Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Networkli ("we," "our," or "us"). Networkli is a professional networking platform that helps community leaders facilitate meaningful connections among their members through AI-powered matching technology.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform, website (www.networkli.co), mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using Networkli, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Registration Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Personal identifiers: First name, last name, email address, password (encrypted)
• Location data: ZIP code, city, state, country (used for local matching)
• Account type: Whether you're a community leader or member

Profile Information

To help facilitate meaningful connections, we collect:

• Professional information: Job title, company name, industry, experience level
• Profile content: Bio (100-250 characters), profile photo/avatar
• Networking preferences:
  • Skills: Your professional skills and competencies
  • Interests: Professional topics and areas of interest
  • Expertise: What you're good at and can offer others
  • Needs: What you're looking for or need help with
  • Goals: Your professional and meaningful goals
  • Values: Core values that drive your professional decisions
  • Networking style: How you prefer to connect with others
• Social media profiles: LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook (optional)
• Website/portfolio: Personal or professional website URLs (optional)

Privacy & Communication Preferences

• Profile visibility: Public, private, or connections-only
• Email preferences: Notifications, marketing communications
• Communication settings: How and when we can contact you

Payment Information (Leaders Only)

If you subscribe as a community leader, we collect payment information through our third-party payment processor, Stripe. We do not store your full credit card information on our servers. Stripe collects:

• Credit/debit card number, expiration date, CVV
• Billing address and ZIP code
• Payment history and subscription status

See Stripe's Privacy Policy at stripe.com/privacy for how they handle payment data.

Communications

• Messages: Direct messages you send to other members through our platform
• Support inquiries: Information you provide when contacting customer support
• Feedback: Surveys, reviews, and feedback you provide

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

Usage and Activity Data

• Profile interactions: Profile views, connection requests sent/received, swipe actions (accept/pass)
• Engagement data: Time spent on platform, features used, clicks, navigation paths
• Connection activity: Who you connect with, message frequency, response patterns
• Member activity tracking: Login frequency, active/inactive status, last activity timestamps

Device and Technical Information

• Device data: Device type, operating system, browser type and version
• Log data: IP address, access times, pages viewed, referral URLs
• Identifiers: Device ID, session ID, cookie identifiers
• Location data: Approximate location based on IP address (in addition to ZIP code you provide)

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to:

• Keep you logged in and remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our Service
• Improve your experience and platform performance
• Provide analytics and measure advertising effectiveness

You can control cookies through your browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for more information.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Social media integration: If you connect your social media accounts, we may receive public profile information from those platforms
• Analytics providers: Aggregated usage data from analytics services
• Community leaders: If you're invited to join a group, we receive your email address from the leader who invited you

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 To Provide and Improve Our Service

• Create and manage your account
• Facilitate member-to-member connections and introductions
• Enable direct messaging between members
• Display your profile to other members (based on your visibility settings)
• Process and manage group memberships
• Improve platform features, functionality, and user experience
• Develop new products and services

3.2 For AI-Powered Matching (See Section 4 for Details)

• Generate AI recommendations for potential connections
• Create vector embeddings of your profile information
• Calculate compatibility scores with other members
• Personalize your member discovery experience
• Explain why you might be a good match with specific members

3.3 For Leader-Specific Features

• Provide analytics dashboards showing member engagement
• Track group membership and activity metrics
• Enable leaders to send invitations to potential members
• Process subscription payments and billing
• Monitor usage for subscription tier compliance

3.4 For Communications

• Send transactional emails (connection requests, messages, account updates)
• Deliver notifications about platform activity
• Send service announcements and updates
• Respond to your customer support inquiries
• Send marketing communications (only with your consent, which you can withdraw anytime)
• Invitation emails: When a community leader invites you to join their network, we send a one-time invitation email on their behalf. This is considered a transactional communication based on legitimate interest (the leader's relationship with you). All invitation emails include an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out of future invitations at any time.

3.5 For Safety, Security, and Legal Compliance

• Verify user identities and prevent fraud
• Detect and prevent spam, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service
• Monitor for child safety concerns (see our Child Safety Standards)
• Comply with legal obligations and law enforcement requests
• Protect our rights, property, and the safety of our users
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

3.6 For Analytics and Research

• Analyze platform usage patterns and trends
• Measure effectiveness of our matching algorithms
• Conduct research to improve connection quality
• Generate anonymized, aggregated statistics

4. AI & Matching Technology

Networkli uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to help members discover meaningful professional connections. Here's how our AI matching works:

4.1 Vector Embeddings

We create mathematical representations (called "embeddings") of your profile information:

• What we embed: Your bio, expertise, needs, and goals are converted into 384-dimensional numerical vectors
• Purpose: These vectors allow our AI to understand semantic meaning and find similar profiles
• Technology: We use transformer-based neural networks to generate these embeddings
• Storage: Embeddings are stored securely in our database alongside your profile

4.2 Matching Algorithms

We use two complementary approaches to generate recommendations:

• Attribute Matching: Direct comparison of skills, interests, location, and industry
• Graph Neural Network (GNN): Advanced AI that learns from successful connections across the network to predict compatibility
• Hybrid Approach: Combines both methods to provide the best possible recommendations

4.3 Match Explanations

We provide explanations for why we suggest specific connections:

• Generated using rule-based logic for attribute matches
• Optionally enhanced with OpenAI's language models for more natural explanations
• Designed to be transparent about matching criteria

4.4 Learning and Improvement

Our AI learns from aggregate behavior patterns to improve recommendations:

• Tracks which connections lead to meaningful interactions
• Uses connection acceptance/rejection patterns (anonymized)
• Continuously refines matching algorithms
• Does not sell or share learning data with third parties

4.5 Your Control Over AI Matching

• You control what information appears in your profile
• You can adjust visibility settings to limit who sees your profile
• Swipe actions (accept/pass) help train personalized recommendations
• You can request deletion of your data, including embeddings (see Section 9)

5. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 With Other Members (Based on Your Settings)

• Public profile visibility: Your profile information is visible to all members and leaders within groups you join
• Connections-only visibility: Only members you've connected with can see your full profile
• Private visibility: Your profile is hidden from discovery; you must initiate connections
• Swipe interface: Your profile may appear to other members in the matching interface
• Member lists: Community leaders can see members within their groups

5.2 With Community Leaders

If you join a group led by a community leader, they can see:

• Your basic profile information (name, title, company)
• Your engagement within their group (last active, connection count)
• Anonymized analytics (aggregated with other members)
• Messages you send in group contexts (if applicable)

Leaders cannot see: Your full swipe history, private messages with other members, or profiles you've viewed.

5.3 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our platform:

• Supabase: Database hosting and authentication services
• Stripe: Payment processing for subscriptions
• OpenAI: Optional AI enhancements for match explanations (only anonymized data)
• Analytics providers: Aggregated usage analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Vercel Analytics)
• Email service providers: Transactional and marketing email delivery
• Cloud infrastructure: Hosting and content delivery services

All service providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.4 For Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Investigate potential violations of our Terms of Service
• Protect the safety of our users or the public
• Report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to appropriate authorities

5.5 Business Transfers

If Networkli is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or prominent notice on our platform before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5.6 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent or at your direction (e.g., when you choose to share your profile on social media).

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

6.1 Technical Safeguards

• Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS/SSL
• Password security: Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms (never stored in plain text)
• Database security: Access controls, encryption at rest, and regular security audits
• Authentication: Secure session management and token-based authentication
• Infrastructure: Hosted on secure, SOC 2 compliant cloud infrastructure

6.2 Organizational Safeguards

• Limited employee access to personal data (need-to-know basis)
• Regular security training for staff
• Data breach response protocols
• Regular security assessments and penetration testing

6.3 Important Limitations

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

7.1 Active Accounts

• Profile information retained while your account is active
• Activity logs retained for up to 2 years for analytics purposes
• Messages retained until you delete them

7.2 Closed Accounts

• Most data deleted within 30 days of account closure
• Some information retained for legal compliance (e.g., transaction records for 7 years for tax purposes)
• Anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely

7.3 Legal and Safety Requirements

• Data related to violations or investigations retained until resolved
• Information required by law retained for legally mandated periods
• Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days after deletion

8. International Data Transfers

Networkli is based in the United States. If you access our Service from outside the US, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the US and other countries where our service providers operate.

These countries may have data protection laws different from your country of residence. By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the US and other countries as described in this Privacy Policy.

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland, we comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards for international data transfers.

9. Your Rights and Choices

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

9.1 Access and Portability

• View your data: Access your profile information at any time through your account settings
• Download your data: Request a copy of your personal information in a portable format
• How to request: Email privacy@networkli.co with subject line "Data Access Request"

9.2 Correction and Updates

• Update your profile information directly in your account settings
• Request correction of inaccurate data by contacting support
• Updates take effect immediately in most cases

9.3 Deletion

• Delete specific content: Delete individual messages, connections, or profile elements
• Close your account: Request full account deletion via Settings → Delete Account
• What gets deleted: Profile, connections, messages, activity history, AI embeddings
• What may be retained: Legal/financial records, anonymized analytics, backup copies (up to 90 days)
• Timeline: Most data deleted within 30 days

9.4 Opt-Out of Communications

• Marketing emails: Unsubscribe link at bottom of every marketing email, or adjust preferences in account settings
• Notification preferences: Customize which notifications you receive in Settings → Notifications
• Note: You cannot opt-out of essential transactional emails (password resets, account security alerts)

9.5 Object to Processing

• Object to specific uses of your data by contacting privacy@networkli.co
• Adjust visibility settings to limit profile exposure
• Note: Some processing is essential to providing the Service (e.g., matching algorithms)

9.6 Additional Rights for EEA, UK, and California Residents

If you reside in the EEA, UK, or California, you may have additional rights under GDPR, UK GDPR, or CCPA:

• Right to restriction: Request limits on how we process your data
• Right to lodge a complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority
• Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw consent for processing based on consent (won't affect past processing)
• CCPA rights: California residents have rights to know, delete, and opt-out of sale (we don't sell data)

To exercise these rights, contact privacy@networkli.co. We'll respond within legally required timeframes (typically 30 days).

10. Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you are under 18, do not use our Service, create an account, or provide any information to us.

If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will:

• Immediately terminate the account
• Delete all associated personal information
• Take steps to prevent future account creation

If you believe a child under 18 has provided information to us, please contact us immediately at privacy@networkli.co or dthadd13@gmail.com.

See our complete Child Safety Standards for more information on our child protection practices.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites, services, or social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

When you click on a third-party link or connect a third-party service (e.g., LinkedIn), you are subject to that party's privacy policy. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

Examples of third-party services we integrate with:

• Social media platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram)
• Payment processors (Stripe)
• Analytics providers (Google Analytics, Vercel Analytics)
• Communication platforms (if you choose to connect them)

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

12.1 How We Notify You

• Material changes: We'll notify you via email and/or prominent notice on our platform at least 30 days before changes take effect
• Minor changes: Updated "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Your options: If you disagree with changes, you may close your account before they take effect

12.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We strive to respond to all inquiries within 5 business days. For urgent matters related to data breaches or child safety, we respond within 24 hours.

14. Legal Basis for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, our legal basis for processing your personal information includes:

• Contract performance: Processing necessary to provide our Service under our Terms of Service
• Legitimate interests: Improving our Service, preventing fraud, ensuring security
• Consent: Marketing communications, optional features (you can withdraw consent anytime)
• Legal obligation: Compliance with laws, regulations, court orders