Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to The Gratitude Network ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

By using The Gratitude Network, 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 services.

Information We Collect

Information from LinkedIn

When you sign in with LinkedIn, we collect the following information from your LinkedIn profile:

• Basic Profile Information: Your name, profile picture, and LinkedIn profile URL
• Email Address: Your primary email address associated with your LinkedIn account
• Profile Identifier: A unique identifier from LinkedIn to link your account

We do not access your LinkedIn connections, work history, education, or any other profile information beyond what is listed above.

Information You Provide

When using The Gratitude Network, you may provide:

• Gratitude Messages: The appreciation messages you write for others
• Media Content: Photos or videos you choose to attach to your gratitudes
• Recipient Information: Email addresses of people you wish to thank
• Profile Updates: Any optional bio or headline you add to your profile

Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our platform:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, and interaction patterns
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• Log Data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve The Gratitude Network platform
• Create and manage your user account
• Enable you to send and receive gratitude messages
• Send you notifications about gratitudes you receive
• Verify the authenticity of users through LinkedIn authentication
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues and security threats
• Comply with legal obligations

Information Sharing and Disclosure

Public Information

The following information is publicly visible on The Gratitude Network:

• Your name and profile picture
• Gratitude messages you send (only after the recipient accepts them)
• Gratitude messages you receive and accept
• Your optional profile bio and headline

Private Information

We do not sell, rent, or share your private information with third parties except:

• Service Providers: We may share data with trusted service providers who assist in operating our platform (e.g., hosting, email delivery, analytics)
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred
• With Your Consent: We may share information when you explicitly authorize us to do so

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS
• Secure authentication through LinkedIn OAuth 2.0
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
• Secure data storage with industry-standard providers

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time. After account deletion:

• Your profile information will be permanently deleted
• Gratitude messages you sent will remain visible but attributed to "Deleted User"
• Gratitude messages you received will be deleted
• We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your personal information
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@thegratitudenetwork.com.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Maintain your session and authentication state
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our platform
• Ensure security and prevent fraud

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our platform.

Children's Privacy

The Gratitude Network is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@thegratitudenetwork.com.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes are effective when they are posted on this page.

Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

LinkedIn Integration

The Gratitude Network uses LinkedIn for authentication. When you sign in with LinkedIn:

• We only request the minimum permissions necessary (OpenID Connect profile and email)
• We do not post to LinkedIn on your behalf
• We do not access your LinkedIn connections or network
• You can revoke our access at any time through your LinkedIn settings

LinkedIn's use of your information is governed by LinkedIn's Privacy Policy, available at linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: