5.1 Overview of Data Protection
Commercin.com values the privacy and security of our users’ personal and business data. We are committed to protecting the privacy of individuals using our platform, and to ensure compliance with global data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is applicable to businesses operating within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA).
Our platform collects, processes, and stores personal and business data in accordance with this privacy policy and ensures the rights of individuals are respected in line with applicable data protection laws. All users of Commercin.com agree to this policy when registering or interacting with the platform.
5.2 Types of Data Collected
To facilitate transactions, user accounts, and communications on the platform, Commercin.com collects the following types of data:
- Personal Identification Information:
- Full name
- Address (billing and shipping)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Identification numbers (for business accounts or legal documentation)
- Business Information (for business users):
- Company name
- VAT or tax identification number
- Business address
- Business registration documents
- Bank account details for processing payments
- Transaction Data:
- Payment information (credit card details, bank account info)
- Billing details
- Transaction history (purchase records, refunds)
- Technical Data:
- IP addresses
- Device information
- Cookies and usage data (for website analytics)
The above data is collected for the purposes of user authentication, transaction processing, customer support, and marketing communications.
5.3 Data Processing & Use
Commercin.com processes the data we collect for the following purposes:
- Account Management: To create and manage user accounts, facilitate login, and ensure user authentication.
- Transaction Facilitation: To process payments, refunds, and facilitate the purchase and sale of goods and services.
- Customer Support: To assist users with inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and resolve disputes.
- Marketing & Communication: To send promotional materials, newsletters, and updates about events, product offerings, or platform features (users can opt-out of marketing communications at any time).
- Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, such as tax reporting, fraud prevention, and adhering to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations.
5.4 GDPR Compliance
As part of our commitment to data privacy and protection, Commercin.com complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which gives users certain rights concerning their personal data. The rights include, but are not limited to:
- Right to Access: Users have the right to request access to their personal data and information about how it is processed.
- Right to Rectification: Users have the right to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data held by Commercin.com.
- Right to Erasure: Users may request the deletion of their personal data, subject to certain legal conditions (such as ongoing transactions or legal obligations).
- Right to Restriction of Processing: Users can request the restriction of their data processing in certain circumstances.
- Right to Data Portability: Users have the right to request a copy of their personal data in a structured, commonly used format for transfer to another service provider.
- Right to Object: Users may object to the processing of their data for marketing purposes or other legitimate interests.
We ensure that data processing is conducted lawfully, transparently, and securely. Commercin.com will never share or sell users’ personal data without explicit consent unless required by law or in the course of facilitating transactions.
5.5 Data Storage and Retention
We store personal and business data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, or as required by law, including tax and legal obligations. Data retention periods are defined according to the type of data, the nature of the transaction, and the applicable legal requirements.
- Transaction Data: Retained for the duration of the user’s account activity, and typically for a period of up to 7 years (for tax, accounting, and audit purposes).
- Marketing Data: Retained for as long as a user subscribes to our marketing communications.
- Inactive Accounts: Accounts that have been inactive for a period of more than 2 years may have their data anonymized or deleted.
5.6 Security Measures
We implement robust technical and organizational measures to protect personal and business data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These include:
- Encryption: All sensitive data, such as payment details and personal information, is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols.
- Firewalls: We deploy state-of-the-art firewalls to prevent unauthorized access to our servers.
- Access Control: User accounts are protected by strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., two-factor authentication) to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Audits: Regular internal and external audits are performed to identify and rectify security vulnerabilities.
Users are also encouraged to keep their account credentials secure and should notify Commercin.com immediately if they suspect any unauthorized access to their accounts.
5.7 Third-Party Data Sharing and Processors
In certain cases, we may share data with third-party service providers that help facilitate our platform’s operations. These may include payment processors, delivery partners, email marketing services, and others. All third-party processors are bound by strict data protection agreements to ensure compliance with privacy and security standards.
We may also disclose personal or business data when required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Commercin.com, our users, or the public.
5.8 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Commercin.com uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience and analyze site traffic. Cookies are small text files placed on a user’s device to collect data about their browsing behavior, such as:
- Session Cookies: Used to keep users logged in during a session.
- Analytics Cookies: Used for tracking user interactions with the site for improving the user experience and site functionality.
Users can control cookie preferences through their browser settings, though disabling cookies may limit access to certain site features.