1 Introduction
This Privacy Policy outlines the way in which Befriend Inc ABN 36 314 845 868 (Befriend) manages Personal Information in relation to our mobile services, website and any software provided on or in connection with Befriend services (collectively, the “Service”). All references to “we” or “us” refer to Befriend.
Befriend values the privacy of individuals and is committed to safeguarding the information it receives in connection with its business activities. To achieve this commitment to privacy, Befriend will comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). The APPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose and store your Personal and Sensitive information. The full text of the APPs can be viewed online on the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner’s website at: http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-act/the-privacy-act.
Access to our website and services is conditional on your approval of this Policy and you agree that your use of the Service implies that you consent to the terms of this Policy. This Policy was last updated in January 2018.
1 Information we collect
1.1 Personal and Sensitive Information
When used in this policy, the terms “Personal information” and “Sensitive information” have the meaning given to them in the Privacy Act. In this Policy, Personal and Sensitive information are collectively referred to as the “Information”
We collect the following types of Information:Information you provide us directly, including:
(a) Your username, password and e-mail address when you register for a Befriend account.
(b) Profile information that you provide for your user profile (e.g., first and last name, picture, phone number).
(c) User content (e.g. photos, comments, and other materials) that you post to the Service.
(d) Communications between you and Befriend.
Except for Information about your ethic origin and sexual orientation, we do not generally seek to collect Sensitive information. In the limited cases where we do seek to collect Sensitive information, we will do so in accordance with the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy.
If you choose to provide us with unsolicited Personal or Sensitive information, you consent to our using such information, subject to the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy.
1.2 Analytics information:
We use third-party analytics tools to help us measure traffic and usage trends for the Service. These tools collect information sent by your device to our Service, including web pages you visit and other information that assist us in improving the Service. We collect and use this analytics information with analytics information from other Users so that it cannot reasonably be used to identify any particular individual user.
1.3 Cookies and similar technologies:
When you visit the Service, we may use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about how you use Befriend and provide features to you.
We may ask advertisers or other partners to serve ads or services to your devices, which may use cookies or similar technologies placed by us or the third party.
2 How we use your Information
We collect the Information that is reasonably necessary to conduct our business activities.
In general, we may use Information that we receive to:Information you provide us directly, including:
(a) help you efficiently access your information after you sign in;
(b) remember information so you will not have to re-enter it during your visit or the next time you visit the Service;
(c) provide personalised content and information to you and others, which could include online ads or other forms of marketing;
(d) provide, improve, test and monitor the effectiveness of our service;
(e) monitor metrics such as total number of visitors, traffic and demographic patterns;
(f) diagnose or fix technology problems;
(g) automatically update the Befriend application on your device; and
(h) as required or permitted by law (including under the Privacy Act).
3 Sharing of your Information
3.1 Parties with whom we may share your Information:
When used in this policy, the terms “Personal information” and “Sensitive information” have the meaning given to them in the Privacy Act. In this Policy, Personal and Sensitive information are collectively referred to as the “Information”
We collect the following types of Information:Information you provide us directly, including:
(a) Your username, password and e-mail address when you register for a Befriend account.
(b) Profile information that you provide for your user profile (e.g., first and last name, picture, phone number).
(c) User content (e.g. photos, comments, and other materials) that you post to the Service.
(d) Communications between you and Befriend.
Except for Information about your ethic origin and sexual orientation, we do not generally seek to collect Sensitive information. In the limited cases where we do seek to collect Sensitive information, we will do so in accordance with the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy.
If you choose to provide us with unsolicited Personal or Sensitive information, you consent to our using such information, subject to the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy.
4 Safeguarding your Information
We maintain reasonable administrative, physical and technological measures to protect the confidentiality and security of the Information you provide to us.
5 Accessing and correcting your Information
You may update your account at any time by logging in and changing your profile settings.
Befriend will retain the Information you provide to us for as long as is necessary to provide our Services. Following termination or deactivation of your account, Befriend, its Affiliates, or its Service Providers may retain your Information (including your profile information) and user content for a commercially reasonably time for backup, archival, and / or audit purposes.
6 Direct marketing
Users may choose to receive direct marketing communications and information about services that we consider may be of interest to you. These communications will be sent to the email address provided by you in accordance with applicable marketing laws, such as the Spam Act 2004(Cth).
In addition, at any time, you may opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by using the opt-out facilities provided. We will then ensure that your name is removed from the mailing list.
7 Other websites and services
Befriend is not responsible for the practices employed by any websites or services linked to or from our Service, including the information or content contained within them. When you use a link to go from our service to another website or service, our Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party websites or services. Your browsing and interaction on any third-party website or service, including those that have a link on our website, are subject to that third party’s own rules and policies. In addition, you agree that Befriend is not responsible and does not have control over any third-parties that you authorise to access your user content. If you are using a third-party website or service and you allow them to access your user content you do so at your own risk.
8 Making a privacy related complaint
If you have a complaint about the handling of your Information by us, please contact our Privacy Compliance Officer, whose details can be found below.
Any complaint will be investigated by the Privacy Compliance Officer who will respond to your complaint within a reasonable period.
If you are not satisfied with our response, please notify the Privacy Compliance Officer in writing. You may also direct your issue to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website at www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints/.
Further information about individual’s rights under the Privacy Act can be obtained from the Office of the Australian Information Commission Enquiry Line on 1300 363 992.
9 Updates to this Policy
Befriend may modify or update this Privacy Policy from time to time, so please review it periodically. Your continued use of the Service after any modification to this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such modifications.
This website uses Google AdWords
This website uses the Google AdWords remarketing service to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. It could mean that we advertise to previous visitors who haven’t completed a task on our site, for example using the contact form to make an enquiry. This could be in the form of an advertisement on the Google search results page, or a site in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on someone’s past visits to the Befriend website. Of course, any data collected will be used in accordance with our own privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy.
You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page, and if you want to you can opt out of interest-based advertising entirely by cookie settings or permanently using a browser plugin.