Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Data Type	Purpose	Retention
Account Information Name, email, phone	Account creation, communication	Until account deletion
Student Information University, course, year	Academic verification, personalization	Until account deletion
Transaction Data Payment records, purchases	Order fulfillment, dispute resolution	5 years (legal requirement)
Content Uploaded documents, listings, AI features	Service provision, library content	Until you delete or account termination
Communications Messages, support tickets	Customer support, dispute resolution	2 years

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, clicks, search queries
Cookies: Session cookies, preference cookies, analytics cookies
Location Data: Approximate location (city/country based on IP)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

Provide Services: Create accounts, process transactions, enable marketplace and library features
Improve Platform: Analyze usage patterns, fix bugs, develop new features
Communicate: Send transaction confirmations, respond to support requests, provide updates
Security: Detect fraud, prevent abuse, enforce our terms
Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations
Personalization: Recommend relevant content and products

We DO NOT: Sell your personal information, share with advertisers, or use for marketing without consent.

3. Information Sharing

We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

With Other Users: When you make a transaction, sellers see your name and contact information
Service Providers: Payment processors (we do not store credit card data), hosting services
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request
Protection of Rights: To enforce our terms, protect safety, or prevent fraud

Note: We never share your email, phone, or financial information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. By using our platform, you consent to our use of cookies.

Cookie Type	Purpose	Duration
Essential Cookies	Authentication, security, session management	Session / 30 days
Preference Cookies	Language, theme, saved filters	1 year
Analytics Cookies	Usage statistics, performance improvement	2 years

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

Encryption: 256-bit SSL/TLS for all data in transit
Passwords: Hashed using bcrypt (industry standard)
Access Control: Strict internal access policies
Monitoring: 24/7 security monitoring and threat detection
Backups: Daily encrypted backups stored securely

Your account security is your responsibility. Use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication if available.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

Right to Access

Request a copy of your personal data

Right to Rectification

Correct inaccurate information

Right to Erasure

Request deletion of your data

Data Portability

Receive your data in a portable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@studyshare.online. We will respond within 30 days.

7. International Data Transfers

We primarily host data in Kenya. If you access our platform from outside Kenya, your information may be transferred to and processed in Kenya. By using our platform, you consent to this transfer.

We comply with GDPR requirements for transfers from the European Economic Area through standard contractual clauses.

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

Account information: Until you delete your account
Communication logs: 2 years
Analytics data: 2 years (aggregated and anonymized)

9. Children's Privacy

Our platform is intended for users 13 years and older with parental consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

Posting a notice on our website
Sending an email notification (for registered users)
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Our Data Protection Officer

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

Data Protection Officer

StudyShare Plus

info@studyshare.online

Nairobi, Kenya