StudentPlug ("we", "us", "our") operates a platform connecting South African students with accommodation, study resources, transportation, events, and political engagement opportunities.

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Our website (studentsplug.co.za)
• Mobile applications (when available)
• All services provided through our platform
• Communications with us

POPIA Compliance: StudentPlug is committed to complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and the regulations thereunder. We are registered with the Information Regulator.

2.1 Information You Provide

Account Registration:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Password (encrypted)
• Date of birth / Age
• Gender
• City and province

Student-Specific Information:

• University name
• Student number
• University email address
• Faculty and course information
• Year of study
• Academic interests
• Student ID documents (for verification)

Service Provider Information:

• Business registration documents
• Insurance certificates
• Property details (for accommodation providers)
• Driver's license and PrDP (for transport drivers)
• Vehicle information and roadworthy certificates
• Academic transcripts (for Study Buddies showing 70%+ grades)

Political Organization Information:

• Organization registration documents
• Authorized representative details
• Election commission credentials (for election bodies)

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent, click patterns
• Location Data: GPS coordinates (for transport services, voting stations, accommodation searches)
• Cookies & Tracking: See Section 8 for details

2.3 User-Generated Content

• Messages and chats
• Reviews and ratings
• Event posts and photos
• Campaign posts (political organizations)
• Study questions and answers
• Marketplace listings

2.4 Transaction Information

• Booking details (accommodations, study sessions, rides)
• Payment information (processed by third-party providers)
• Transaction history
• Refund requests

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

3.1 Platform Operations

• Create and manage your account
• Provide access to platform features
• Process bookings, reservations, and transactions
• Facilitate communication between users
• Enable GPS tracking for transport services
• Verify voting station locations

3.2 Verification & Safety

• Verify student, service provider, and organizational identities
• Conduct background checks (transport drivers)
• Prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Maintain platform integrity
• Ensure election integrity

3.3 Service Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Improve platform features and user experience
• Develop new services
• Conduct research and analytics
• Personalize content and recommendations

3.4 Communication

• Send transactional notifications (bookings, payments, etc.)
• Provide customer support
• Send platform updates and announcements
• Deliver marketing communications (with your consent)
• Notify about election dates and results

3.5 Legal & Compliance

• Comply with legal obligations
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect our rights and property
• Respond to law enforcement requests
• Resolve disputes

3.6 Business Intelligence

• Generate demographic insights (anonymized and aggregated)
• Provide analytics to business partners
• Understand geographical distribution
• Track platform growth and engagement

We do not sell your personal information. We only share information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Other Users

• Your public profile information (name, university, photo)
• Reviews and ratings you post
• Messages sent to other users
• Event RSVPs and attendance
• Study Buddy profiles (including transcripts showing grades)
• Transport driver information (for safety)

4.2 With Service Providers

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

• Payment processors (for transactions)
• Cloud hosting providers (for data storage)
• Email service providers (for notifications)
• Analytics providers (for platform improvement)
• Background check services (for driver verification)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

4.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information if required to:

• Comply with legal process (court orders, subpoenas)
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect users' safety or legal rights
• Investigate fraud or security issues
• Cooperate with law enforcement

4.4 Business Transfers

If StudentPlug is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

4.6 Aggregated & Anonymized Data

We may share aggregated, anonymized data that does not identify you personally for:

• Business intelligence reports
• Marketing partnerships
• Research purposes
• Platform analytics

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

• Encryption: Data transmitted over the internet is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Password Security: Passwords are hashed and encrypted
• Access Controls: Limited employee access on a need-to-know basis
• Secure Storage: Data stored on secure servers with regular backups
• Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and updates
• Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity

Your Role in Security

You can help protect your account by:

• Using a strong, unique password
• Not sharing your password with others
• Logging out after using shared devices
• Reporting suspicious activity immediately
• Keeping your contact information up to date

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements
• Maintain business records

Retention Periods

• Active Accounts: Retained while your account is active
• Inactive Accounts: May be deleted after 2 years of inactivity
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years (tax and legal requirements)
• Support Communications: Retained for 3 years
• Marketing Data: Until you opt out or withdraw consent

Account Deletion

When you delete your account:

• Your profile and personal information will be removed
• Some information may be retained in backups for 30 days
• Transaction records will be retained as required by law
• Public content (reviews, posts) may remain but will be anonymized

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights:

7.1 Right to Access

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

7.2 Right to Correction

You have the right to request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information. You can update most information directly in your account settings.

7.3 Right to Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.

7.4 Right to Object

You have the right to object to processing of your personal information for:

• Direct marketing purposes
• Profiling or automated decision-making
• Processing based on legitimate interests

7.5 Right to Restrict Processing

You have the right to request that we limit how we use your information in certain circumstances.

7.6 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used format and transmit it to another service.

7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we process your information based on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

7.8 Right to Complain

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa:

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@studentsplug.co.za. We will respond within 30 days.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for platform functionality (login, session management)
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how you use the platform (analytics)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Advertising Cookies: Deliver relevant ads (with your consent)

Third-Party Cookies

We may use third-party services that set their own cookies:

• Google Analytics (website analytics)
• Social media platforms (if you share content)
• Payment processors

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of StudentPlug.

StudentPlug integrates with third-party services:

• Payment processors (for transactions)
• Cloud storage providers
• Email services
• Analytics tools
• Background check services

Note: Third-party services have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We recommend reviewing their policies before providing information to them.

Links to Other Websites

Our platform may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these sites.

StudentPlug is intended for users who are:

• 18 years of age or older, OR
• Matriculants (Grade 12 students) preparing for university

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 years of age. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 16, we will delete it promptly.

Parents/Guardians: If you believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately at privacy@studentsplug.co.za.

StudentPlug primarily operates in South Africa. However, some of our service providers may be located outside South Africa, which may involve transferring your data internationally.

When we transfer data outside South Africa, we ensure:

• Compliance with POPIA requirements
• Adequate safeguards are in place
• Data protection standards equivalent to South African law
• Contractual obligations for data protection

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date
• Post the new policy on our website
• Send email notifications for significant changes
• Request your consent where required by law

Your continued use of StudentPlug after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact our Data Protection Officer: