Privacy Policy

Updated March 07, 2024

1. Introducing Searce
2. Background
3. Definitions
   1. Personal Data
   2. Usage Data
   3. Cookies
   4. Data Controller
   5. Data Processors (or Service Providers)
   6. Data Subject (or User)
   7. Information Collection and Use
4. What Data is Collected
   1. Personal Data
   2. Usage Data
   3. Location Data
   4. Cookies Data
   5. Device Information
   6. From other sources
5. Use of Data
6. Potential Use and Disclosure of Your Information
7. Processing Personal Data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
8. Retention of Data
9. Transfer of Data
10. How data is processed
11. Accuracy
12. Storage of Personal Data
13. Disclosure/Sharing of Personal Data
    1. Business Transaction
    2. Disclosure for Law Enforcement
    3. Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Data
    4. Legal Requirements
14. Security of Data
15. Service Providers
16. Links to Other Sites
17. Children's Privacy
18. Your Rights
    1. Access
    2. Rectification
    3. Object to processing
    4. Restrict Processing
    5. Portability
    6. Consent
19. Automated Decision Making
20. Providing Information to Searce
21. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
    1. Personal information does not include
22. Compliance
23. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Introducing Searce

We at Searce respect the privacy of every individual whose personal information we handle in the course of our business operations. When you use our services, you're trusting us with your information. We understand this is a big responsibility and work hard to protect your information. We are strongly committed to keeping secure any information we obtain from you or about you and explaining our practices with respect to your personal data.

This Privacy Policy describes our practices with respect to Personal Information we collect from or about you when you use our website, applications, and services (collectively, "Services"). The Privacy Policy does not apply to content that we process or obtain on behalf of customers who avail or enter into an agreement for/ (procuring) of our business offerings. Our use of that data is governed by our customer agreements covering access to and use of those offerings. This Privacy Policy is meant to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage, export, and delete your information.

This page informs of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal data while using our Service and the choices which are associated with that data. We may use your data or personal information which you may supply to us, to provide and improve the Service and respect your concern about personal data collection and value our relationship with you ("user" or "you", "your").

Background

This Policy provides an overview of how Searce (together with its subsidiaries, affiliates), collects the information of "data subjects" (hereinafter referred to as "You or your") personal data, how it handles it and how it protects your privacy. In this policy, "we", "us" and "our" refer to Searce or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

End Users of Searce's Products and Services. Searce is a market leader in providing cloud-based services and solutions. If you are an employee or other end user of a Client, please contact your employer with any questions about how your End User Data is collected and processed, or to seek clarification or exercise any rights you may be offered under data protection laws in your jurisdiction.

Searce, with regard to personal data, might act both as a data controller as well as a data processor or agent that processes End User Data on behalf of its Client, which is the controller or owner of such data under applicable data protection laws.

As such, in the latter, Searce assists its Clients to address data protection inquiries from end users to the extent applicable to its services but typically does not respond directly to such inquiries from end users.

Searce is also a data controller in certain cases where there is an express agreement between Searce and the client or may be a controller in certain circumstances where there is written consent from the client based on business necessities and exigencies. Further, Searce is also a data controller to the extent of its customer's data which it obtains and processes directly, through lead-generation platforms where the customer would have given their express consent, social media platforms where the customer could have contacted or email referrals from existing clients, tradeshows or events where customer would have visited and shared their contact information with Searce.

This Policy is provided in a layered format, so you can click through to the specific areas set out below that may be of most interest to you.

This Privacy Policy is provided in a layered format to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage, export, and delete your information.

Definitions

Personal Data

Any information or data that relates to You through which you can be identified. Such information or data or any other information or data either in our possession or likely to come into our possession through use of Services by You.

Usage Data

Usage Data is data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).

Cookies

Cookies are small files stored on your device (computer or mobile device).

Data Controller

Data Controller means the natural or legal person who (either alone or jointly or in common with other persons) determines the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal information is, or is to be, processed.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, we are a Data Controller of your Personal Data.

Data Processors (or Service Providers)

Data Processor (or Service Provider) means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Data Controller. We may use the services of various Service Providers in order to process your data more effectively.

Data Subject (or User)

Data Subject is any living individual who is using our Service and is the subject of Personal Data.

Information Collection and Use

We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.

What Data is Collected

We collect basic information in order to facilitate provision of services to our customers. This is treated as personal information that includes all information you provide to us which personally identifies you, such as your name, email address, or billing information, any other contact information or other data that can be reasonably linked to such information by Searce.

Personal Data

While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

• Email address
• First name and last name (including Company Name)
• Telephone and facsimile numbers
• Address
• Employment details
• Tax and Financial information
• Cookies and Usage Data

We may use your Personal Data to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information that may be of interest to you. You may opt out of receiving any, or all, of these communications from us by contacting us.

Usage Data

We may also collect information on how the Service is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

Location Data

We may use and store information about your location if you give us permission to do so ("Location Data"). We use this data to provide features of our Service, to improve and customise our Service.
You can enable or disable location services when you use our Service at any time by way of your device settings.

Cookies Data

We use cookies to track the activity on our Service and we hold certain information with user's consent. Cookies are files with a small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service. We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.

Device Information

When you visit the site or interact with our services, we may automatically collect data about your device, such as:

• Device Type
• Operating System
• Device settings
• Geo-location data

Data we collect can depend on the individual settings of your device and software. We recommend checking the policies of your device manufacturer or software provider to learn what information they make available to us.

From other sources

We may receive information from other sources, such as public or purchased databases; joint marketing partners; social media platforms; or other third parties.

Use of Data

Searce uses the data provided by you in accordance with the purposes specified in this Policy, as below:

• To provide and maintain our Service requested by clients and individuals using our Website or web applications (where the processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests in conducting and managing our business)
• To notify you about changes to our Service
• To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so
• To provide customer support
• To gather analysis or valuable information so that we can improve our Service
• To monitor the usage of our Service
• To comply with the obligations provided by law and for payment processing purposes
• To detect, prevent and address technical issues
• To provide you with news, special offers and general information about other goods, services and events which we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about unless you have opted not to receive such information

Potential Use and Disclosure of Your Information

Searce uses your personal data for the following purposes:

We may also disclose your personal information to the following categories of vendors/service providers under a written contract requiring privacy protections:

Processing Personal Data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

We are committed to provide with the applicable data privacy and security requirements Globally, where we operate. We comply with the globally recognized standards of privacy protection policies, and with various privacy laws including, but not limited to, the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and Data Protection Act, 2018 (UK region). If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), Searce legal basis for collecting and using the personal information described in this Privacy Policy depends on the Personal Data we collect and the specific context in which we collect it.

Searce follows the following principles with respect to the processing of personal data:

1. personal data to be processed fairly and lawfully;
2. personal data to be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed for incompatible purposes;
3. personal data collected by Searce to be adequate, relevant, and not excessive in relation to the purposes for which it is collected;
4. personal data collected by Searce to be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date to the best of our ability;
5. personal data collected by Searce to be retained as identifiable data for no longer than necessary to serve the purposes for which the personal data was collected.

Retention of Data

Searce will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

Searce will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of our Service, or we are legally obligated to retain this data for longer periods.

Transfer of Data

Searce does not share your Personal Data with third parties for marketing purposes without seeking your prior permission.
We share your Personal Data within:

• Searce;
• Business partners;
• Service vendors;
• Authorized third-party agents; or
• Contractors.

The following applies only where the data controller processing your Personal Data is domiciled in the European Economic Area ("EEA"):

We transfer Personal Data to countries outside the EEA to third parties, including to countries which have different data protection standards to those which apply in the EEA. Where service providers process your Personal Data in countries deemed adequate by the European Commission, we rely on the European Commission's decision to protect your Personal Data.

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to - and maintained on - computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. The Searce Services are hosted on cloud environment.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission or collection of such information represents your agreement to that transfer. Searce will take all the steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organisation or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.

How data is processed

Personal data is processed both manually and electronically in accordance with the above-mentioned purposes and in compliance with current regulations. We permit only authorized Searce employees and authorized representatives to have access to your information. Such employees and representatives are appropriately designated and trained to process data only in accordance with the instructions we provide them.

Accuracy

It is your responsibility to provide Searce with accurate personal data. Except as otherwise set forth in this Policy, Searce shall only use personal data in ways that are compatible with the purposes for which it was collected or subsequently authorized by you. To the extent necessary for these purposes, Searce shall take reasonable steps to ensure that personal data is accurate, complete, current and relevant to its intended use.

Storage of Personal Data

Searce will retain personal data for a reasonable period, taking into account legitimate business needs to capture and retain such information. Information will also be retained for a period necessary to comply with state, local, federal regulations, or country-specific regulations and requirements, and per Searce's document retention policy.

Searce may share your information with its representatives and other service providers who are performing certain services on behalf of Searce. Such third parties have access to personal data solely to perform the services specified in the applicable service contract, and not for any other purpose. Searce requires these third parties to undertake security measures consistent with the protections specified in this Policy.

Disclosure/Sharing of Personal Data

We only share your personal data with your consent or per this Policy. We will not otherwise share, sell or distribute any of the information you provide to us except as described in this Policy.

Business Transaction

If Searce is involved in a joint venture or merger, acquisition or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred to our new business partner. We will provide notice before your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Disclosure for Law Enforcement

Under certain circumstances, Searce may be required to disclose your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Data

Searce is a global firm with operations in several countries. Personal information may be transferred, accessed and stored globally as necessary for the uses stated above in accordance with this Policy, and in compliance with local regulations.

Personal Data may be transferred to or processed in locations outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), some of which have not been determined by the European Commission to have an adequate level of data protection. In that case, for personal data subject to European data protection laws, we take measures designed to provide the level of data protection required in the EU, including ensuring transfers governed by the requirements of the Standard Contractual Clauses adopted by the European Commission, or another adequate transfer mechanism.

Where we receive requests to disclose personal data from law enforcement or regulators, we carefully validate these requests, including reviewing the legality of any order and challenging the order if there are grounds under the law to do so, before any personal data is disclosed.

Legal Requirements

Searce may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• To comply with a legal obligation
• To protect and defend the rights or property of Searce
• To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public
• To protect against legal liability

Security of Data

The security of your data is important to us but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you encounter any security issue or want to report any breach of data involving Personally Identifiable Information (PII), write to us by email on [DL to be added].

If you wish to be informed about what Personal Data we hold about you and if you want it to be removed from our systems, please contact us.

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service ("Service Providers"), provide the Service on our behalf, perform Service-related services or assist us in analyzing how our Service is used. These companies include (for example) website analytics companies (e.g., Google Analytics), product feedback or help desk software providers (e.g. Salesforce, Freshdesk), CRM service providers (e.g., HubSpot), email service providers (e.g., GMail) and others.

These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Links to Other Sites

Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click a third party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy or notices published on every site you visit.

We have no control over and are not responsible for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Children's Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 ("Children").

We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Your Rights

Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction governing the processing of your personal data, you may have certain rights under applicable data protection laws including:

• Access

  The right to access, update, or delete the information we have on you. Whenever made possible, you can access, update, or request deletion of your Personal Data directly within your account settings section. If you are unable to perform these actions yourself, please contact us to assist you.

• Rectification

  The right of rectification. You have the right to have your information rectified if that information is inaccurate or incomplete.

• Object to Processing

  Where processing is based on legitimate interests, you have the right to object to us for processing your data. We will discontinue processing your data, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing. We will keep your basic data to identify you and retain it solely for preventing further unwanted processing.

• Restrict Processing

  You have the right to request Searce to restrict the processing of your personal information.This means we are permitted to store the data but not further process it. We keep just enough data to make sure we respect your request in the future.

• Portability

  Where processing is based on consent or the performance of a contract, you have the right to data portability. Searce shall allow you to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes in a safe and secure way without this affecting the usability of your data. This right only applies to personal data that you have provided to us as the data controller.

• Consent

  You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where Searce relied on your consent to process your personal information upon a written request.

Please note that we may ask you to verify your identity before responding to such requests. Please reach out to us to request access, rectification, or erasure, or to restrict processing, to object to processing, to request data portability. Subject to legal considerations or certain exemptions, we may not always be able to address your request, for example, if it would impact the duty of confidentiality we owe to others, or if we are legally entitled to deal with the request differently. Please contact us by email to ensure your request is received in a timely manner.

You have the right to complain to a Data Protection Authority about our collection and use of your Personal Data. For more information, please contact your local data protection authority in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Automated Decision Making

Automated decisions are defined as decisions about individuals that are based solely on the automated processing of data and that produce legal effects that significantly affect the individuals involved.

Searce does not make automated decisions using personal data. If automated decisions are to be made, affected persons will be given an opportunity to express their views on the automated decision in question and object to it.

Providing Information to Searce

If you choose not to provide certain personal information, it may be an impediment to the exchange of information necessary for the execution of the contract or provision of Services, and we may not be able to provide you with some services and you may not be able to participate in some of the activities on our Website.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Searce may collect and use consumer personal information for its business purposes and related operational purposes. With respect to these activities, Searce may have direct responsibilities as a business subject to the CCPA. For example, for certain activities related to interacting with prospective/current clients, marketing, website and web application use, engaging vendors, and interacting with visitors/users of our Website. In these cases, this Policy is applicable.

Searce also collects information in its capacity as a service provider to our clients, providing Services. In that case, Searce receives personal information from our clients where we have no direct relationship with the individuals whose personal information we process, and information is provided to us solely for the business purpose of providing those Services. If you are a customer or other user associated with one of our clients on whose behalf we have collected or processed your information, this Policy does not apply to you, and if you have questions or wish to exercise your rights relating to your personal information (such as information, access or deletion), please contact that client directly.

Personal information does not include

1. Publicly available information from government records;
2. De-identified or aggregated consumer information;
3. Information excluded from the CCPA's scope, like
   1. Health or medical information covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) or clinical trial data;
   2. Personal information covered by certain sector-specific privacy laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), California Financial Information Privacy Act (CalFIPA), and the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994.

We obtain the categories of personal information listed above from the following categories of sources:

1. Directly from our clients or their agents. For example, from documents that our clients provide to us related to the Services for which they engage us;
2. Indirectly from our clients or their agents. For example, through information we collect from our clients in the course of providing Services to them;
3. Directly and indirectly from activity on our Website. For example, from submissions through our Website portal or Website usage details collected automatically;
4. From third-parties that interact with us in connection with the Services we perform.

Compliance

Searce will use a self-assessment approach to verify compliance with this Policy and periodically verify that the Policy is accurate, and comprehensive for the information intended to be covered, prominently displayed, implemented, and accessible.

If you believe that your personal data/personal information has been processed or disclosed in violation of this Policy, Searce encourages you to raise any concerns using the contact information provided in this Policy. Searce will investigate and attempt to resolve any complaints and disputes regarding use and disclosure of your personal data/personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, before the change becomes effective, and update the "effective date" at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.