Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

IVOTIA Inc. ("IVOTIA," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our marketplace platform at ivotia.com (the "Platform").

By using the Platform, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Phone number, email address, first and last name
• Profile Information: Profile photo, address, location, and biographical details
• Seller Information: Business name, service descriptions, pricing, portfolio, and KYC verification documents
• Transaction Data: Purchase history, order details, and payment information
• Communications: Messages exchanged with other users or our support team

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time of access, referring URLs
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address
• Cookies & Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyze usage patterns

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Payment processors (Paystack, M-Pesa, Pesapal) for transaction verification
• Identity verification services for KYC compliance
• Cloudflare for security and bot prevention

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Process transactions and send related notifications
• Verify your identity and prevent fraud
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Personalize your experience and show relevant content
• Improve the Platform's functionality and performance
• Send important updates about our services and policies
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• Analyze usage trends and measure the effectiveness of our features

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Necessary transaction information (e.g., shipping address shared with sellers to fulfill orders)
• Service Providers: Trusted third parties that help us operate the Platform (payment processors, cloud hosting, email services, analytics)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, or legal process
• Safety & Security: To protect the rights, property, or safety of IVOTIA, our users, or the public
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Secure authentication using OTP verification
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
• Bot prevention using Cloudflare Turnstile

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. We may retain certain information after account closure as required by law, for dispute resolution, or to enforce our agreements.

OTP codes are automatically deleted after expiry or successful verification. Transaction records are retained for the legally required period for financial compliance.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal obligations
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your personal data
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on your consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@ivotia.com. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Platform to function (authentication, security)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the Platform
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may impact Platform functionality.

9. Children's Privacy

IVOTIA is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected data from a child, we will promptly delete it.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on the Platform and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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