Privacy Policy
Last updated: 1 January 2025
At FoundIt, your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in compliance with the **Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)** of South Africa.
1. Information We Collect
Mandatory Information
To create an account on FoundIt, we require:
- Email Address: Used for account creation and communication.
You may provide additional information to enhance your profile. This information is stored securely and includes:
- Student Number
- Hometown
- Profile Picture
- Full Name
- Program of Study
- Year of Study
- Short Bio
- Interests
- Preferred Pronouns
- Social Links
- Language Preference
- Location
- Roles
- Academic Interests
- Skills
- Achievements
- Phone Number
When you use FoundIt, we may automatically collect:
- IP Address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system details
- Usage data (e.g., pages visited, time spent on the platform)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide and improve our services.
- Verify your identity as a user.
- Personalize your experience on the platform.
- Communicate updates, changes, or promotional offers.
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
3. Sharing of Information
Your personal information will not be sold or shared with third parties except:
- To comply with legal obligations under South African law.
- To protect the rights, property, or safety of FoundIt, our users, or the public.
- When required to process payments or verify your account through trusted third-party services.
- As part of the normal course of business operations, including but not limited to partnerships, service improvements, and platform enhancements, provided such sharing aligns with applicable data protection laws and our Privacy Policy.
4. Your Rights
In accordance with POPIA, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you.
- Request the correction or deletion of your personal information.
- Withdraw consent for the processing of optional personal information.
- Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
5. Security Measures
FoundIt implements robust security measures to protect your personal information, including encryption, firewalls, and secure servers. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials.
6. Cookies and Tracking
FoundIt uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze usage, and improve services. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may limit certain functionalities of the platform.
7. Changes to This Privacy Policy
FoundIt reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices or comply with legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes via email or on the platform. The effective date of the current policy is displayed at the top of this document.
8. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about this Privacy Policy, contact us at:
Email: admin@getfoundit.app
Thank you for trusting FoundIt. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing a secure platform for your needs.