Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

AfriBiz Africa ("we," "our," or "us") operates the afribiz.africa website and related services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our business directory services.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about our data practices. By using AfriBiz Africa, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

When you register a business or create an account, we collect:

• Business Information: Business name, description, category, address, city, and country
• Contact Details: WhatsApp number, phone number, email address, website URL
• Account Information: Name, email address, and password for business owners
• Verification Data: Information submitted for business verification purposes
• Media: Business photos, logos, and other images you upload

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you browse our directory, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, searches performed, businesses clicked
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (country/city level)
• Analytics: WhatsApp button clicks, contact interactions, referral sources

2.3 Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your language preference (English/French)
• Keep you logged in to your account
• Analyze site traffic and usage patterns
• Improve our services and user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Display Business Listings: Show your business information to potential customers searching our directory
• Facilitate Connections: Enable customers to contact you via WhatsApp, phone, or email
• Provide Analytics: Show business owners statistics about their listing performance (views, clicks, contacts)
• Verify Businesses: Process verification requests and display trust badges
• Improve Services: Analyze usage patterns to enhance our platform
• Communicate: Send service notifications, updates, and (with consent) promotional messages
• Prevent Fraud: Detect and prevent fraudulent listings or misuse

4. Information Sharing

4.1 Public Information

Business listings are public by design. The following information is visible to all visitors:

• Business name, description, and category
• Address and location (city, country)
• Contact information (WhatsApp, phone, email, website) that you choose to display
• Business photos and verification status

4.2 Third-Party Services

We may share data with:

• WhatsApp/Meta: When users click WhatsApp buttons, they are redirected to WhatsApp's platform. We do not share your data with WhatsApp; users initiate contact directly.
• Analytics Providers: We may use services like Google Analytics to understand usage patterns (anonymized data).
• Hosting Providers: Our servers and databases are hosted by trusted infrastructure providers.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

5. Data Retention

We retain your information as follows:

• Active Listings: Retained as long as your business listing is active
• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• Analytics Data: Aggregated analytics retained for up to 3 years
• Deleted Content: Removed from public view immediately; purged from backups within 90 days

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@afribiz.africa

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures including:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security updates and monitoring
• Access controls and authentication

However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted to our platform.

8. International Data

AfriBiz Africa operates across multiple African countries. Your data may be processed in countries other than your own. By using our services, you consent to such transfer. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for cross-border data transfers.

9. Children's Privacy

AfriBiz Africa is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware of such collection, we will delete the information promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify users of significant changes by posting a notice on our website. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact us: