Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Gigalt ("we," "us," "our"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our donation-based freelance marketplace platform.

By using Gigalt, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Create an Account: Name, email address, username, password, profile photo, bio, and user type (buyer, volunteer, or both)
• Complete Your Profile: Skills, experience, portfolio samples, location, and other professional information
• Create Services: Service descriptions, pricing information, images, delivery times, and requirements
• Make Transactions: Payment information (processed securely by third-party providers), bank account details for withdrawals
• Communicate: Messages sent through our platform, reviews, ratings, and feedback
• Contact Support: Information provided in support tickets, emails, or other communications

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use Gigalt, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on pages, search queries, and interaction patterns
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and unique device identifiers
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (not precise GPS location)
• Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies to track activity and improve your experience

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Payment Processors: Transaction details and payment verification
• Social Media: If you connect your social media accounts (with your permission)
• Other Users: Reviews, ratings, and reports about your activity

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing and Improving Our Services

• Create and manage your account
• Process transactions and donations
• Enable communication between buyers and volunteers
• Display your profile and services to other users
• Provide customer support
• Improve our platform features and functionality
• Personalize your experience

3.2 Safety and Security

• Verify your identity
• Prevent fraud and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Resolve disputes and investigate complaints
• Protect the rights and safety of our users

3.3 Communication

• Send you service-related notifications
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Send promotional emails (you can opt-out anytime)
• Notify you about platform updates and changes

3.4 Analytics and Research

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Conduct research to improve our services
• Generate aggregated, anonymized statistics
• Measure the effectiveness of our marketing

4. How We Share Your Information

We share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Public Information

Certain information is publicly visible to all users:

• Your profile (name, photo, bio, location)
• Your services and portfolios
• Reviews and ratings you receive
• Gratitude points and completion statistics

4.2 With Other Users

When you interact with other users:

• Buyers can see volunteer profiles and service details
• Volunteers can see buyer information for orders
• Messages are shared between parties in transactions

4.3 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our platform:

• Payment Processors: To process transactions securely
• Cloud Hosting: To store data and host our services
• Email Services: To send notifications and communications
• Analytics Tools: To understand usage and improve our platform

These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and can only use your information for specified purposes.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe it's necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations or court orders
• Protect our rights and property
• Prevent fraud or illegal activity
• Protect the safety of our users or the public

4.5 Business Transfers

If Gigalt is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures:

• Encryption: We use SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure Storage: Data is stored on secure servers with access controls
• Password Protection: Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text
• Regular Audits: We conduct security assessments and updates
• Limited Access: Only authorized personnel can access sensitive data

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy:

• Active Accounts: Information is retained while your account is active
• Deleted Accounts: Most data is deleted within 30 days of account deletion
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer to comply with legal obligations
• Dispute Resolution: Transaction records may be kept for dispute resolution purposes
• Anonymized Data: Aggregated, anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for analytics

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Correction

You can access and update your information at any time through your account settings. If you need help, contact us at hello@gigalt.com.

7.2 Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time from your Settings page. Please note that some information may be retained as described in the Data Retention section.

7.3 Marketing Communications

You can opt-out of promotional emails by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email
• Adjusting your notification preferences in account settings

Note: You cannot opt-out of service-related communications (e.g., order updates, security alerts).

7.4 Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our platform.

7.5 Do Not Track

Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. Currently, we do not respond to Do Not Track signals.

8. Children's Privacy

Gigalt is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at hello@gigalt.com, and we will delete such information from our systems.

9. International Data Transfers

Gigalt operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

By using Gigalt, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside of your residence, including countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Gigalt. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit or services you use.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons.

When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you via email or through a notice on our platform
• Give you the opportunity to review the changes before they take effect

Your continued use of Gigalt after changes are made constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

13. Your California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: You can request information about the personal data we collect, use, and share
• Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: You can opt-out of the sale of your personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us at hello@gigalt.com with "CCPA Request" in the subject line.

14. GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right of Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@gigalt.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.