Privacy Policy

This Policy outlines the information we process to support Ekobridge and other products and features currently offered or soon to be offered by Ekobridge. You can find additional tools and information in the Ekobridge settings. 

 

Types of information we collect.

To provide the Ekobridge Products, we must process information about you. The type of information that we collect depends on how you use our Products. You can learn how to access and delete information that we collect by visiting the Ekobridge settings or data request page.

 

Things that you and others do and provide.

• Information and content you provide. We collect the content, communications and other information you provide when you use our Products, including when you sign up for an account, create or share content and message or communicate with others. This can include information in or about the content that you provide (e.g. metadata), such as the location of a photo or the date a file was created. It can also include what you see through features that we provide, such as our camera. Our systems automatically process content and communications that you and others provide to analyse context and what's in them for the purposes described below. Learn more about how you can control who can see the things you share.

  • Data with special protections: You can choose to provide information in your Ekobridge profile fields or life events about your religious views, political views, who you are "interested in" or your health. This and other information (such as racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs or trade union membership) is subject to special protections under EU law. 

   
• Networks and connections. We collect information about the people, Pages, accounts, hashtags and groups that you are connected to and how you interact with them across our Products, such as people you communicate with the most or groups that you are part of. We also collect contact information if you choose to upload, sync or import it from a device (such as an address book or call log or SMS log history), which we use for things such as helping you and others find people you may know and for the other purposes listed below.

   
• Your usage. We collect information about how you use our Products, such as the types of content that you view or engage with, the features you use, the actions you take, the people or accounts you interact with and the time, frequency and duration of your activities. For example, we log when you're using and have last used our Products, and what posts, videos and other content you view on our Products. We also collect information about how you use features such as our camera.

   
• Information about transactions made on our Products. Although we do not currently have any paid service on Ekobridge, if you use our Products for purchases or other financial transactions in the future (such as when you make a purchase of any item or make a donation), we may collect information about the purchase or transaction. This may also include payment information, such as your credit or debit card number and other card information, other account and authentication information, and billing, delivery and contact details.

   
• Things others do and information they provide about you.We also receive and analyse content, communications and information that other people provide when they use our Products. This can include information about you, such as when others share or comment on a photo of you, send a message to you or upload, sync or import your contact information. 

 

Device information.

We collect information from and about the computers, phones, connected TVs and other web-connected devices you use that integrate with our Products, and we combine this information across different devices that you use. For example, we use information collected about your use of our Products on your phone to better personalise the content (including ads) or features that you see when you use our Products on another device, such as your laptop or tablet, or to measure whether you took an action in response to an ad that we showed you on your phone on a different device.

Information that we obtain from these devices includes:

• Device attributes: information such as the operating system, hardware and software versions, battery level, signal strength, available storage space, browser type, app and file names and types, and plugins.
• Device operations: information about operations and behaviours performed on the device, such as whether a window is foregrounded or backgrounded, or mouse movements (which can help distinguish humans from bots).
• Identifiers: unique identifiers, device IDs and other identifiers, such as from games, apps or accounts that you use, and Family Device IDs (or other identifiers unique to Ekobridge Company Products associated with the same device or account).
• Device signals: Bluetooth signals, information about nearby Wi-Fi access points, beacons and mobile phone masts.
• Data from device settings: information that you allow us to receive through device settings that you turn on, such as access to your GPS location, camera or photos.
• Network and connections: information such as the name of your mobile operator or ISP, language, time zone, mobile phone number, IP address, connection speed and, in some cases, information about other devices that are nearby or on your network, so we can do things such as help you stream a video from your phone to your TV when this feature becomes available on Ekobridge.
• Cookie data: data from cookies stored on your device, including cookie IDs and settings. Learn more about how we use cookies in the Ekobridge User Terms

 

How we use this information

We use the information that we have (subject to choices you make) as described below, and to provide and support the Ekobridge Products and related services to:

 

Provide, personalise and improve our Products.

We use the information we have to deliver our Products, including to personalise features and content (including your News Feed and ads) and make suggestions for you (such as groups or events that you may be interested in or topics that you may want to follow) on and off our Products. To create personalised Products that are unique and relevant to you, we use your connections, preferences, interests and activities based on the data that we collect and learn from you and others (including any data with special protections that you choose to provide where you have given your explicit consent); how you use and interact with our Products; and the people, places or things that you're connected to and interested in on and off our Products. 

 

• Information across Ekobridge Products and devices: We connect information about your activities on different Ekobridge Products and devices to provide a more tailored and consistent experience on all Ekobridge Products that you use, wherever you use them. For example, we can suggest that you join a group on Ekobridge that includes people you follow or communicate with. We do this to make your experience more seamless.

   
• Location-related information: We use location-related information – such as your current location and the businesses and people you're near – to provide, personalise and improve our Products, including ads, for you and others. Location-related information can be based on things such as precise device location (if you've allowed us to collect it), IP addresses and information from your and others' use of Ekobridge Products (such as check-ins or events you attend).

   
• Product research and development: We use the information we have to develop, test and improve our Products, including by conducting surveys and research, and testing and troubleshooting new products and features.
   
• Ads and other sponsored content: We use the information we have about you – including information about your interests, actions and connections – to select and personalise ads, offers and other sponsored content that we show you.  

Provide measurement, analytics and other business services.

When our advertising product is fully functional, we will use the information we have (including your activity off our Products, such as the websites you visit and ads you see) to help advertisers and other partners measure the effectiveness and distribution of their ads and services, and understand the types of people who use their services and how people interact with their websites, apps and services. 

 

Promote safety, integrity and security.

We use the information that we have to verify accounts and activity, combat harmful conduct, detect and prevent spam and other bad experiences, maintain the integrity of our Products, and promote safety and security on and off Ekobridge Products. For example, we use data that we have to investigate suspicious activity or breaches of our User Terms, or to detect when someone needs help.

 

Communicate with you.

We use the information that we have to send you marketing communications, communicate with you about our Products and let you know about our Policies and Terms. We also use your information to respond to you when you contact us.

 

Research and innovate for social good.

We use the information we have (including from research partners we collaborate with) to conduct and support research and innovation on topics of general social welfare, faith, Gospel, technological advancement, public interest, health and well-being.  

 

How information is shared

Your information is shared with others in the following ways:

Sharing on Ekobridge Products

People and accounts that you share and communicate with

When you share and communicate using our Products, you choose the audience for what you share. For example, when you post on Ekobridge, you select the audience for the post, such as a group, all of your friends, the public or a customised list of people. Your network can also see actions that you have taken on our Products, including engagement with ads and sponsored content. We may also let other accounts see who has viewed their Ekobridge stories.

Public information can be seen by anyone, on or off our Products, including if they don't have an account. This includes your Ekobridge username, any information you share with a public audience, information in your public profile on Ekobridge, and content you share on a Ekobridge Page or any other public forum, such as Groups and Events. You, other people using Ekobridge, and we can provide access to or send public information to anyone on or off our Products, including in other Ekobridge Company Products, in search results or through tools and APIs. Public information can also be seen, accessed, reshared or downloaded through third-party services such as search engines, APIs and offline media such as TV, and by apps, websites and other services that integrate with our Products.

 

Content that others share or reshare about you.

You should consider who you choose to share with, because people who can see your activity on our Products can choose to share it with others on and off our Products, including people and businesses outside the audience that you shared with. For example, when you share a post or send a message to specific friends or accounts, they can download, screenshot or reshare that content to others across or off our Products, in person or in virtual reality experiences. Also, when you comment on someone else's post or react to their content, your comment or reaction is visible to anyone who can see the other person's content, and that person can change the audience later.

People can also use our Products to create and share content about you with the audience they choose. For example, people can share a photo of you in a story, mention or tag you at a location in a post, or share information about you in their posts or messages. If you are uncomfortable with what others have shared about you on our Products, please report the content.

 

Information about your active status or presence on our Products.

People in your networks can see signals telling them whether you are active on our Products, including whether you are currently active on Ekobridge, or when you last used our Products.

 

Apps, websites and third-party integrations on or using our Products.

When you choose to use third-party apps, websites or other services that use, or are integrated with, our Products, they can receive information about what you post or share. For example, when you play a game with your Ekobridge friends or use a Ekobridge Comment or Share button on a website, the game developer or website can receive information about your activities in the game or receive a comment or link that you share from the website on Ekobridge. Also, when you download or use such third-party services, they can access your public profile on Ekobridge and any information that you share with them. Apps and websites that you use may receive your list of Ekobridge friends if you choose to share it with them. But apps and websites that you use will not be able to receive any other information about your Ekobridge friends from you, or information about any of your followers (although your friends and followers may, of course, choose to share this information themselves). Information collected by these third-party services is subject to their own terms and policies, not this one.

Devices and operating systems providing native versions of Ekobridge (i.e. where we have not developed our own first-party apps) will have access to all information that you choose to share with them, including information that your friends share with you, so they can provide our core functionality to you.

 

New owner.

If the ownership or control of all or part of our Products or their assets changes, we may transfer your information to the new owner.

Sharing with third-party partners

We work with third-party partners who help us provide and improve our Products or who use Ekobridge to grow their businesses, which makes it possible to operate our companies and provide free services to people around the world. We don't sell any of your information to anyone and we never will. We also impose strict restrictions on how our partners can use and disclose the data we provide. Here are the types of third parties that we share information with:

 

Partners who use our analytics services.

We provide aggregated statistics and insights that help people and businesses understand how people are engaging with their posts, listings, Pages, videos and other content on and off the Ekobridge Products. For example, Page admins will receive information about the number of people or accounts who viewed, reacted to or commented on their posts, as well as aggregate demographic and other information that helps them understand interactions with their Page or account.

 

Advertisers.

In future, we will provide advertisers with reports about the kinds of people seeing their ads and how their ads are performing, but we don't share information that personally identifies you (information such as your name or email address that by itself can be used to contact you or identifies who you are) unless you give us permission. For example, we will provide general demographic and interest information to advertisers (for example, that an ad was seen by a woman between the ages of 25 and 34 who lives in Edinburgh and likes software engineering) to help them better understand their audience. We also confirm which Ekobridge ads led you to make a purchase or take an action with an advertiser.

 

Measurement partners.

We share information about you with companies that aggregate it to provide analytics and measurement reports to our partners.

 

Partners offering goods and services in our Products.

In the future, when you subscribe to receive premium content, or buy something from a seller in our Products, the content creator or seller will receive your public information and other information that you share with them, as well as the information needed to complete the transaction, including shipping and contact details.

 

Vendors and service providers.

We provide information and content to vendors and service providers who support our business, such as by providing technical infrastructure services, analysing how our Products are used, providing customer service, facilitating payments or conducting surveys.

 

Researchers and academics.

In future, we will also provide information and content to research partners and academics to conduct research that advances scholarship and innovation that supports our business or mission and enhances discovery and innovation on topics of general social welfare, technological advancement, public interest, health and well-being.

 

Law enforcement or legal requests.

We share information with law enforcement or in response to legal requests.

Legal basis for processing data

We collect, use and share the data that we have in the ways described above:

• as necessary to fulfil our Ekobridge User Terms;
• consistent with your consent, which you may revoke at any time through the Ekobridge settings;
• as necessary to comply with our legal obligations;
• to protect your vital interests, or those of others
• as necessary in the public interest and
• as necessary for our (or others') legitimate interests, including our interests in providing an innovative, personalised, safe and profitable service to our users and partners, unless those interests are overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms that require protection of personal data.

 

Exercising your rights under the GDPR

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, rectify, port and erase your data.  You also have the right to object to and restrict certain processing of your data. This includes: 

• the right to object to our processing of your data for direct marketing, which you can exercise by using the "unsubscribe" link in such marketing communications, and
• the right to object to our processing of your data where we are performing a task in the public interest or pursuing our legitimate interests or those of a third party. You can exercise this right on Ekobridge.

 

Data retention, account deactivation and deletion

We store data until it is no longer necessary to provide our services and Ekobridge Products or until your account is deleted – whichever comes first. This is a case-by-case determination that depends on things such as the nature of the data, why it is collected and processed, and relevant legal or operational retention needs. For example, when you search for something on Ekobridge, you can access and delete that query from within your search history at any time, but the log of that search is deleted after six months. If you submit a copy of your valid photo ID for account verification purposes, we will delete that copy 30 days after submission when this service is fully functional.

When you delete your account, we delete things that you have posted, such as your photos and status updates, and you won't be able to recover this information later. Information that others have shared about you isn't part of your account and won't be deleted. To delete your account at any time, please visit the Ekobridge settings.

 

Response to legal requests or prevent harm

We access, preserve and share your information with regulators, law enforcement or others:

• In response to a legal request, if we have a good-faith belief that the law requires us to do so. We can also respond to legal requests when we have a good-faith belief that the response is required by law in that jurisdiction, affects users in that jurisdiction and is consistent with internationally recognised standards.
• When we have a good-faith belief that it is necessary to: detect, prevent and address fraud, unauthorised use of the Products, breaches of our Terms or Policies, or other harmful or illegal activity; to protect ourselves (including our rights, property or Products), you or others, including as part of investigations or regulatory enquiries; or to prevent death or imminent bodily harm. For example, if relevant, we provide information to and receive information from third-party partners about the reliability of your account to prevent fraud, abuse and other harmful activity on and off our Products.

Information we receive about you (including financial transaction data related to purchases made with Ekobridge) can be accessed and preserved for an extended period when it is the subject of a legal request or obligation, governmental investigation or investigations of possible violations of our terms or policies, or otherwise to prevent harm. We also retain information from accounts disabled for term breaches for at least a year to prevent repeat abuse or other term breaches.

 

Operations and transfer data as part of our global services

We share information globally, both internally within the Ekobridge Companies and externally with our partners and with those you connect and share with around the world in accordance with this Policy. Information controlled by Ekobridge will be transferred or transmitted to, or stored and processed in, the United Kingdom or other countries outside where you live for the purposes as described in this Policy. These data transfers are necessary to provide the services set forth in the Ekobridge User Terms, and to globally operate and provide our Products to you. We utilise standard contractual clauses approved by the United Kingdom and rely on the United Kingdom's adequacy decisions about certain countries, as applicable, for data transfers from the United Kingdom to the United States and other countries.

 

Notification of changes to this Policy

We'll notify you before we make changes to this Policy and give you the opportunity to review the revised Policy before you choose to continue using our Products.

 

How to contact Ekobridge with questions

 

If you have questions about this Policy, you can contact using the contact us form on ekobridge.com.