This Privacy Policy explains what information Civup ("we", "us") collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. It applies to civup.com and to communities operated on our platform unless that operator publishes a different policy.

1. Information we collect

Information you provide

Account data: name, email address, password (stored as a hash), and optional profile fields you fill in.
Listing and post content: anything you publish, comment on, or upload.
Payment data: if you subscribe, our payment processor (Stripe) handles your card details. We receive only the customer ID, last four digits, and billing zip.
Communications: emails you send to us, support requests, and survey responses.

Information collected automatically

Usage data: pages viewed, links clicked, referring URL, approximate location derived from IP.
Device data: browser, operating system, device type.
Cookies and similar technologies: see "Cookies" below.

2. How we use information

To provide, secure, and improve the Service;
To authenticate sessions and enforce roles;
To send transactional email (verification, password reset, invoices, security alerts);
To send marketing email — only if you've opted in, and you can unsubscribe at any time;
To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access;
To comply with legal obligations.

3. AI features

Civup uses AI to assist with moderation, content drafting, search, member matching, and import classification. AI processing happens server-side; we don't sell your data to AI providers, and we don't use Your Content to train third-party foundation models. Outputs may be reviewed by our team to debug and improve quality.

4. Sharing

We share information only with service providers that help us operate Civup, under agreements that require them to protect it. These currently include:

Cloud infrastructure (hosting, edge networking, content delivery);
Email delivery (transactional and campaign sending);
Payment processing (Stripe);
Map and geocoding APIs;
Error monitoring and analytics.

We may also share information when required by law, to protect rights or safety, or in connection with a merger or acquisition. We do not sell personal information.

5. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Keep you signed in (session cookies);
Remember preferences;
Measure aggregate usage so we can improve the Service.

You can disable cookies in your browser, but parts of the Service may stop working without them.

6. Data security

We use industry-standard practices to protect personal information: encryption in transit (HTTPS), at-rest encryption for databases, hashed passwords, scoped access controls, and routine backups. No system is perfectly secure — we encourage strong, unique passwords and 2FA where offered.

7. Data retention

We retain account data for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward to comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes. You can request deletion at any time at hello@civup.com.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you;
Correct inaccuracies;
Delete your account and associated data;
Object to or restrict certain processing;
Receive a portable copy of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, email hello@civup.com. We'll respond within 30 days.

9. International transfers

Civup is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S. (and other countries where our service providers operate).

10. Children

Civup is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will promptly delete it.

11. Tenant communities

When you sign up to a community operated on Civup (for example, app.lkn.page), the operator of that community is the controller of the personal information you submit there. They may have additional terms or privacy practices that apply alongside this Policy.

12. Changes

We may update this Policy from time to time. The "Effective" date above will reflect the latest change. Material changes will be communicated by email or in-product notice.

13. Contact

Questions or requests? Email hello@civup.com.