PRIVACY POLICY

1. WHO THIS POLICY APPLIES TO

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information processed through ECOWAS Marketplace, including information provided when you:

• Create an account;
• Create or manage a listing;
• Create a business profile;
• Search the Platform;
• Contact another user;
• Send or receive marketplace messages;
• Participate in an auction;
• Report a listing or account;
• Contact customer support;
• Use our website or related services.

2. INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT

Depending on how you use the Platform, we may collect:

Account information

• Name;
• Username;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Password credentials in securely protected form;
• Country;
• Town or general area;
• Account type.

Seller and business information

• Business name;
• Business description;
• Business category;
• Business contact details;
• Business location;
• Website or social-media information voluntarily provided;
• Business registration or verification information where applicable.

Listing information

• Product or service description;
• Photographs;
• Price;
• Category;
• Country;
• Town or general area;
• Availability;
• Auction information;
• Other information voluntarily included by the user.

Communications

We may process information contained in communications sent through Platform messaging or support channels.

Transaction and auction information

Where relevant, we may collect:

• Listing ID;
• Bid information;
• Auction participation;
• Winning bid;
• Commission or verification information;
• Payment status;
• Transaction-related records.

We do not need to collect or store complete payment-card credentials where payment processing is handled by an independent payment provider.

Technical information

When you use the Platform, we may automatically receive information such as:

• IP address;
• Browser type;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Approximate location derived from technical information;
• Pages viewed;
• Date and time of access;
• Referring website;
• Basic usage and diagnostic information.

3. INFORMATION YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE PUBLIC

Information included in a public listing may be visible to other users and, depending on Platform settings, may be accessible through search engines or shared links.

Before publishing information, consider whether it is appropriate to make that information public.

Do not publish:

• Passwords;
• Bank account credentials;
• Identity-document numbers;
• Authentication codes;
• Private residential information;
• Sensitive personal information that is unnecessary for the listing.

4. HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may use personal information to:

• Create and manage accounts;
• Provide marketplace services;
• Publish and manage listings;
• Facilitate communication between users;
• Provide search and discovery features;
• Process auction participation;
• Calculate applicable Platform fees;
• Provide customer support;
• Verify accounts or businesses;
• Detect fraud and abuse;
• Investigate reports;
• Maintain Platform security;
• Improve Platform performance;
• Understand usage patterns;
• Send service-related notifications;
• Send marketing communications where permitted;
• Comply with legal obligations;
• Protect the rights, safety and property of users and the Platform.

5. LEGAL BASES FOR PROCESSING

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, we may process personal information because:

• You have requested or entered into a service with us;
• Processing is necessary to operate the marketplace;
• You have provided consent;
• Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation;
• Processing is necessary to protect legitimate interests, provided those interests do not override applicable privacy rights;
• Processing is necessary to protect users or prevent fraud or abuse.

Where applicable law requires consent, we will seek it.

6. PASSWORDS AND ACCOUNT SECURITY

Passwords should be stored using appropriate security mechanisms rather than as readable plain text.

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their account credentials.

We will take reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

However, no internet system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

7. SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may share personal information where reasonably necessary with:

Other marketplace users

Information you intentionally publish in a listing or profile may be visible to other users.

Where a seller enables telephone or WhatsApp contact, the relevant contact information may be made available as described on the Platform.

Service providers

We may use trusted service providers for:

• Hosting;
• Database services;
• Cloud storage;
• Email;
• Security;
• Analytics;
• Customer support;
• Payment processing;
• Communications;
• Technical maintenance.

Service providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for their services.

Legal and regulatory authorities

We may disclose information where required or permitted by applicable law, legal process, court order, or where reasonably necessary to investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents or unlawful conduct.

Business transactions

If ECOWAS Marketplace undergoes a merger, acquisition, restructuring, financing or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

8. WHATSAPP, TELEPHONE AND THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

If a user chooses to contact another user through WhatsApp, telephone or another third-party service, the communication may be processed by that third-party provider under its own privacy policy.

ECOWAS Marketplace does not control how an independent third-party service processes information after the user leaves or interacts outside our Platform.

Users should avoid sharing unnecessary sensitive information through third-party communications.

9. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

ECOWAS Marketplace may use cookies or similar technologies for purposes including:

• Maintaining sessions;
• Remembering preferences;
• Security;
• Analytics;
• Improving functionality;
• Understanding Platform usage.

Where required by applicable law, we will provide appropriate choices regarding non-essential cookies.

Users may also manage cookies through their browser settings, although disabling certain cookies may affect Platform functionality.

10. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

We may send service-related communications necessary to operate your account.

Where required by applicable law, promotional communications will be sent only with the appropriate consent or other lawful basis.

You may unsubscribe from promotional communications using the available unsubscribe mechanism.

You may continue to receive essential service messages relating to your account, security or transactions where permitted by law.

11. DATA RETENTION

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including:

• Operating the Platform;
• Maintaining transaction and business records;
• Resolving disputes;
• Preventing fraud;
• Enforcing agreements;
• Meeting legal obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and applicable legal requirements.

When information is no longer reasonably required, we may delete, anonymize or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable law and legitimate record-keeping requirements.

12. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Depending on applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, including rights to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request deletion where legally available;
• Object to or restrict certain processing;
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• Request information about how your data is processed;
• Complain to an appropriate regulatory or supervisory authority.

Some rights may be subject to legal exceptions.

To make a privacy request, contact us using the details below.

13. ACCOUNT DELETION

You may request closure or deletion of your account by contacting us through the available account or support process.

Deletion may not immediately remove information that:

• Must be retained by law;
• Is required for legitimate dispute resolution;
• Is necessary to investigate fraud or security incidents;
• Has been lawfully anonymized;
• Must be retained for legitimate business records.

Public listings or communications may also remain in limited circumstances where necessary for legal, security or record-keeping purposes.

14. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

ECOWAS Marketplace is intended for adults and businesses.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children under 18 for the purpose of creating marketplace seller, buyer or auction accounts.

If we become aware that an account has been created by a person who is not legally permitted to use the Platform, we may suspend or delete the account and associated information, subject to applicable law.

Parents or guardians who believe that a child has provided personal information to us may contact us.

15. CROSS-BORDER DATA PROCESSING

ECOWAS Marketplace is designed to serve users in multiple West African countries.

Personal information may therefore be processed or stored in countries where our service providers operate.

Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers or cross-border processing, we will take reasonable steps to comply with those requirements.

16. BUSINESS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Information voluntarily published as part of a business profile or listing may be considered public business information.

Examples include:

• Business name;
• Business description;
• Business category;
• Public telephone number;
• Public WhatsApp contact;
• General business location;
• Product photographs;
• Public website or social-media links.

Users should not publish personal information that they do not want publicly available.

17. FRAUD AND SECURITY MONITORING

We may monitor Platform activity and process relevant information to:

• Detect suspicious activity;
• Prevent account abuse;
• Detect fraudulent listings;
• Prevent unauthorized access;
• Investigate reported activity;
• Protect users;
• Protect the Platform.

Where appropriate and permitted by law, information may be shared with competent authorities.

18. DATA BREACHES AND SECURITY INCIDENTS

If we become aware of a security incident involving personal information, we will take reasonable steps to investigate, contain and remediate the incident.

Where notification is required by applicable law, we will provide the required notification to affected persons and/or relevant authorities.

19. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

Users should review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing personal information.

20. DATA FROM OTHER USERS

If you receive another person's personal information through ECOWAS Marketplace, you must use that information only for legitimate marketplace purposes.

You must not:

• Sell another user's information;
• Spam another user;
• Harass another user;
• Publish another user's private information;
• Use another user's information for unlawful purposes.

21. DATA ACCURACY

We aim to keep personal information accurate and up to date.

Users should update their account information when it changes.

If you identify inaccurate information that we control, you may contact us to request correction.

22. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes to the Platform;
• Changes to our business;
• Changes to technology;
• Changes to legal or regulatory requirements.

The updated Policy will be published on the Platform with a new "Last Updated" date.

23. CONTACT AND PRIVACY REQUESTS

For privacy questions, complaints or requests concerning your personal information:

ECOWAS Marketplace

Website: https://ecowasmarketplace.lovable.app

Email: bashyfiles@gmail.com

Telephone: +220-877711884

Business Address: Nyambai Jokor, By Jah Oil, Brikama. The Gambia.

Please include sufficient information for us to identify your account and understand your request.

24. GOVERNING FRAMEWORK

This Privacy Policy is intended to operate in accordance with applicable privacy, electronic-transactions, consumer-protection and other laws.

Because ECOWAS Marketplace may serve users across multiple jurisdictions, additional rights or obligations may apply depending on the user's location and the nature of the processing.

Nothing in this Policy is intended to remove or restrict a legal right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

25. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By using ECOWAS Marketplace, you acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to read this Privacy Policy.

ECOWAS Marketplace

Buy. Sell. Bid. Connect.