PRIVACY POLICY

Welcome to Swadhin, Nepal's premier Freelance Marketplace connecting talented freelancers with clients seeking their expertise. At Swadhin, we are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how Swadhin App ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and safeguards the personal information of users ("you" or "your") while accessing the Swadhin App, whether through the mobile or web application.

By using the Swadhin App, you agree to the terms and conditions laid out in this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read through this document carefully to understand how your information is handled. Swadhin may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and we will notify you of any significant changes.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 User Account Information

When registering for a Swadhin App account, we collect information such as your full name, username, email address, contact details, profile image, and a password. Alternatively, if you use the 'Sign in with Google' option to access the Swadhin app, Google shares your name, email address, and profile picture associated with your Google Account.

If you plan to register as a seller, you are required to provide the following information for verification: profile image, full name or company name, username, email address, date of birth, district of residence, gender, phone number, citizenship or driving license number, PAN or VAT number, Khalti ID, and relevant images of your citizenship card or driving license, and PAN or VAT. We do not share any of the above information with other users, except that your username, district of residence, and profile image are visible to others on your seller profile.

1.2 Profile Information

Users can voluntarily provide additional information on their profiles and services, including about themselves, skills, keywords, expertise, qualifications and experience.

1.3 Service and Task Postings

In seller mode, information related to service posting, including service details, budget, images related to the service, FAQs, and questionnaires is stored during the creation of a new service. Similarly, in buyer mode, information related to task posting, including task details, budget, and required dates, is stored when a new task is created.

1.4 Payment Information

When you as a buyer bind to a new service or task and need to make a financial transaction, they are securely redirected to the payment gateway provided by ‘Khalti’. Users are required to sign in to Khalti or provide other details during this process. We do not record or process any of your data while you are within the Khalti API. For account purposes, we will use the payment token sent by Khalti to retain your payment details.

We will process and send the payment to you as a seller, using your provided Khalti ID, upon completion of the assigned task and its acknowledgment by the buyer.

1.5 Usage Data

We collect data on your interactions with the Swadhin App, including the pages you visit, features you use, services you order, and your preferences.

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

2.1. Providing Services

We use your information to offer services on the Swadhin App. This includes connecting freelancers and clients, suggesting relevant tasks and services, facilitating communication through messaging, and securely processing payments via a payment gateway.

2.2. Improving User Experience

Your data helps us enhance and personalize your experience on the app, tailor content to your preferences, and improve our features.

2.3. Communication

We use your contact information to communicate with you about your account activities, services, updates, administrative purposes, disputes, and relevant promotions.

3. DATA SHARING

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties without your explicit consent, except as required by law or to provide services requested by you.

4. SECURITY MEASURES

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. 

While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security, and you transmit information at your own risk. For added confidentiality, avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi or unprotected networks when submitting messages through our Service. In the event of a security breach, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you electronically. Please be aware that breaches may occur, and we may disclose information if required by law, to protect safety, prevent fraud, or safeguard our rights and property. 

5. RETENTION OF DATA

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Once your data is no longer needed, we take measures to securely delete or anonymize it. You have the right to request the deletion of your account and associated data, as outlined in our privacy policy.

6. USER CONTROL

You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information, posted services, tasks, and messages. In seller mode, certain verification information, such as email address, citizenship number, driving license number, PAN or VAT number, and Khalti ID, cannot be corrected or deleted. If you believe the information is incorrect, please contact Swadhin support for assistance. Additionally, you can manage Swadhin app’s permissions to access your camera, photo gallery, and files folder. 

7. ACCOUNT DELETION

You may permanently delete your user account in the App settings. However, if you are a seller, you must complete and handover any remaining active tasks, and wait to settle any outstanding payment, and if you are a buyer, please wait for any active tasks or services you have generated to complete and settle payment dues before attempting to delete your account.

• 7.1 User Initiated Deletion
  • Users have the option to delete their Swadhin account at any time by accessing “Settings” in the Account and Settings page of the app and selecting the “Delete User Account” deletion option.
  • Once the account deletion request is initiated, all personal information associated with the account will be permanently removed from the platform.
• 7.2 Impact on Transactions
  • Users should note that account deletion does not affect completed transactions or tasks associated with the account. Transactional data will be retained as necessary for record-keeping.
• 7.3 Deletion Confirmation
  • Upon completing the account deletion process, users will receive a confirmation notification. It is essential to verify this confirmation to ensure the successful removal of personal data.
  • It is necessary for users to log into the Swadhin application. Next, navigate to the settings module from the profile section. There, the user will see the option to permanently delete their account.
• 7.4 Reactivation Option
  • Deleted accounts cannot be reactivated. If users wish to use Swadhin again, they must create a new account and agree to the current Terms and Conditions and Data and Privacy Policy.

7. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

Cookies may be used to track your visits to Swadhin web and mobile apps. While most web browsers are set to accept cookies automatically, you can change your settings to receive notifications when a cookie is sent to your browser. This allows you to decide whether or not to accept it.

8. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

The Swadhin mobile and web app may contain embedded third-party links within advertisement banners, main banners, feeds, project deliverables, and user messages. Clicking or opening these links will redirect you to external websites. It is important to note that Swadhin holds no responsibility or liability for any data collection practices employed by these external websites. Your interactions with third-party links are subject to the privacy policies of the respective websites, and Swadhin disclaims any responsibility for data handling beyond the scope of our platform.

9. PHISHING AND FALSE EMAILS

We are committed to your online safety and privacy. Be cautious of phishing or false emails falsely claiming association with Swadhin App. We will never request sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, through email. If you receive suspicious emails purportedly from us, do not click on any links or provide any information. Please report such instances to our support team immediately. Swadhin will only communicate within the app and through official correspondence channels and email provided by us. Your security is our priority, and we take stringent measures to ensure the authenticity of our communications.

10. MERGER AND ACQUISITIONS

In the event of a merger or acquisition involving Swadhin, where control of the Swadhin App is transferred to another entity, your personal information may be part of the assets transferred. We will ensure that any such transfer complies with applicable data protection laws and that your privacy rights continue to be protected. You will be notified of any changes in ownership or control of your personal information through prominent notices on the Swadhin App or via other communication channels.

11. CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our data practices. Updates will be communicated through the Swadhin App on mobile and web platforms, as well as via registered email.

12.  CONTACT US

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or regarding your data, please contact us through the 'Contact Us' page in the web app or find contact details inside 'Swadhin Support' in the mobile app.

By using the Swadhin App, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Data Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

This policy was last amended on January 12, 2024