1. Introduction
Africahied (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our website visitors and service users. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4
of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable data protection laws.
2. Trading Obligation
Africahied is operated by Peniel Consult (PTY) Ltd., a registered legal entity in South Africa. We assure all users that this ownership does not compromise or affect the privacy and security of their personal data. Peniel Consult (PTY) Ltd. adheres to strict data protection regulations,
including South Africa’s POPIA and international best practices. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and transparency for all users of Africahied.
3. Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following types of personal information:
- Personal Identifiers:Name, email address, and phone number.
- Technical Data:IP address, browser type, operating system, and browsing behaviour.
- Usage Data:Information about how you use our website and services.
- Marketing and Communications Data:Your preferences in receiving marketing from us and your communication preferences.
4. How We Collect Information
We collect personal information through:
- Direct Interactions:When you fill out forms on our website, subscribe to our newsletters, or communicate with us.
- Automated Technologies:As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect technical data about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns using cookies and similar technologies.
- Third Parties:We may receive personal data about you from analytics providers.
5. Purpose of Processing
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- To Provide Services:Delivering the services you request from us.
- Communication:Responding to your inquiries and sending administrative information.
- Marketing:Sending you promotional materials, subject to your consent.
- Improvement:Analysing data to improve our website, products, and services.
- Legal Compliance:Complying with legal obligations and protecting our legal rights.
6. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal information based on:
- Consent:Where you have given us explicit consent.
- Contractual Necessity:Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you.
- Legal Obligation:Where we are required to comply with a legal obligation.
- Legitimate Interests:Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
7. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your personal information with:
- Service Providers:Third parties who provide services on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, and marketing services.
- Legal Authorities:When required by law or to protect our rights.
- Business Transfers:In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred to the new owner.
8. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet-based site can be 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
10. Your Rights
Under POPIA and other applicable laws, you have the right to:
- Access:Request access to your personal information.
- Correction:Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion:Request deletion of your personal information.
- Objection:Object to the processing of your personal information.
- Data Portability:Request the transfer of your personal information to another party.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.
11. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. For more information, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
12. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of every website you visit.
13. Ethical Use of Publicly Available Research Data
At Africahied, we recognize that while certain research data is publicly accessible, its ethical use requires careful consideration to respect the rights and dignity of individuals and communities.
13.1. Respect for Privacy and Consent
Even when data is publicly available, we are committed to:
- Assessing Contextual Privacy: Understanding the context in which data was shared to ensure that its use aligns with the original intent and expectations of the data subjects.
- Obtaining Consent When Necessary: Seeking additional consent if the data’s use extends beyond its original scope, especially when dealing with sensitive information.
13.2. Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards
Our data practices adhere to:
- Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA): Ensuring all data handling complies with South Africa’s data protection laws.
- International Ethical Guidelines: Aligning with global standards for research ethics, including those pertaining to data sharing and privacy.
13.3. Avoidance of Harm and Misuse
We are vigilant in preventing:
- Re-identification of Anonymized Data: Implementing safeguards to prevent the re-identification of individuals from anonymized datasets.
- Discrimination and Bias: Ensuring that data use does not perpetuate discrimination or bias against any group or individual.
13.4. Community Engagement and Benefit Sharing
We strive to:
- Engage with Data-Contributing Communities: Involving communities in decisions about how their data is used.
- Share Benefits: Ensuring that the outcomes of data use contribute positively to the communities involved.
13.5. Transparency and Accountability
Africahied commits to:
- Transparent Data Practices: Clearly communicating how data is collected, used, and shared.
- Accountability Mechanisms: Establishing processes to address concerns and rectify issues related to data ethics.
14. User Rights and Responsibilities in the Use of Publicly Available Research Data
Africahied is dedicated to promoting ethical research practices and ensuring that users of its publicly available research data uphold the highest standards of integrity and respect.
14.1. User Rights
As a user of Africahied’s research data, you are entitled to:
- Access and Utilize Data: Freely access and use publicly available research data for legitimate academic, educational, and policy-related purposes.
- Transparency: Receive clear information about the provenance, scope, and limitations of the datasets provided.
- Attribution: Be informed of the appropriate citation and attribution requirements for any data used, ensuring acknowledgment of original data contributors.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Provide feedback or raise concerns regarding data quality, ethical considerations, or potential misuse through established channels.
14.2. User Responsibilities
In accessing and utilizing Africahied’s research data, users are expected to:
- Respect Privacy and Confidentiality: Even if data is publicly available, users must ensure that individual privacy is protected. This includes refraining from attempts to re-identify anonymized data or disclosing sensitive information.
- Adhere to Ethical Standards: Comply with ethical guidelines and standards pertinent to research, including obtaining necessary approvals when integrating Africahied’s data with other datasets.
- Proper Attribution: Cite all data sources appropriately, acknowledging Africahied and any original data contributors as specified.
- Avoid Misuse: Refrain from using data in ways that could harm individuals or communities, including discriminatory practices, stigmatization, or other unethical applications.
- Compliance with Legal Frameworks: Ensure that data use complies with applicable laws and regulations, including data protection and intellectual property laws.
14.3. Enforcement and Accountability
Africahied reserves the right to monitor data usage to ensure compliance with these responsibilities. Breaches of these guidelines may result in:
- Revocation of Access: Termination of data access privileges.
- Reporting to Authorities: Notification to relevant institutional or legal authorities in cases of serious misconduct.
- Public Disclosure: In instances of significant ethical breaches, Africahied may disclose such violations to inform the broader community.
15. International Data Transfers
If we transfer your personal information outside South Africa, we ensure that it is protected in a manner that is consistent with how your personal information will be protected by us in South Africa.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
17. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
Africahied
Email: [email protected]
https://africahied.com/
