Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, company information, and business details when you create an account or contact us.
• Profile Information: Information about your business preferences, industry, and specific needs you share with us.
• Communication Data: Messages, inquiries, feedback, and correspondence you send through our platform or directly to our team.
• Payment Information: Billing address, payment method details (processed through secure third-party payment processors).
• Documentation: Any documents, files, or materials you upload to our platform.

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information about your interaction with our platform:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, and unique device identifiers.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on our platform, clicks, and navigation patterns.
• Location Data: General geographic location information derived from IP address (country/region level).
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Session identifiers, preferences, and analytics data through cookies and similar technologies.
• Performance Data: Information about platform performance, errors, and technical issues you encounter.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: Creating and maintaining your account, delivering our AI-powered matching and business networking services.
• Personalization: Tailoring recommendations, business matches, and platform features to your specific needs and preferences.
• Communication: Sending service-related announcements, updates, customer support responses, and transactional emails.
• Marketing: With your consent, sending promotional materials, newsletters, and information about new features or services.
• Analytics and Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to improve platform functionality, user experience, and develop new features.
• Security and Compliance: Detecting fraud, preventing unauthorized access, enforcing our terms of service, and complying with legal obligations.
• Business Intelligence: Generating aggregated, anonymized insights about market trends and platform usage patterns.
• Customer Support: Responding to inquiries, troubleshooting issues, and providing technical assistance.

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 With Matched Businesses

Core to our service, we share relevant profile information and business details with matched business partners to facilitate connections and collaborations. The information shared is limited to what is necessary for the business relationship and is controlled by your privacy preferences.

3.2 Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform and providing services, including:

• Cloud hosting and storage providers
• Payment processors and financial institutions
• Analytics and data analysis providers
• Email and communication service providers
• Customer support and CRM platforms
• Marketing and analytics tools

These providers are contractually bound to use your information only for the purposes we specify and to maintain its confidentiality.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or court orders
• Protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• Protect against fraudulent, malicious, or illegal activity
• Enforce our terms of service and other agreements
• Respond to lawful requests from government authorities

3.4 Business Transfers

If Qantara AI is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, dissolution, reorganization, or similar transaction or proceeding, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

4. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Retention periods vary depending on the context and our legal obligations:

• Account Information: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward (typically 1-2 years) for legal and business purposes.
• Usage and Analytics Data: Generally retained for 12-24 months for analytics and service improvement purposes.
• Communication Records: Retained in accordance with legal requirements and our business practices.
• Payment Records: Retained as required by tax and accounting regulations (typically 7 years).

You may request deletion of certain personal information subject to legal and operational requirements. Some information may be retained in anonymized form for analytics purposes.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and, in certain jurisdictions, to receive a copy in a portable format.

5.2 Correction and Updates

You have the right to correct, update, or modify your personal information. You can manage your account settings directly through our platform or contact us for assistance.

5.3 Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal and operational exceptions. We will honor deletion requests where feasible while maintaining necessary records for legal and business purposes.

5.4 Marketing Communications

You have the right to opt out of promotional emails and marketing communications at any time. You can manage your communication preferences through your account settings or by clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional email.

5.5 Cookie Preferences

You have the right to control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our platform.

6. Data Security

We implement comprehensive technical, administrative, and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication mechanisms and password protection
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls limiting data exposure to authorized personnel
• Incident response procedures for security breaches
• Employee training on data protection and security practices

However, no security system is impenetrable. While we strive to protect your information using reasonable security measures, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You acknowledge that your use of our platform is at your own risk.

7. International Data Transfers

Qantara AI operates globally, and your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including countries that may not have the same data protection laws. By using our platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence.

When we transfer personal information internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards, including standard contractual clauses, adequacy decisions, and your explicit consent where required by applicable law. For users in the European Union and other jurisdictions with specific data transfer requirements, we maintain compliance through legally binding mechanisms.

8. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for and we do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete such information promptly.

If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at the information provided in the Contact Us section.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not operated by Qantara AI. This Privacy Policy applies only to our platform. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services before providing your information to them.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our platform after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

11. Contact Us

12. Specific Regional Rights

12.1 Qatar

As a Qatari-registered company, Qantara AI complies with applicable Qatari laws and regulations governing data protection and privacy. Users in Qatar have rights under Qatari law, including the right to access, correct, and delete their personal information. For inquiries specific to Qatari data protection requirements, please contact us using the information provided above.

12.2 GDPR (European Union Users)

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

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions (the "right to be forgotten").
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your personal data.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: You can object to our processing of your personal data for marketing or other purposes.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by the GDPR.

12.3 CCPA (California Users)

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

• Right to Know: You can request what personal information we have collected, used, shared, or sold about you.
• Right to Delete: You can request deletion of personal information collected from you (subject to certain exceptions).
• Right to Opt-Out: You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
• Right to Correct: You can request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Limit Use: You can request that we limit our use of your personal information to the purposes necessary to provide the services you requested.

To submit a verifiable consumer request under the CCPA, please contact us using the information provided. We will verify your identity and respond to your request within the timeframe required by the CCPA.