Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to PoultryCo ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our professional networking platform for the poultry industry, available at www.poultryco.net (the "Platform"), including our mobile applications.

By using PoultryCo, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us:

• Account Information: Full name, email address, password, phone number
• Profile Information: Professional headline, bio, location (city, state, country), profile photo, cover photo, website links
• Professional Roles: Your roles in the poultry industry (farmer, veterinarian, nutritionist, supplier, consultant, etc.), experience level, specializations
• Business Information: Business name, description, type, size, products/services, team members, verification documents
• Organization Information: Organization name, type, member information, event details
• Content: Posts, comments, messages, photos, videos, and other content you create or share on the Platform
• Communications: Information you provide when you contact us for support, feedback, or inquiries

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Platform, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent on the Platform, search queries, connections made
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, unique device identifiers, IP address
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (not precise GPS location unless you explicitly enable it)
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: Session cookies, preference cookies, analytics cookies (see Section 6)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Social Authentication: If you sign up or log in using Google or other OAuth providers, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo as permitted by your settings
• Business Verification Services: Information to verify business credentials and authenticity
• Other Users: Information about you from other users, such as when they tag you, mention you, or add you to their network

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Provide and Improve Services

• Create and manage your account
• Enable you to create professional profiles and connect with other poultry professionals
• Facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and business opportunities
• Display your profile to other users based on search and discovery features
• Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
• Analyze usage patterns to improve Platform features and user experience

2.2 Communication

• Send you service-related notifications (account activity, security alerts)
• Send you platform updates, new features, and community highlights
• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests
• Send marketing communications (you can opt-out anytime)

2.3 Safety and Security

• Verify identities and prevent fraud
• Detect and prevent spam, abuse, and other harmful activities
• Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Protect the rights, property, and safety of PoultryCo, our users, and the public

2.4 Legal Compliance

• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests
• Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims

2.5 Research and Analytics

• Analyze aggregate user behavior to understand industry trends
• Conduct research to improve the poultry industry ecosystem
• Create anonymized, aggregated statistics about Platform usage

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Public Information

By default, certain information on your profile is public and visible to all users:

• Your name, profile photo, headline, and location (city/country)
• Your professional roles and public posts
• Your business and organization affiliations (if public)
• Your connections (if you choose to make them public)

You can control the visibility of certain information in your privacy settings.

3.2 With Your Connections

Information you share with your network (posts, updates, messages) is visible to your connections based on your privacy settings.

3.3 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the Platform:

• Supabase: Database, authentication, and file storage services
• CDN Providers: Content delivery for images and media
• Analytics Services: Google Analytics and similar tools to understand Platform usage
• Email Services: Transactional and marketing email delivery
• Payment Processors: If you make purchases (future feature)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

3.4 Business Transfers

If PoultryCo is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

3.5 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
• Requests from government authorities
• Emergencies involving potential harm to persons or property
• Violations of our Terms of Service or policies

3.6 Aggregated Data

We may share aggregated, anonymized data that does not identify you personally with researchers, partners, or the public to advance the poultry industry.

4. Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it:

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using SSL/TLS and at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Authentication: Secure password hashing and optional two-factor authentication
• Infrastructure: Hosted on secure, SOC 2 compliant infrastructure (Supabase/Vercel)
• Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and updates
• Incident Response: Procedures in place to respond to security breaches

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. You can request deletion of your account at any time.

Upon account deletion:

• Your profile and personal information will be permanently deleted within 30 days
• Your public posts may remain visible but will be anonymized
• Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days for disaster recovery purposes
• We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., preventing fraud, resolving disputes)

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

6.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services.

6.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Platform to function (authentication, security)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use the Platform (Google Analytics)
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (if applicable)

6.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that blocking essential cookies may affect Platform functionality.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Portability

You can access and download your personal information from your account settings. We will provide your data in a structured, commonly used format.

7.2 Correction and Updates

You can update your profile information, preferences, and settings at any time through your account.

7.3 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and personal information. Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account, or contact us at privacy@poultryco.net.

7.4 Marketing Communications

You can opt-out of marketing emails by clicking "Unsubscribe" in any email or updating your email preferences in your account settings. You will still receive essential service notifications.

7.5 Privacy Settings

Control who can see your profile information, posts, and connections through your privacy settings.

7.6 Do Not Track

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. Our Platform does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals.

8. Children's Privacy

PoultryCo is designed for professional use and is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we discover that we have collected information from a child under 16, we will delete it immediately.

If you believe we have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us at privacy@poultryco.net.

9. International Data Transfers

PoultryCo operates globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States and countries where our service providers operate.

These countries may have different data protection laws than your country. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

9.1 European Economic Area (EEA)

If you are in the EEA, we comply with GDPR requirements. You have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to object to processing and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time 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 this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)
• Displaying a prominent notice on the Platform

Your continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

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

13. Data Protection Officer

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), you can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@poultryco.net for questions about data protection and privacy.