Your Privacy is Protected
We comply with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and international privacy standards to ensure your personal information is safe and secure.
Table of Contents
1. Overview
At Smartech Shopping ("we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.
This policy applies to all users of our website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). By using our Platform, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.
Key Principles
We operate under the principles of transparency, data minimization, purpose limitation, and user control. We only collect information necessary for our services and give you control over your data.
2. Information We Collect
We collect different types of information to provide and improve our services:
Personal Information
- Name and email address
- Phone number (optional)
- Account preferences
- Communication preferences
Usage Information
- Pages visited and time spent
- Products viewed and searched
- Shopping lists created
- Features used
Technical Information
- IP address and location
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- Operating system
Shopping Data
- Price comparison history
- Product preferences
- Shopping list contents
- Retailer preferences
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
Service Provision
- Provide price comparison services
- Maintain and improve our platform
- Process and manage your account
- Enable shopping list functionality
Communication
- Send service-related communications
- Respond to your inquiries and support requests
- Send promotional materials (with consent)
- Notify you of platform updates
Analytics and Improvement
- Analyze platform usage patterns
- Improve our algorithms and services
- Conduct research and development
- Ensure platform security and prevent fraud
4. Information Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
We Never Sell Your Data
Your personal information is not for sale. We are committed to maintaining your trust by never selling, renting, or trading your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
When We May Share Information:
- Service Providers: Trusted third-party companies that help us operate our platform
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
- Consent: When you explicitly consent to sharing
- Aggregated Data: Anonymous, aggregated statistics that cannot identify individuals
5. Data Security
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:
Technical Safeguards
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Encrypted data storage
- Regular security audits and monitoring
- Secure server infrastructure
Administrative Safeguards
- Limited access to personal information
- Employee privacy training
- Regular security policy reviews
- Incident response procedures
Security Breach Protocol
In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will notify affected users and relevant authorities within 72 hours as required by POPIA, along with steps we're taking to address the situation.
6. Your Rights
Under POPIA and our privacy principles, you have the following rights:
Access
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Correction
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
Deletion
Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances
Restriction
Request restriction of processing your personal information
Portability
Request a copy of your data in a portable format
Objection
Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our privacy team using the contact information below.
7. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our platform:
Types of Cookies We Use:
- Essential Cookies: Required for basic platform functionality
- Performance Cookies: Help us analyze how you use our platform
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
- Marketing Cookies: Used for personalized advertising (with consent)
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool.
8. Third-Party Services
Our platform integrates with various third-party services to provide you with comprehensive price comparison:
- Retailer APIs: We connect to retailer systems to obtain current pricing
- Analytics Services: Help us understand platform usage and performance
- Payment Processors: Handle secure payment processing for premium features
- Communication Services: Enable us to send emails and notifications
These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.
9. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:
- Account Information: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after closure
- Usage Data: Typically retained for 3 years for analytics and improvement purposes
- Shopping Lists: Retained while active and for 1 year after last access
- Communication Records: Retained for 5 years for customer service purposes
You can request earlier deletion of your data by contacting our privacy team.
10. International Data Transfers
Your personal information is primarily processed and stored in South Africa. In some cases, we may transfer data to other countries for processing by our service providers.
When we do transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
- Adequacy decisions by relevant authorities
- Standard contractual clauses
- Privacy shield frameworks where applicable
- Other legally recognized transfer mechanisms
11. Children's Privacy
Our platform is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete such information.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.
We will notify you of any material changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on our platform
- Updating the "Last updated" date
- Sending an email notification for significant changes
- Displaying a prominent notice on our platform
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Privacy Team Contact Information
- Email: privacy@smartechshopping.co.za
- Phone: +27 (0) 11 123 4567
- Address: Privacy Officer, Smartech Shopping, 123 Innovation Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
- Response Time: We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 48 hours
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe we have not handled your personal information in accordance with POPIA.