Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

HakikaSeal ("HakikaSeal," "we," "us," or "our") operates an anti-counterfeit verification platform that helps consumers verify product authenticity and helps manufacturers protect their brands across Africa.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and share it, and the choices available to you. By using our website, mobile application, or manufacturer dashboard, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. Who We Are

HakikaSeal is operated from Nairobi, Kenya. We provide product verification services to consumers and brand-protection tools to manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at hello@hakikaseal.com.

3. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• The HakikaSeal website at hakikaseal.com and related landing pages
• The HakikaSeal consumer mobile app (iOS and Android)
• The HakikaSeal manufacturer and importer dashboard (web and mobile)
• Customer support, sales, and onboarding communications
• API integrations provided to enterprise customers

4. Information We Collect

We collect information depending on how you interact with HakikaSeal.

4.1 Consumer App Users

If you use the HakikaSeal app to scan product codes, we may collect:

• Scan data: QR code or seal identifiers, scan timestamp, verification result (genuine or fake), and product metadata linked to the code
• Device information: Device type, operating system, app version, and language preference
• Approximate location: City, region, or country derived from IP address or device location services, where permitted, to help detect counterfeit hotspots
• Optional account details: If you create an account, we may collect your name, email address, or phone number
• Consumer reports: Optional feedback or counterfeit reports you submit through the app

You can scan products without creating an account. When location services are used, you can manage permissions through your device settings.

4.2 Manufacturers, Importers & Business Users

If you register for a manufacturer dashboard or business account, we may collect:

• Account information: Company name, contact name, business email, phone number, country, and billing details
• Authentication data: Login credentials and security logs
• Product and code data: Product names, batches, generated seal codes, and related brand information you upload
• Dashboard activity: Actions such as code generation, disabling codes, alert settings, and team member access
• Payment information: Billing records and transaction references. Payment card details are processed by third-party payment providers and are not stored directly by HakikaSeal

4.3 Website Visitors

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Browser type, pages visited, referral source, and general usage data
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Cookie and similar technology data, as described below

4.4 Communications

If you contact us by email, WhatsApp, phone, or support forms, we collect the information you provide, including the content of your message and contact details, so we can respond to your inquiry.

5. How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

• Verify product authenticity and return genuine or fake results to consumers
• Provide scan tracking, geolocation heatmaps, and counterfeit alerts to brand owners
• Detect suspicious scanning patterns and help disable compromised codes
• Operate, maintain, and improve our website, app, dashboard, and APIs
• Process payments, invoices, and subscription or pay-per-code purchases
• Send service notifications, security alerts, and account-related messages by push notification, email, or SMS where enabled
• Provide customer support and respond to legal or regulatory requests
• Prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access to our systems
• Analyze aggregated usage trends to improve reliability and user experience

We process personal information where necessary to perform our contract with you, comply with legal obligations, protect legitimate business interests such as fraud prevention, or with your consent where required.

6. Sharing & Disclosure

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

• With brand owners: Scan events related to their product codes, including approximate location and verification results, so they can monitor authenticity and respond to counterfeiting
• With service providers: Hosting, analytics, payment processing, email/SMS delivery, customer support, and security vendors that process data on our behalf under contractual safeguards
• With enterprise API customers: Where authorized by your business account and governed by separate agreements
• For legal reasons: When required by law, court order, regulatory authority, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of HakikaSeal, our users, or the public
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to provide our services, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements.

• Scan and verification records may be retained to support counterfeit investigations and reporting features for brand owners
• Business account and billing records are retained as required for accounting, tax, and compliance purposes
• Support communications are retained for a reasonable period to improve service quality

When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it in accordance with our internal retention schedules.

8. Security

We implement technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information, including access controls, encryption in transit, monitoring, and secure infrastructure practices.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. If you believe your account or data has been compromised, contact us immediately at hello@hakikaseal.com.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of certain information, subject to legal and operational requirements
• Object to or restrict certain processing activities
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Request a copy of your information in a portable format, where applicable

To exercise these rights, email hello@hakikaseal.com. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request. If you are in Kenya, you may also have rights under applicable data protection laws, including the Data Protection Act, 2019.

10. Children's Privacy

HakikaSeal is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

11. International Transfers

HakikaSeal serves users across Africa and may process or store information in Kenya and other countries where our service providers operate. Where personal information is transferred across borders, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place consistent with applicable law.

12. Cookies & Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences, measure traffic, and improve performance. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality.

We may use analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with our site. Analytics data is generally aggregated and does not directly identify individual users unless combined with other information you provide.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on this page and revise the "Last updated" date. Continued use of HakikaSeal after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

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

• Email: hello@hakikaseal.com
• WhatsApp: +254 700 123 456
• Address: Nairobi, Kenya