- Opt-out of Marketing – You can unsubscribe from promotional emails using the link in the email or by updating your preferences
- Cookie Preferences – You can set your browser to refuse cookies, but some platform features may not work properly
- Restrict Processing – You may request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@artisansconnect.com. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Remember Your Preferences – Language, login status, and display settings
- Analyze Platform Usage – Understand how users interact with our platform to improve features
- Prevent Fraud – Detect suspicious activities
- Serve Relevant Content – Show personalized job recommendations (future feature)
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for platform functionality.
9. Third-Party Links
Our platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., payment gateways, social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
10. Children's Privacy
ArtisansConnect is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a user under 18, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
11. International Data Transfers
Our servers are located in Nigeria. If you access our platform from outside Nigeria, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in Nigeria. By using our platform, you consent to this transfer. We will take reasonable steps to ensure your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by:
- Posting a prominent notice on our platform
- Sending an email to the address associated with your account
- Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
Your continued use of the platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.