Privacy Policy

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, password, and profile information
• Profile Data: Professional skills, portfolio samples, work history, education, and certifications
• Payment Information: Billing address, payment method details (processed securely by our payment partners)
• Communications: Messages sent through our platform, customer support interactions, and feedback
• Identity Verification: Government-issued ID, business registration documents, and tax information
• Project Information: Project descriptions, requirements, deliverables, and related files

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on platform, and user interactions
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and mobile carrier
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (not precise location)
• Cookies and Tracking: Session data, preferences, and analytics information
• Log Data: Server logs, error reports, and security events

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide Services: Enable account creation, profile management, and marketplace functionality
• Facilitate Transactions: Process payments, manage escrow, and handle dispute resolution
• Verify Identity: Confirm user identity and prevent fraud or abuse
• Improve Platform: Analyze usage patterns to enhance features and user experience
• Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and provide assistance
• Safety & Security: Monitor for suspicious activity and enforce our terms of service
• Marketing Communications: Send relevant updates, promotions, and educational content (with consent)
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

We share certain information to facilitate marketplace transactions:

• Public profile information (name, skills, portfolio, reviews)
• Communication related to specific projects
• Work history and performance metrics

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform:

• Payment Processors: To handle transactions and financial services
• Cloud Hosting: To store and process data securely
• Analytics Services: To understand platform usage and improve services
• Customer Support: To provide help desk and communication services
• Identity Verification: To confirm user identities and prevent fraud

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of FlexSkillMarket, users, or others
• Investigate potential violations of our terms of service
• Prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activities

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and penetration testing
• Secure Infrastructure: Protected servers and databases with 24/7 monitoring
• Employee Training: Regular privacy and security training for all staff
• Incident Response: Rapid response procedures for any security incidents

• Access: View and download your personal information
• Update: Modify your profile and account settings
• Delete: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format

• Marketing Emails: Opt out of promotional communications
• Push Notifications: Control mobile app notifications
• Essential Communications: Some service-related messages cannot be disabled

If you are located in the European Union, California, or other jurisdictions with specific privacy laws, you may have additional rights including:

• Right to object to processing
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to lodge a complaint with supervisory authorities
• Right to withdraw consent

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Essential Cookies: Enable core platform functionality
• Performance Cookies: Analyze how users interact with our services
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Advertising Cookies: Deliver relevant advertisements (with consent)

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling certain cookies may limit platform functionality.

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and maintain your account
• Comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements and protect against fraud
• Improve our services and conduct analytics

When you delete your account, we will remove or anonymize your personal information, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure adequate protection through:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities
• Adequacy decisions for data transfers to certain countries
• Appropriate safeguards and security measures
• Regular monitoring of data protection practices

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16 (or the minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will:

• Post the updated policy on our website
• Update the "Last updated" date
• Notify you via email or platform notification for material changes
• Provide a reasonable notice period before changes take effect