1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how TaiwanDrones.com ("TaiwanDrones.com," "Company," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information obtained through the website located at taiwandrones.com (the "Platform").
By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described in this Privacy Policy, you should not use the Platform.
This Privacy Policy should be read in conjunction with our Terms of Service, which govern your use of the Platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you use the Platform, including:
(a) Newsletter Subscription. When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address, name (if provided), and your self-identified role or interest (e.g., buyer, supplier, investor, media, or other).
(b) Request for Quotation (RFQ) Submissions. When you submit an RFQ through the Platform, we collect your name, company name, email address, phone number (if provided), country, product interest, quantity, timeline, and any additional notes you include.
(c) Supplier Onboarding. When a supplier registers with the Platform or provides information for a directory listing, we collect company name, contact person name, email address, phone number, company registration information, and such other business information as may be required for the listing and verification process.
(d) Contact and Correspondence. When you contact us via email or through any form on the Platform, we collect the information contained in your communication.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you access the Platform, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:
(a) Log Data. Your IP address, browser type, browser version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, date and time of access, and duration of visit.
(b) RFQ Submission Metadata. When you submit an RFQ, we collect and store your IP address, browser user agent string, the referring URL, and the page from which the submission was made. This information is collected for compliance, security, and fraud prevention purposes.
(c) Cookies and Similar Technologies. We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activity on the Platform. See Section 7 for more information.
2.3 Information From Third-Party Sources
(a) Sanctions Screening. When you submit an RFQ, your name, company name, and country may be submitted to third-party sanctions screening services (currently OpenSanctions) to check against publicly available sanctions and restricted party lists, including but not limited to lists maintained by the U.S. OFAC, U.S. BIS, the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom HM Treasury, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) International Trade Administration. The results of this screening, including any match scores and matched entity information, are stored by us as part of our compliance records.
(b) Analytics. We may use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics or similar providers) that collect information about your use of the Platform. These services may use cookies and similar technologies to collect and analyze usage data.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:
(a) Providing Services. To operate the Platform, process RFQ submissions, maintain supplier listings, deliver newsletters, and provide access to content and features.
(b) Communications. To send you newsletters, industry alerts, and other communications you have subscribed to. To respond to your inquiries and correspondence. To notify you of changes to our services or policies.
(c) Compliance and Security. To screen RFQ submissions against sanctions databases. To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security threats, and violations of our Terms of Service. To maintain audit trails for compliance purposes. To comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
(d) Platform Improvement. To analyze usage patterns and improve the Platform's functionality, content, and user experience. To develop new features and services.
(e) Legal Purposes. To enforce our Terms of Service. To protect the rights, property, and safety of TaiwanDrones.com, our users, and the public. To comply with legal obligations, including responding to lawful requests from governmental authorities.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Depending on your jurisdiction, we process your personal information based on one or more of the following legal grounds:
(a) Consent. Where you have provided your consent, such as when you subscribe to our newsletter.
(b) Contractual Necessity. Where processing is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract.
(c) Legitimate Interests. Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, including operating and improving the Platform, ensuring security, preventing fraud, and complying with sanctions and export control requirements, provided that such interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.
(d) Legal Obligation. Where processing is necessary to comply with applicable legal or regulatory obligations, including sanctions screening and record-keeping requirements.
5. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
(a) Supplier Delivery. When an RFQ submission passes our compliance screening, the submission contents (buyer name, company, country, product interest, quantity, timeline, and notes) are transmitted to the relevant supplier. We do not share your direct contact information (email address and phone number) with suppliers. Communication is facilitated through TaiwanDrones.com.
(b) Service Providers. We share information with third-party service providers who assist in operating the Platform, including hosting providers, email delivery services (e.g., Buttondown), and sanctions screening services (e.g., OpenSanctions). These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only to provide services to us and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
(c) Analytics Providers. We may share anonymized or aggregated usage data with analytics providers to help us understand how the Platform is used.
(d) Legal Requirements. We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of TaiwanDrones.com, our users, or the public.
(e) Business Transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change by posting notice on the Platform.
(f) With Your Consent. We may share your information for purposes not described in this Privacy Policy with your explicit consent.
6. Data Retention
(a) Newsletter Subscribers. We retain subscriber information for as long as your subscription is active. If you unsubscribe, we retain a record of your email address and unsubscribe date to honor your preferences and prevent re-enrollment.
(b) RFQ Submissions. We retain RFQ submission data, including sanctions screening results and submission metadata, indefinitely for compliance and audit trail purposes. Screened RFQ records are not deleted from our systems due to regulatory record-keeping requirements.
(c) Supplier Information. We retain supplier listing information for as long as the supplier is listed on the Platform and for a reasonable period thereafter.
(d) Log and Analytics Data. We retain server logs and analytics data for up to 24 months, after which it is deleted or anonymized.
(e) Correspondence. We retain correspondence and communication records for as long as necessary for the purpose for which they were collected, or as required by applicable law.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
7.1 What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They are used to remember your preferences, analyze how the website is used, and support website functionality.
7.2 Types of Cookies We Use
(a) Strictly Necessary Cookies. These cookies are essential for the operation of the Platform, including session management and security features. They cannot be disabled.
(b) Analytics Cookies. These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Platform by collecting information about pages visited, time spent on the site, and traffic sources. This data is aggregated and anonymized.
(c) Functional Cookies. These cookies remember your preferences, such as language or region, to provide a personalized experience.
7.3 Your Choices
Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie preferences through browser settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform.
8. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the personal information we collect and store against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL), access controls, and secure storage practices.
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials or communications associated with your use of the Platform.
9. International Data Transfers
The Platform is operated from the United States of America. If you are accessing the Platform from outside this jurisdiction, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in a country other than your own. By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to jurisdictions that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.
Where required by applicable law, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in connection with international transfers, including standard contractual clauses or other transfer mechanisms recognized by applicable data protection authorities.
10. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights with respect to your personal information, including:
(a) Access. The right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
(b) Correction. The right to request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
(c) Deletion. The right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to our retention obligations described in Section 6. Please note that RFQ submission data subject to compliance record-keeping requirements may not be eligible for deletion.
(d) Portability. The right to request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
(e) Objection. The right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including direct marketing.
(f) Withdrawal of Consent. Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing conducted prior to withdrawal.
(g) Restriction. The right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information under certain circumstances.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@taiwandrones.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.
11. Residents of Specific Jurisdictions
11.1 European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland
If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the processing of your personal data is governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or equivalent local legislation. The legal bases for our processing activities are described in Section 4. You have the rights described in Section 10, and you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.
11.2 California
If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used, the right to delete personal information, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.
11.3 Republic of China (Taiwan)
If you are a resident of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the processing of your personal data is subject to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). You have the rights described in Section 10, including the right to request access, correction, deletion, or cessation of processing of your personal data in accordance with the PDPA.
12. Children's Privacy
The Platform is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@taiwandrones.com.
13. Third-Party Links
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources that are not operated or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised Privacy Policy on the Platform with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
If we make material changes that significantly affect how we handle your personal information, we will provide prominent notice on the Platform or by other means, such as email notification, prior to the changes taking effect.
15. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
TaiwanDrones.com
Email: privacy@taiwandrones.com
For data protection inquiries specific to GDPR or other regulatory frameworks, please direct your inquiry to the email address above with the subject line "Data Protection Inquiry."