1) Information We Collect

a) Account & Registration

• Name, email address, and password (hashed) when you register or log in.
• Profile details you choose to add (e.g., photo, bio, location, links).

b) User-Generated Content

• Posts, images, comments, reactions, and any other content you upload.
• Content you share in public areas may be visible to other users and visitors.

c) Payment & Sponsorships

• Payments are processed by our third-party provider Stripe. We do not store full credit card or bank details on AAU servers.
• Stripe may collect payment method details, billing address, and fraud-prevention data to complete your transaction.

d) Technical & Usage Data

• IP address, device and browser type, operating system, referring/exit pages, timestamps.
• Interaction data (pages viewed, clicks, errors, performance metrics) to maintain and improve the service.
• Cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to keep you signed in and personalize your experience.

2) How We Use Your Information

• Create and manage your account, profiles, and community participation.
• Enable posting, commenting, moderation, and discovery of content.
• Process payments for sponsorships and other paid features via Stripe.
• Operate, maintain, secure, debug, and improve our website and features.
• Communicate with you about updates, security notices, and support.
• Protect our community by enforcing our Terms and community guidelines.
• Comply with legal obligations and reasonable law-enforcement requests.

3) How We Share Information

• Service Providers: We share limited data with vendors who help operate the service (e.g., Stripe for payments, hosting, analytics, email delivery).
• Public Content: Content you post publicly may be visible to others and indexed by search engines.
• Legal: We may disclose information to comply with laws, court orders, or to protect rights, safety, and security.
• Business Transfers: If we undergo a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4) Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you logged in, remember preferences, analyze traffic, and improve performance. You can manage cookies in your browser settings; some features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

5) Payments via Stripe

All sponsorship and payment transactions are handled by Stripe. We do not collect or store full payment card numbers on our servers. For details on how Stripe processes your data, please review the Stripe Privacy Policy.

6) Legal Bases (EEA/UK Users)

If you are in the EEA or UK, we process personal data under these legal bases: (i) contract (to provide the service), (ii) legitimate interests (to secure and improve AAU, prevent fraud, and communicate essential updates), and (iii) consent (where required, such as certain cookies or marketing).

7) Your Rights & Choices

• Access, correct, update, or delete certain account information in your profile or by contacting us.
• Opt out of non-essential emails via the unsubscribe link.
• Request a copy of your data, object to processing, or request restriction where applicable by law.

To exercise rights, contact us at info@africanamericanunion.com. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling requests.

8) Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as needed to provide the service, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Public posts may remain visible unless removed by you or as part of moderation or legal compliance.

9) Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10) Children’s Privacy

AAU is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where applicable). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.

11) International Transfers

Your information may be processed in countries other than your own. Where required, we implement appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) to protect your information when it is transferred internationally.

12) Third-Party Links & Services

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. Please review those policies before providing personal information.

13) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page and revise the effective date above. Your continued use of AAU after changes become effective means you accept the updated Policy.

14) Contact Us