Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

VEC Communities ("we," "us," or "our") is a Sydney, Australia-based agency that assists creators, business owners, experts, and others in developing and selling information products, such as online courses, digital downloads, and communities. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and other applicable laws. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you interact with our website (built on Framer) or use our services. Personal information means any information or opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. If you are located outside Australia, such as in the EU or California, additional laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) may apply. We aim to comply with these where relevant, but this policy is primarily governed by Australian law. By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not provide us with your information.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, as well as some information automatically.

• Personal Information You Provide:

  • Contact details: Name, email address, phone number, and other contact information.

  • Business-related details: Your website URL, social media handles, business goals, and any other information you share via forms or during consultations (e.g., about your info-products or needs).

  • This is typically collected when you submit inquiries through our embedded forms or scheduling tools.

• Information from Calls or Interactions: If you join a call or consultation, we may collect additional details you share, such as specifics about your business, products, or preferences.

• Automatically Collected Information:

  • Usage data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages viewed, access times, and referral sources.

  • This may be collected via our website backend (Framer), which uses cookies and tracking technologies for analytics.

We do not knowingly collect sensitive information (e.g., health data, racial origins) unless you provide it voluntarily and it is necessary for our services. We do not collect personal information from third parties, except as facilitated by our tools (e.g., Typeform or Calendly may collect respondent data on our behalf).

3. How We Collect Information

• Directly from You: Through embedded forms (via Typeform) for inquiries or surveys, and scheduling tools (via Calendly) for booking calls. You provide information such as name, email, and business details when filling out these forms or scheduling.

• Automatically:

  • Our website, hosted on Framer, may automatically collect log data, device info, and usage statistics using cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies. Framer may use third-party analytics like Google Analytics to help us understand site usage.

  • Typeform and Calendly may also collect technical data (e.g., IP address, browser details) when you interact with their embedded features on our site.

• From Third-Party Tools: Typeform acts as a data processor and shares respondent-submitted data (e.g., form answers) with us as the form creator. Similarly, Calendly shares invitee data (e.g., scheduling details) with us as the scheduler. These tools encrypt data and use secure servers (Typeform on AWS in the US or EU; Calendly on Google Cloud), but may involve international data transfers.
  
  We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for our business functions, such as providing consultations or tailoring our services to help you create and sell info-products.
  
  

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries, schedule calls, and provide our services (e.g., advising on info-products like courses or communities)

• To communicate with you, including sending confirmations, updates, or marketing materials about our services (with your consent where required).

• To improve our website and services, such as analysing usage patterns via Framer's analytics.

• For internal business operations, like record-keeping and compliance with legal obligations.

• To prevent fraud or unauthorised access.

Under the APPs, our uses are based on your consent, our legitimate interests (e.g., providing services), or legal requirements. We do not use your information for automated decision-making that significantly affects you.

5. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it in limited circumstances:

• With Service Providers: We use third-party tools like Typeform (for forms), Calendly (for scheduling), and Framer (for website hosting). These act as processors and share collected data with us. They may further share with their sub-processors (e.g., AWS for Typeform, Google Cloud for Calendly, or Google Analytics for Framer) for storage and analytics, under strict confidentiality.

• For Legal Reasons: If required by law, such as to comply with subpoenas, or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

• International Transfers: Data may be transferred to the US (via AWS, Google Cloud, or other providers). We ensure these transfers comply with APP 8, using contracts or adequacy mechanisms where possible.

We require all recipients to handle your information securely and only for the purposes we specify.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Under the Privacy Act 1988 and APPs, you have rights regarding your personal information:

• Access and Correction: Request access to or correction of your information. We will respond within a reasonable time (usually 30 days).

• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails via the link in our communications or by contacting us. You can also manage cookie preferences on our site.

• Anonymity: Where practical, interact with us anonymously or using a pseudonym.

• Complaints: If you believe we've breached the APPs, contact us first. If unsatisfied, complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

For GDPR or CCPA rights (e.g., deletion, data portability), contact us - we'll accommodate where applicable. To exercise rights, email kai@veccommunities.com with details.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. This includes:

• Encryption for data in transit (e.g., TLS) and at rest where provided by our tools.

• Access controls and secure servers.

• Regular reviews of our practices.

However, no system is infallible. In case of a breach, we'll notify you and the OAIC as required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
Our third-party providers (Typeform, Calendly, Framer) also implement strong security measures, such as encryption and compliance certifications (e.g., GDPR-ready, SOC 2 for some).

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined (e.g., to provide services or comply with legal requirements). For example:

• Inquiry data: Up to 2 years after our last interaction.

• Call notes: As long as needed for service delivery, then deleted.

When no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it. Retention may be longer if required by law (e.g., tax records).

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn we've collected such data, we'll delete it promptly. Parents/guardians can contact us for concerns.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or laws. We'll post the revised version on our website with the new effective date and notify you via email if changes are significant. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact Us

For questions, requests, or complaints, contact:

• Email: kai@veccommunities.com

• Address: WeWork Entity (Legal Name): 161 Castlereagh Street Pty Ltd
  Registered Address: Level 2, 383-385 George Street, Sydney, City of Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

• Phone: +61 481 333 578

• ABN: 57552810172

We aim to respond within 30 days. For more on Australian privacy laws, visit www.oaic.gov.au.