AI Mashinani privacy policy

1. Introduction

AI Mashinani Business Compass (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our AI-powered business platform designed for Kenyan MSMEs.

By using our services, you consent to the data practices described in this policy, which complies with Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019.

2. Information We Collect, Use and Share

We collect information on all your activity when you visit or engage with our platforms, whether you have an account with us or not. This includes:

• Content that you provide through camera or voice-enabled features, as well as content you view, create, comment on, or share.
• Messages you send and receive, including their content, subject to applicable laws and with end-to-end encryption where applicable.
• Metadata about content and messages, subject to applicable laws.
• Interactions and related metadata from interaction with our own and other sources of artificial intelligence associated with our apps and platforms.
• Types of content that you view, like, and interact with, including how you interact with them.
• App features you use, and the actions you take with them.
• Purchases or other transactions you make through our apps’ checkout experience, in line with applicable laws, including credit or debit card information.
• The time, frequency, and duration of your activities on our products.

We may also collect your photos or videos if you provide these on our site or when engaging with us in any format.

Use of Your Contact Information

When you provide us with your contacts, or use our platforms and share contacts, we will access and upload names, phone numbers, and email addresses on a regular basis. We will also use this information to:

• Investigate and report suspicious activity on our platforms and related platforms
• Keep our platform safe and secure
• Conduct business intelligence and analytics using contact information and other personal information and data you provide

We retain your information as long as it is needed and as long as you have an account and access our platforms, until you delete your account and stop using our platforms. In certain cases, we may keep your information for longer, even after you have asked us to delete it. This includes for legal and regulatory reasons, to prevent harm, or for safety, security, and integrity purposes.

If you have a question or want to exercise your rights, please contact us through the contact information provided on our platform.

Public Information

You may choose to share certain information publicly. By default, the following details are hidden from the public but you can opt-in to make them visible:

• Email address
• Birthday
• County, sub-county, and town
• Phone number
• Employment information
• Business type/category
• Interests

Personal Information

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Business information (name, description, industry)
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
• Communication preferences

Business Data

• Business profiles and descriptions
• Product and service information
• Target audience details
• Generated marketing materials and content

Technical Information

• IP address and location data
• Device information and browser type
• Usage analytics and platform interactions
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve our AI-powered business services
• Generate customized marketing materials and business advice
• Process payments and manage your account
• Send service updates, newsletters, and promotional content
• Marketing purposes, including targeted advertising and promotional campaigns (with your consent)
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Ensure platform security and prevent fraud
• Comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Conduct research to improve our services for Kenyan businesses

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with:

Service Providers

• Payment processors (M-Pesa, banks, card networks)
• Cloud hosting and data storage providers
• Email and communication service providers
• AI and machine learning service providers

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by Kenyan law, court orders, or to protect our rights and the safety of our users.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction.

5. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your data:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Encrypted data storage with industry-standard protocols
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls and employee training on data protection
• Compliance with international security frameworks

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

6. Your Rights (Kenya Data Protection Act 2019)

Under Kenyan law, you have the right to:

• Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Portability: Transfer your data to another service
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Objection: Object to certain types of processing
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@aimashinani.org

7. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• Improve our AI models and services

When you delete your account, we will remove your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze platform usage and performance
• Provide personalized content and recommendations
• Ensure platform security

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

9. Children’s Privacy

AI Mashinani is designed for business use and is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries outside Kenya, including in the United States and European Union. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with Kenyan and international data protection laws.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of any significant changes through our platform or via email.

12. Contact Information

For privacy-related questions or concerns, contact us:

• Email: privacy@aimashinani.org
• Phone: +254 715 131275
• Address: Links Road, Kikuyu, Kenya