Effective Date: January 1, 2024
FluencySpot (referred to in this policy as “FluencySpot”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) has adopted the following Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, use, and share information from and about you in connection with certain of our products, services, and properties.
Your privacy and security are paramount to us at FluencySpot. We are dedicated to being transparent about our privacy practices and the ways in which we safeguard your information. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) outlines the types of information we may collect from and about you as you visit or use FluencySpot, how that information may be used and shared, and the rights and choices available to you.
This Policy applies to any use of our “Services”, which includes our website at FluencySpot.com and any affiliated web pages or forms we may create or host (collectively our “Site”), our mobile applications (“Apps”), or when you communicate with us. By using or accessing the Services in any manner, you acknowledge that you accept the practices and policies outlined in this Policy, and you hereby consent to our collection, use, and sharing of your information in the ways described here. This Policy is part of our Terms of Service, which can be found [here]. Any terms we use in this Policy without defining them have the meanings given to them in the Terms of Service.
1. PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT
At FluencySpot.com, we recognize the importance of protecting your personal information. The term “Personal Information” (or PI) as used in this policy refers to information that can be associated with or used to identify you personally. This includes, but is not limited to, details like your full name, street address, phone number, email address, and may also encompass what is commonly referred to as “personally identifiable information”, “personal data” under various data privacy laws, rules, or regulations. We commit to not sharing or disclosing Personal Information beyond what is stated in this Policy without your explicit consent. There are instances where Personal Information is aggregated or de-identified, making it no longer personally identifiable. Such non-personal information may be retained, used, and disclosed in line with applicable privacy laws.
CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT
Below, we outline the categories of Personal Information that we collect and have collected over the past twelve months. For each category, we detail our commercial or business purpose for collecting that Personal Information and the third parties with whom it may be shared. This Policy will reference these categories (for example, “Category A. Personal Identifiers”).
A. Personal Identifiers
This may include:
- Real name
- Email address
- Postal address
- Phone number
- IP address
- Account names (e.g., username)
- Device ID
- Social security number (if applicable)
- PayPal ID (email address)
- Birth year
Sources:
- Directly from you
- Through third parties (e.g. service providers, partners)
Purpose of collecting this information:
- Account creation and administration
- Customer support and communication
- Payment processing
- Legal obligations (e.g. tax documents)
- Website operations and security
- Analytics and marketing
Sharing of this information:
- Service providers (e.g., payment processors, hosting services)
- Potential business transfer recipients
- Other users, as directed by you
B. Customer Records Identified By State Law
This may include:
- Items listed in Category A
- Bank account number (if applicable)
- Last four digits of credit or debit card number
- Employment information
Purpose and sharing of this information are similar to Category A.
C. Commercial Information
This includes:
- Purchase records and payment methods
- Wishlist items
- Preferences and interests
- Fundraising and referral data
- User-generated content (e.g., ratings, reviews)
D. Internet or Similar Network Activity Information
This encompasses:
- Items in Category C
- Cookies and similar technologies (as detailed in Section VII)
E. Professional or Employment-Related Information
This includes:
- Profile details
F. Customer Demographic Information
We may collect:
- Demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race, gender)
- Usage in security/account verification and DEI initiatives
G. Sensory Information
This covers:
- Images, audio/voice recordings, video recordings
SOURCES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT
A. You, For Information You Provide to Us
Visitors. As a visitor to FluencySpot.com, we may collect information about your preferences and interests to tailor your experience and help you find relevant content.
All Users. To access many features of our Services, you’ll need to create an account. This requires a unique username and an email address for communication. We may also ask for your name and other details like your geographic location, your role, and areas of interest to personalize your experience.
Content Creation. You may also have the option to upload, create, record, post, or share content through our platform.
Service Providers. If you choose to offer services through FluencySpot.com, additional contact information and payout account details will be required. You can opt for a different name for your service profile, which, along with any other information you provide, will be publicly visible.
Tax Compliance. For legal compliance, we might collect tax identification information from our service providers, like a social security number or employer identification number, for identity verification and tax documentation.
Payment Information. For purchases, you’ll need to provide billing and payment information. Our Payment Processors handle these transactions using PCI DSS compliant practices, and we do not store your full payment card details.
B. You, For Information Collected Automatically
When using our Services, we collect certain information from your browser and device, such as IP address, device information, operating system, and browser type. This data aids in security and personalizing your experience.
We also track usage data, including pages visited and navigation patterns, using Cookies (see our Cookies section for more details). This helps us understand service usage and enhance user experience.
Additionally, we may offer contests, sweepstakes, and surveys, where participating might involve providing Personal Information for administration or marketing purposes.
C. Third Parties
General. We may receive information about you from third parties, including other users or service providers, for service provision or marketing purposes.
Integrations. Our Third Party Integrations might include features like importing or exporting content. These integrations are subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
External Payment Accounts. For payments via external accounts like PayPal or ApplePay, these services will process the transaction and provide us with confirmation details for order fulfillment. We do not access specific payment or financial account details associated with these external accounts.
2. HOW WE MAY SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION
At FluencySpot.com, we share your Personal Information with various third parties, including service providers, contractors, and others, under the following circumstances:
Service Providers, When You Use Our Services:
- When you utilize services on FluencySpot.com, we share necessary details (like your order specifics and location information) with the service provider to facilitate the transaction.
Public Interaction and Community Features:
Our Services offer various interactive features:
- Posting, creating, uploading, or adding content
- Connecting and communicating with other users
- Participating in forums, groups, or communities
- Creating a public profile (for those offering services, this includes your profile details)
Using these features implies your consent to share relevant information publicly or with specified users.
Service Providers & Contractors:
- We engage third-party companies (“Service Providers”) for features such as payment processing, hosting, customer support, data analysis, site monitoring, surveys, and security. These providers have access to certain Personal Information necessary to perform their services, under strict confidentiality agreements.
Business Transitions:
- In events like mergers, acquisitions, or changes in control, your Personal Information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of such changes, and the new entity will adhere to this Privacy Policy.
Legal Obligations and Requests:
- We comply with lawful requests for information, such as those from law enforcement or in response to legal processes. This may include sharing information about transactions made using third-party payment methods if requested by the associated institution or entity.
Your Direction:
- We may share your Personal Information with other parties based on your explicit directions or requests. This includes sharing data with third-party integrations or partners you choose to engage with. Note that these third parties have their own privacy policies, and our policy does not apply to them. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before engaging with them.
3. OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
At FluencySpot.com, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our Terms of Service stipulate that all account holders must be at least 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under the age of 13, except as specified in this section. Children under 13 are not permitted to use our Services or provide any personal information to us, except when using designated student-oriented features under the supervision of a teacher or parent.
If you suspect that FluencySpot.com has inadvertently collected Personal Information from a child under the age of 13 outside the context of our student-focused features, please contact us at contact@fluencyspot.com. We will promptly investigate and ensure the removal of such information from our systems.
4. DATA SECURITY AND RETENTION
DATA SECURITY
- At FluencySpot.com, we prioritize the security of your Personal Information. We employ a combination of physical, technical, and administrative safeguards tailored to the nature of the information we process. While we strive to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure, we remind you that no internet-based data transmission or storage method is infallible. We recommend that you help maintain the security of your account by choosing a strong password, restricting access to your devices and browser, and logging off after accessing your account. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee absolute data security.
ACCOUNT SECURITY
- Your FluencySpot.com account is protected by the password you choose. We store only a hashed version of your password, meaning we cannot view your actual password. To prevent unauthorized access, select a password that is not easily guessable and keep it confidential. If you access your account on a shared device, ensure you log out completely after use, avoid using the “remember me” feature, and decline browser prompts to save your login credentials. You are responsible for all activities under your account, whether authorized or not.
You can change your password at any time via the My Account page. If you forget your password, utilize the “Forgot Password” feature to receive a password reset link via email.
DATA RETENTION
- FluencySpot.com uses your information as outlined in this Policy to deliver our services. You can deactivate or close your account at any time. Deactivating places your account in an inactive state, allowing reactivation anytime by logging in with your credentials. Upon deactivation, you will no longer receive marketing emails. Account closure is permanent and can be requested through our support team.
We retain your information as long as your account is active or as needed, in accordance with applicable laws and industry standards. For instance, financial records may be kept for a minimum period (e.g., 7 years), transactional data for buyer-seller interactions may be preserved, and legal obligations may necessitate certain data retention. After account closure, your data may still be included in aggregated or de-identified analysis. We may dispose of Personal Information sooner if legally requested.
5. YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS
At FluencySpot.com, we value your ability to make informed decisions about your personal information. We offer various options to manage your account and the information you provide. For rights specific to certain jurisdictions, please refer to Section 8.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
- You can access, update, or correct your personal information anytime through your My Account page. While you can remove any optional information you’ve provided, certain required information will be indicated and can only be updated, not removed.
If you decide to close your FluencySpot.com account, you can do so at any time. Instructions for account closure are available in your account dashboard, or you can reach out to us for assistance.
SAVED PAYMENT SOURCE
- You can edit or delete your saved payment card details from the checkout page. If you need help with this, our support team can assist in removing any saved payment card records.
EMAIL PREFERENCES
- We use your contact information to communicate with you about our services and your account. Some communications are essential, such as purchase notifications, account changes, and legal updates, and cannot be opted out of. However, you have control over optional communications, including service announcements, newsletters, and promotional messages. You can manage these preferences in the Email Preferences section of your account or use the “unsubscribe” link in any optional communication.
YOUR CONTENT
- If you create a public profile, upload content, post communications, or use features that enable content sharing, this information may be visible to other users and the public. You have the ability to edit or remove certain content you’ve posted and manage its sharing settings.
6. HOSTED CONTENT, ADS, AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES
Our Services feature a variety of content from third-party sources, including user-posted materials, advertisements, and offers (“Third-Party Content”). This Third-Party Content often includes links to external websites and content owned and operated by third parties. It’s important to note that our Privacy Policy is applicable only to FluencySpot.com and does not extend to any third-party websites or services linked to or accessible from our platform. We do not have control over the privacy practices and security measures of these external sites, so we advise you to review the privacy policies of any third-party providers you interact with.
Content and resources shared on FluencySpot.com are contributed by our users and are made available based on their discretion. We are not accountable for the content of these contributions, including any personal information that may be disclosed by users within these materials. If you come across any content on our Services that you believe infringes on your privacy rights, please use the “Report This Resource” feature available on each product listing, or contact us directly using the provided contact information.
7. COOKIES, INTEREST-BASED ADVERTISEMENTS, AND GOOGLE ANALYTICS
COOKIES
- At FluencySpot.com, we use cookies and similar technologies like pixel tags and web beacons (collectively referred to as “Cookies”) to recognize your device or browser. Cookies, small text files stored in your browser, enhance your experience by allowing for personalization, maintaining your preferences, and providing us with valuable insights into user behavior. We may also use information from third parties, including third-party Cookies, for similar purposes.
By using our Services, you consent to our use of Cookies for various purposes, including:
- Analytics
- Marketing and advertising
- Saving your user preferences
- Personalizing your experience on our site
- Understanding website traffic and performance
- Ensuring the security and functionality of our site and services
You have control over the use of Cookies on your device. Most browsers allow you to view, manage, delete, and disable Cookies through their settings. However, disabling Cookies may affect the functionality of some features. For more information on managing Cookies, visit the browser-specific instruction pages for Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox, or go to https://www.allaboutcookies.org/.
Types of Cookies used:
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for accessing specific services and features.
- Functional Cookies: Help remember your settings and preferences.
- Performance/Analytical Cookies: Provide insights on website usage and performance.
- Advertising Cookies: Collect data to present relevant advertisements.
We use third-party analytics services, including Google Analytics and Heap Inc., to enhance our services. Google Analytics uses Cookies, and you can opt-out of Google’s use of Cookies by visiting the Google advertising opt-out page or using the Google Analytics Opt-out browser Add-on. For more information about Heap’s data collection, please see Heap’s Website Terms of Use.
INTEREST-BASED ADVERTISEMENTS
- We participate in interest-based advertising, where ads are tailored based on your online activities. We adhere to the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising.
GOOGLE ANALYTICS
- FluencySpot.com uses Google Analytics for insights and advertising purposes, including the AdWords and Remarketing Lists features. Google Analytics may store Cookies on your device and use them to show our advertisements on other websites. For more information, read Google’s explanation on data use. If you prefer Google Analytics not to use Cookies, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On. More information and installation details are available here.
8. YOUR RIGHTS
Under various data protection laws, including the GDPR and the CCPA, you have certain rights regarding the personal data that companies hold about you. FluencySpot.com respects these rights and enables users to access, amend, and delete the Information You Provide. We also facilitate the exercise of your rights concerning Automatically-Collected Information and Information Others Provide, including the right to object to or restrict the processing of your personal data.
To exercise any of your rights, please contact us at the information provided below. You can also update or correct your Basic Account Information and email preferences at any time by logging into your account settings.
Your rights include:
- Declining to Submit Information: You can choose not to submit Personal Information through our Service, which may affect our ability to provide certain services.
- Updating Account Information: Update or correct your account information and email preferences at any time through your account settings.
- Unsubscribing from Marketing Emails: To unsubscribe from newsletters, click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email. We may disclose your opt-out choices to third parties to comply with applicable laws.
- Blocking Cookies: You can configure your browser to notify you when you receive cookies or to disable certain cookies. Disabling cookies may affect some features of the Service. Please refer to our Cookie Policy for more information.
- Disabling Local Shared Objects: Information on deleting or adjusting local shared objects is available here.
- Withdrawing Consent: You may withdraw consent where we rely on it for processing Your Information. Withdrawing consent may mean we cannot provide certain services.
EU Residents:
Under GDPR, you have rights including withdrawal of consent, access to your personal information, objection to processing, deletion of personal information, restriction of processing, data portability, objection to automated decision-making, and the right to lodge a complaint with data protection authorities.
California Residents:
The CCPA grants California residents specific rights regarding their personal information. You have the right to request disclosures about our collection and use of your personal information over the past 12 months, including the categories of personal information, sources, business purposes, categories of third parties with whom we share, and specific personal information collected. You also have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Exercising Access, Data Portability, and Deletion Rights:
To exercise these rights, submit a verifiable consumer request to us by emailing contact@fluencyspot.com. We will verify your identity before responding to such requests.
Response Timing and Format:
We aim to respond to verifiable consumer requests within 45 days. Disclosures cover only the 12-month period preceding the request’s receipt. If we cannot comply with a request, we will explain why.
Personal Information Sales Opt-Out and Opt-In Rights:
We do not sell Your Information under CCPA.
Non-Discrimination:
We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
California Civil Code Section §1798.83 permits California residents to request certain information about our disclosure of personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, email contact@fluencyspot.com with “Request for California Privacy Information” as the subject.
9. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may periodically update this Privacy Policy in line with the procedures and guidelines set forth in our Terms of Service. To keep you informed of any changes, we will notify you either through a notice on our website, an email notification, or other appropriate communication channels. It’s important to note that if your email address is not up-to-date, you are still bound by the terms of this Policy, and it is your responsibility to review and understand any changes. Continuing to use FluencySpot.com after these changes have been made implies your acceptance of the revised Policy. The use of information we collect is governed by the Policy that is in effect at the time the information is collected.
10. CONTACT US
If you have any inquiries or concerns about this Privacy Policy, how we handle your Personal Information, your rights and choices regarding such usage, or if you need assistance with your account, feel free to contact us at any time using the methods below:
Email: contact@fluencyspot.com
This Policy was last updated on December 2, 2023, and is effective as of January 1, 2024.