Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide when using our Service, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, and password when you create an account
• Profile Information: Professional details such as skills, experience, portfolio links, GitHub profiles, resume, and work history
• Company Information: Company name, size, industry, hiring needs, and project requirements (for Clients)
• Payment Information: Billing address and payment method details (processed securely by our payment providers)
• Communications: Messages, support requests, and any other information you share with us or other users

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access our Service, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, and unique device identifiers
• Log Data: IP address, access times, pages viewed, referring URLs, and actions taken on the platform
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Usage Data: How you interact with our Service, including features used, time spent, and navigation patterns

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services you connect to your account (e.g., GitHub, LinkedIn), as well as from our partners and service providers to enhance our services and verify information you provide.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Create and manage your account
• Match Clients with suitable Engineers based on requirements and skills
• Process transactions and send related information
• Send administrative messages, updates, and security alerts
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Personalize your experience and deliver relevant content
• Analyze usage trends to improve our platform and develop new features
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
• Send marketing communications (with your consent, where required)

3. AI and Automated Decision-Making

Vetted uses AI and automated systems to enhance our services. This includes:

• Matching Algorithms: AI-powered matching to connect Clients with Engineers based on skills, experience, and project requirements
• Skill Assessment: Automated evaluation of technical skills during the vetting process
• Content Personalization: Tailoring job listings and recommendations to user preferences

You have the right to request human review of automated decisions that significantly affect you. Contact us at hello@vetted.dev to exercise this right.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Other Users

When you use the platform, certain information may be shared with other users as necessary for the Service to function (e.g., Engineer profiles visible to Clients, Client project details visible to matched Engineers).

4.2 With Service Providers

We share information with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors
• Cloud hosting providers
• Analytics services
• Customer support tools
• Email delivery services

4.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or government request, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, prevent fraud, or ensure user safety.

4.4 Business Transfers

If Vetted is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and your choices regarding your information.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information and improve our Service:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function properly (e.g., authentication, security)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our Service
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (with your consent)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication mechanisms
• Regular security assessments and audits
• Access controls limiting who can access personal data
• Employee training on data protection practices

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

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it. Specific retention periods vary based on the type of data and applicable legal requirements.

8. Your Rights and Choices

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your personal information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@vetted.dev. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. When we transfer data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information, including standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. California Privacy Rights

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

• The right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• The right to delete personal information held by businesses
• The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA.

13. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

• The rights listed in Section 8 above
• The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
• The right to object to processing based on legitimate interests

Our legal bases for processing include: performance of a contract, legitimate interests, compliance with legal obligations, and consent (where applicable).

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and notify you through appropriate channels (such as email or a notice on our website). We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.