Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 1, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how Alpha Bazaar, Inc. ("Alpha Bazaar," "we," "us") collects, uses, shares, and safeguards information when you use our websites, apps, and services (collectively, the "Services"). Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings in our Terms of Service ("ToS").

By using the Services, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you may not use the Services.

1) Who we are & scope

• Controller: Alpha Bazaar, Inc., Delaware, USA.
• Contact: legal@alphabazaar.ai
• Coverage: This Policy applies to the Services we operate. It does not cover third‑party sites/services (including brokers, messengers, or social networks) that we do not control.

2) Information we collect

We collect information in three ways: you provide it, we collect it automatically, and we receive it from third parties.

A. Information you provide

• Account & Profile: email, username/display name, password, optional bio/links, preferences.
• Content & Interactions: posts, comments, and other content you publish; settings and preferences (e.g., notifications).
• Support & Communications: messages you send to us (e.g., email to support or legal), survey responses, bug reports.

B. Information collected automatically

• Usage & Device Data: IP address, device identifiers, browser type, OS, language, referrer, pages viewed, links clicked, time/date, session duration.
• Approximate location derived from IP, for safety/compliance (e.g., sanctions geoblocking) and analytics.
• Cookies & similar technologies: pixels, local storage, and cookies to remember preferences, keep you signed in, protect accounts, and measure performance. See Cookies below.

C. Information from third parties

• Payments: We use payment processors (e.g., Stripe) to handle payments/payouts. We receive limited information (e.g., transaction status, amounts, last 4 digits/brand of card token where applicable, payout status) but do not store full card numbers.
• Security & Integrity: third‑party services that help us prevent fraud/abuse, enforce the AUP, and comply with AML/sanctions requirements.

3) Platform Data vs. Content

• Content means the expressive elements you create (e.g., text, images, commentary) and remains yours subject to the license in the ToS.
• Platform Data is owned by Alpha Bazaar and includes timestamps, edits, audit logs, metadata, engagement and delivery data, derived performance statistics, leaderboards, rankings, aggregate/anonymized datasets, models/analytics, and any improvements or compilations. We create and use Platform Data to operate, protect, and improve the Services. See ToS §6.

4) How we use information

We use information for the following purposes:

• Provide & maintain the Services: account creation, login, subscriptions, content hosting, search, leaderboards, metrics, and customer support.
• Trust & Safety; AUP enforcement: detect and prevent spam, scraping, fraud, chargeback abuse, market manipulation, MNPI violations, and other prohibited conduct.
• Payments & monetization: process purchases, administer referral credits, calculate Publisher payouts, manage holds/reserves/chargebacks.
• Communications: send service, account, and security messages. With your opt‑in, send marketing communications (email/SMS/push) which you can opt out of at any time.
• Compliance: AML/sanctions screens via processors, respond to lawful requests, enforce our ToS/AUP, and protect users, providers, and the public.
• Analytics, research & product improvement: understand usage, improve features, and create aggregate/anonymized insights and datasets. We may use automated systems (including machine learning) to support moderation and integrity checks.

We do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not use your information to tailor individualized trading recommendations. See ToS §2.

5) Legal bases (EEA/UK only)

Where GDPR/UK GDPR applies, we process personal data based on:

• Contract (Art. 6(1)(b)): to provide the Services you request.
• Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)): to secure and improve the Services, prevent abuse, measure performance, and engage in limited marketing to existing users.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)): for optional marketing/SMS, non‑essential cookies.
• Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)): AML/sanctions, tax, and regulatory requirements.

6) How we share information

We share information only as described below:

• Service providers/Processors: hosting, storage, analytics, communications, customer support, and payment processors (e.g., Stripe) under contracts that restrict use to our instructions.
• Publishers you subscribe to: we share your username/display name, subscription status, and access entitlements necessary to deliver paid content. We do not share your full payment card details.
• Safety, security, and legal: to detect, prevent, or address fraud/abuse; to enforce ToS/AUP; to comply with law or lawful requests; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Alpha Bazaar, users, providers, or the public.
• Corporate transactions: as part of a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to appropriate confidentiality.
• With your direction or consent.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share personal information for cross‑context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined by applicable U.S. privacy laws.

7) Cookies & similar technologies

We use cookies/local storage to keep you signed in, remember preferences, protect against abuse, and measure performance. You can manage cookies in your browser settings. Where required, we obtain consent for non‑essential cookies.

8) Data retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, including to meet legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Certain integrity logs (e.g., timestamps, edits, audit trails) may be retained for longer to investigate abuse, enforce the AUP, resolve disputes, and comply with law. We may retain aggregate/anonymized data (including Platform Data) indefinitely.

9) Security

We use organizational, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information (e.g., encryption in transit, access controls, monitoring). No system is 100% secure. Promptly notify us at legal@alphabazaar.ai if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

10) International data transfers

We are based in the United States and may transfer data to the U.S. and other countries that may not offer the same level of data protection. When required, we use appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) for such transfers.

11) Your choices & rights

• Account controls: access and update your profile information in settings.
• Marketing/SMS: opt out at any time (e.g., email unsubscribe; SMS reply STOP). Service/transactional messages are still sent.
• Cookies: manage in your browser; withdraw consent where applicable.
• Data subject rights (where available): request access, correction, deletion, portability, or restriction/objection to processing. To exercise rights, email legal@alphabazaar.ai. We may verify your request and deny requests where an exception applies (e.g., integrity logs necessary for security, legal obligations, or fraud prevention).

California residents can also use an authorized agent; we may require proof of authorization and identity verification. We do not discriminate for exercising privacy rights.

12) Children

The Services are intended for adults 18+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove it.

13) Changes to this Policy

We may modify this Policy. Material changes will be posted with a new effective date and apply prospectively. Continued use signifies acceptance.

14) Region‑specific disclosures

California (CPRA)

• Categories collected: identifiers (e.g., email, IP), internet activity (usage, device data), commercial information (transactions/subscriptions), approximate geolocation (from IP), inferences/analytics (aggregate/anonymized), and user‑generated content.
• Sources: you, your devices, service providers.
• Purposes: as described in Section 4.
• Disclosures for business purposes: to service providers/processors, safety/legal, corporate transactions.
• Sale/share: we do not sell or share (for cross‑context behavioral advertising) personal information.
• Sensitive personal information: we do not use sensitive personal information for purposes other than those permitted by law.

EEA/UK

• Controller: Alpha Bazaar, Inc.
• Data Protection Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, and withdrawal of consent (where processing is based on consent). You may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

15) Contact

Questions or requests? Email legal@alphabazaar.ai.