Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Ethel ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our compliance management platform and services.

By using Ethel, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this policy, please do not access or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide to us, including but not limited to:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Professional information (job title, employer, work history)
• Compliance documents and certifications
• Authentication credentials
• Communication preferences

Automatically Collected Information

When you use our services, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, features used, time spent on the platform)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our compliance management services
• Process and manage your compliance documents and certifications
• Send you notifications about document expiration and renewal requirements
• Communicate with you about your account and our services
• Ensure the security and integrity of our platform
• Comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries

4. WhatsApp Integration

Our platform integrates with WhatsApp Business API to provide convenient communication services. When you opt-in to WhatsApp communications:

• We will use your phone number solely for service-related communications
• Messages may include document reminders, expiration notifications, and important updates
• You can opt-out of WhatsApp communications at any time by sending "STOP" or through your account settings
• We do not share your WhatsApp contact information with third parties for marketing purposes
• All WhatsApp communications comply with Meta's Business Messaging Policy

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With your consent: We may share your information with your explicit consent
• Service providers: We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred
• Protection of rights: We may disclose information to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and audits
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Employee training on data protection and privacy
• Secure data storage with regular backups

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Compliance documents and certifications may be retained for the duration required by applicable regulations.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request access to your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request a copy of your information in a portable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your information
• Withdrawal of consent: Withdraw consent for processing where applicable

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

9. International Data Transfers

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

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. Updates 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 and updating the "Last updated" date.

12. Contact Us

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

13. Compliance with Meta Platform Policies

This platform complies with Meta's Platform Terms and WhatsApp Business API Terms of Service. We are committed to:

• Using WhatsApp Business API only for legitimate business communications
• Obtaining proper consent before sending messages
• Providing clear opt-out mechanisms
• Not sharing WhatsApp user data with unauthorized third parties
• Maintaining message quality and relevance standards