Privacy Policy - Circle Network

Information We Collect

Account Information

Name, email address, and professional details (title, company, location)
Profile information you choose to share (bio, expertise, needs)
Social media links and professional credentials

Usage Information

Messages you send to other members (stored securely)
Connections you make and introductions you accept
Requests you post and responses you provide
Events you attend and activities you participate in
Your interactions with the platform (pages visited, features used)

Technical Information

IP address, browser type, and device information
Cookies and similar tracking technologies
Log data about your use of the platform

How We Use Your Information

Provide Our Services

We use your information to operate Circle Network, including matching you with relevant connections through our AI-powered strategic introductions system.

Facilitate Connections

Your profile information helps other members understand your background and determine if you'd be a valuable connection. We show your profile to other members within the network.

Improve Our Platform

We analyze usage patterns to enhance features, fix bugs, and develop new capabilities that benefit the community.

Communication

We send you essential updates about your account, new connections, platform changes, and community news. You can control communication preferences in your settings.

Information Sharing

With Other Members

Your profile information is visible to other Circle Network members. Messages you send are only visible to the recipient. You control what information appears on your profile.

Service Providers

We use trusted third-party services to help operate our platform:

• Supabase (database and authentication)
• Stripe (payment processing)
• SendGrid (email delivery)
• Vercel (hosting and infrastructure)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for providing services to us.

What We DON'T Do

✓ We never sell your data to third parties
✓ We don't share your information with advertisers
✓ We don't use your data for purposes unrelated to Circle Network
✓ We don't share your messages with anyone except the intended recipient

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Circle Network, our members, or others.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• All data transmitted is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text
• Database access is restricted and monitored
• Regular security audits and updates
• Two-factor authentication available for your account

While we use reasonable efforts to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights & Choices

Access & Update

You can access and update your profile information at any time through your account settings.

Data Export

You can request a copy of your data by emailing privacy@thecirclenetwork.org

Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time through settings or by contacting us. This will permanently remove your profile and data. Note that some information may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes (e.g., transaction records).

Communication Preferences

You can control which emails you receive in your account settings. You cannot opt out of essential service communications (e.g., security alerts, billing notices).

Cookies

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect platform functionality. See our Cookie Policy for details.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services.

• Profile data: Retained while account is active
• Messages: Retained until you delete them or close your account
• Transaction records: Retained for 7 years for legal/tax purposes
• Usage logs: Retained for 90 days for security and analytics

After account deletion, we may retain some information for legitimate business purposes (fraud prevention, legal compliance) or as required by law.

International Users

Circle Network operates globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

If you're in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have additional rights under GDPR:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to correct inaccurate data
• Right to delete your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing

Children's Privacy

Circle Network is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we'll notify you via:

• Email to your registered address
• Prominent notice on our platform
• Update to the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of Circle Network after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data?

Email: privacy@thecirclenetwork.org

Support: help@thecirclenetwork.org