Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Discover234's Privacy Policy. At Discover234, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

By accessing or using Discover234, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and we will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our website, including:

Personal Information:

Email address (when you subscribe to our newsletter)
Name (if provided voluntarily)
Contact information (if you reach out to us)
Any other information you choose to provide

Automatically Collected Information:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device information
Operating system
Pages visited and time spent on pages
Referring website addresses
Date and time of visits
Geographic location data

Interaction Data:

Conversations with NaijaBOT (our AI chatbot)
Search queries on our platform
Content preferences and interests
User feedback and ratings

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities
Session cookies (temporary) and persistent cookies
Analytics cookies to understand user behavior

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

Service Delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve our services, including displaying relevant content about Nigerian history and culture
Communication: To send you newsletters, updates, and information about Discover234 (only if you've subscribed)
Personalization: To customize your experience and show content relevant to your interests
AI Improvement: To train and improve NaijaBOT's responses and accuracy
Analytics: To understand how users interact with our platform and identify areas for improvement
Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, and abuse
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations
Research: To conduct research on Nigerian culture and heritage (in aggregated, anonymized form)

4. NaijaBOT and AI Data Processing

Our AI-powered chatbot, NaijaBOT, processes your questions and interactions to provide information about Nigerian history and culture. Here's how we handle this data:

Conversations with NaijaBOT may be stored and analyzed to improve the service
We do not share individual conversations with third parties
Aggregated, anonymized conversation data may be used for research and development
You should not share sensitive personal information with NaijaBOT
NaijaBOT interactions are subject to the same privacy protections as other parts of our service

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers:

Third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf (email delivery, hosting, analytics)
These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and may only use your information to provide services to us

Legal Requirements:

When required by law or to respond to legal processes
To protect the rights, property, or safety of Discover234, our users, or others
In connection with government requests or legal proceedings

Business Transfers:

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred
You will be notified of any such change via email or prominent notice on our website

With Your Consent:

We may share information with third parties when you give us explicit permission

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
Regular security assessments and updates
Access controls and authentication mechanisms
Employee training on data protection
Secure data storage facilities
Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability:

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
You can request that we provide your data in a portable format

Correction:

You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information

Deletion:

You can request that we delete your personal information (subject to legal obligations)

Opt-Out:

You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link
You can disable cookies through your browser settings

Object to Processing:

You can object to certain types of data processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@discover234.com

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on Discover234:

Types of Cookies We Use:

Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
Marketing Cookies: May be used to show relevant content

Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings
Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent
Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality

9. Children's Privacy

Discover234 is committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@discover234.com, and we will take steps to remove such information from our systems.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of Nigeria. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than Nigeria.

We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, regardless of where it is processed.

11. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it. Specific retention periods include:

Newsletter subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe
Analytics data: Up to 24 months
NaijaBOT conversations: Up to 12 months (anonymized after 6 months)
Contact inquiries: Up to 3 years

12. Third-Party Links

Discover234 may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

13. Nigerian Data Protection Compliance

Discover234 complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and other applicable Nigerian data protection laws. We are committed to:

Processing personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently
Collecting data only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes
Ensuring data accuracy and keeping it up to date
Retaining data only as long as necessary
Implementing appropriate security measures
Respecting the rights of data subjects

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will:

Update the "Updated" date at the top of this policy
Post the new Privacy Policy on this page
Notify you via email (if you've subscribed) for material changes
In some cases, provide additional notice (such as a banner on our homepage)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@discover234.com
Address: Discover234 Data Protection Office, Lagos, Nigeria
Phone: +234 (0) XXX XXXX XXX

We will respond to your inquiry within 24/48 hours.

16. Consent

By using Discover234, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our services.

For certain types of data processing, we may seek your explicit consent, which you can withdraw at any time by contacting us.