At Connect Namibia (“we”, “our”, “us”), we are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you visit our website https://connectnamibia.com or any related services we provide.

1. Who We Are

Connect Namibia is an online platform that connects freelancers with clients across Namibia. Our mission is to help freelancers showcase their skills, find work opportunities, and grow their careers in a trusted digital environment.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of data:

• Personal Information: such as your name, email address, contact number, and identification details during registration and verification.
• Account Information: including your username, password, and profile data.
• Transaction Information: if you make payments or receive funds through our platform.
• Technical Information: including IP address, browser type, operating system, and usage data to help us improve website performance and security.
• Content Data: such as comments, uploaded media, or portfolio items you post on the platform.

3. Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam.
An anonymized string created from your email address (hash) may be sent to the Gravatar service to check if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Once your comment is approved, your profile picture is visible to the public alongside your comment.

4. Media

If you upload images or files to the website, please avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may download and extract location data from images posted on the site.

5. Cookies

We use cookies to improve your browsing experience:

• If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to save your name, email, and website in cookies for convenience.
• When you visit our login page, a temporary cookie is set to check if your browser accepts cookies.
• Login and display preference cookies are stored for up to one year.
• If you select “Remember Me,” your login will persist for two weeks. Logging out removes these cookies.
• When editing or publishing content, an additional cookie is stored to record the post ID (expires in one day).

You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not function properly.

6. Embedded Content from Other Websites

Articles or posts on this site may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, or articles). Embedded content from other websites behaves the same way as if you visited the other website.
These external sites may collect data about you, use cookies, and track your interactions with their content, especially if you are logged into their platform.

7. Who We Share Your Data With

We only share your data when necessary to deliver our services, including:

• With payment service providers to process transactions securely.
• With verification partners for ID and account verification.
• With technical service providers who assist with hosting and maintenance.
  If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

8. How Long We Retain Your Data

• Comments and related metadata are retained indefinitely to recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically.
• Registered user data is stored as long as the account remains active. Users can edit or delete their personal information anytime, except for their username.
• Inactive or deleted accounts may be anonymized for security and audit purposes.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Request a copy of your personal data held by us.
• Request correction or deletion of your data.
• Withdraw consent for processing where applicable.
• Object to data processing for specific purposes.

Requests can be sent to support@connectnamibia.com and will be processed within a reasonable timeframe.

10. Where Your Data Is Sent

Visitor comments and form submissions may be checked through automated spam detection services. We also use secure, reputable hosting providers to ensure your information is safely stored and transmitted.

11. Data Security

We use SSL encryption, firewalls, and secure authentication systems to protect user information from unauthorized access, alteration, or loss.

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12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised date.

13. Contact Us

For any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Connect Namibia
support@connectnamibia.com