Privacy Policy

This policy is designed to comply with Law No. 2024/017 of December 23, 2024 Relating to Personal Data Protection in Cameroon, and follows internationally recognized data protection principles including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable to users outside Cameroon.

🏢 1. Who We Are

FindAm is Cameroon's online marketplace connecting buyers and vendors across the country. We operate the website at findam.market and the FindAm mobile application.

The data controller responsible for your personal data is FindAm. You can reach us at:

📊 2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account through our authentication provider (Clerk), we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number (when you sign up as a vendor or save it for buyer contact)
• Password (stored as an encrypted hash by Clerk; we never see it in plain text)
• Profile picture (optional)
• Country and city
• Optional profile details you choose to add: date of birth, gender, nationality, and a short bio

2.2 Vendor Verification Data

If you request vendor verification, we may additionally collect:

• Government-issued ID document (national ID, passport, driver's licence, or residence permit) — front, and back where the document type requires it
• Document type, number, and expiry date
• A selfie, used to confirm the document belongs to you
• Business name and description
• Shop location (region, city, quarter, street address, landmark)
• Proof of address and business registration documents, where you apply for business-level verification

2.3 Listings and User Content

• Listing title, description, price, category and location
• Photos and videos you upload
• Hotel and guest house details, room types, room photos, amenities and policies
• Bundle configurations (groups of items sold together)
• Work samples and portfolio items, if you offer services
• Reviews and ratings you give or receive, and any replies you post

2.4 Communication and Transaction Data

• Offers and bookings you make or receive
• Support requests you send us
• Job listings you post, and job applications you submit — including your CV, education, skills, experience and languages, where you provide them
• WhatsApp redirect intents (we generate the link; we do not see WhatsApp conversation content)

2.5 Technical and Usage Data (Automatic Collection)

• IP address
• Device type, operating system, and browser information
• App version
• Approximate location (city-level, derived from IP address)
• Listings you view, save, share, or contact a seller about
• Your recent searches, which we store so we can alert you to matching new listings
• Date and time of visits

We use this to rank listings, to show sellers how their own listings are performing, and to send you relevant alerts. We do not track you across other apps or websites. We do not collect your precise GPS location — sellers may optionally add map coordinates to a property or hotel they list.

2.6 Camera and Photo Library Access (Mobile App)

The FindAm mobile app requests permission to access your camera and photo library. This is used only to upload images for your listings, your profile, and verification documents. We do not access your photos or camera in the background or for any other purpose.

⚙️ 3. How We Use Your Information

🤝 4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 With Other Users (Public Information)

When you post listings, your shop name, listing details, profile picture, city and WhatsApp number are visible to other users. This is the core function of the Service. Do not include sensitive personal information in listings.

4.2 With Service Providers (Data Processors)

We use trusted third-party services to operate FindAm. These providers process your data on our behalf and are contractually bound to protect it:

4.3 Cross-Border Transfers

Our service providers are based outside Cameroon, principally in the United States and the United Kingdom. When your personal data is transferred outside Cameroon, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, in compliance with Articles 49-52 of Law No. 2024/017. By using FindAm, you acknowledge and consent to the cross-border transfer of your personal data to the countries listed above.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your personal data if required by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of FindAm, our users, or the public.

💬 5. WhatsApp Communications

FindAm uses WhatsApp as the primary way for buyers and vendors to communicate. When a buyer taps "Contact on WhatsApp":

• They are redirected to WhatsApp to message you directly
• We record that the click happened, for listing analytics, but we do NOT read your messages
• All conversations happen directly between you and the buyer

📅 6. How Long We Keep Your Data

• Account data: retained while your account is active. Deleted within 90 days of account closure (except where retention is legally required).
• ID and verification documents: deleted immediately when a verification is approved; deleted 30 days after a rejection or revocation. See section 2.2.
• Listings: retained while active. Inactive or removed listings are kept for 90 days, then deleted.
• Offers, bookings and support requests: retained for 12 months after the last interaction.
• Job applications and CVs: retained while the job listing is active, then for 12 months.
• Saved searches: we keep your 8 most recent searches; older ones are deleted automatically.
• Technical logs: retained for 90 days for security and debugging.
• Analytics data: retained in aggregated, anonymous form indefinitely.

⚖️ 7. Your Rights

Under Law No. 2024/017 and applicable international data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Access — Request a copy of all your data
• Rectification — Update inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure — Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention requirements
• Restriction — Limit how we process your data
• Portability — Get your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection — Object to processing for marketing or based on legitimate interest
• Withdraw consent — Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
• Lodge a complaint — File a complaint with the Cameroonian data protection authority once it is established

You can delete your account yourself at any time in the app, under Profile → Account & Preferences → Settings → Delete Account. To exercise any other right, contact us at support@findam.market. We respond within 30 days.

🛡️ 8. Data Security

• All data is transmitted over HTTPS (encrypted)
• Passwords are never stored in plain text — we use Clerk for secure authentication
• Data is encrypted at rest by our database and media providers
• Access to verification documents is limited to authorised FindAm staff reviewing a request
• Verification documents are deleted on the schedule described in section 2.2 rather than kept indefinitely

🍪 9. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in (session cookies)
• Remember your language preference
• Measure anonymous usage statistics (Vercel Analytics)

We do not use third-party advertising cookies or cross-site tracking. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but parts of the Service may not work correctly.

👶 10. Children's Privacy

FindAm is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us immediately and we will delete it.

📝 11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top
• Notify you via email or in-app notification for significant changes
• Continue to honour the version of the policy in effect when you provided your data, until you accept the new version

📬 12. Contact Us