How We Use Your Information

The information we collect is used for the following purposes:

• Platform Operation: To create and manage your account, enable content creation and sharing (codelabs and courses), and ensure the proper functioning of Stepwik.
• Subscription Management: To process payments, manage your subscription plan, handle billing and renewals, and provide access to premium features based on your subscription tier.
• AI Feature Enhancement: To power and improve our AI-powered content creation tools, analyze usage patterns, and enhance the quality of AI-generated content suggestions.
• Content Optimization: To enhance the platform's functionality, optimize content for SEO and search visibility, and improve content recommendations using AI and analytics.
• Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries, provide technical support, and assist with account and subscription-related questions.
• Marketing and Communication: To send you updates, newsletters, subscription-related communications, and relevant information about the platform, subject to your preferences. You can opt-out of marketing communications at any time.
• Customization: To personalize your experience based on your interactions with the platform, subscription level, and tailor content recommendations.
• Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, payment fraud, and other security breaches.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations, including tax reporting for subscription transactions.

Sharing of Information

Stepwik may share your data with:

• Payment Processors: We share payment information with secure third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to process subscription payments and manage billing. These providers are PCI-DSS compliant and bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
• Third-Party Service Providers: We may share data with service providers who assist us in operating the platform, including cloud hosting providers, analytics services, email service providers, and customer support tools. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and data processing agreements.
• AI Service Providers: When you use our AI features, your content and prompts may be processed by third-party AI service providers to generate content. We ensure these providers maintain appropriate data security and privacy standards.
• Business Partners: If you engage in brand partnerships or monetize your content through collaborations, relevant information may be shared with these partners with your consent.
• Legal Obligations: When required by law or in response to valid legal processes (e.g., subpoenas, court orders, regulatory requests), we may disclose your data.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

• Account Data: We retain your account information while your account is active and for a reasonable period after account deletion to comply with legal obligations.
• Subscription Data: Payment and billing information may be retained for up to 7 years to comply with tax and accounting regulations.
• Content Data: Published content may be retained according to your preferences and platform requirements. Deleted content may be retained in backups for a limited period.
• Usage Data: Analytics and usage data are typically retained for up to 2 years for service improvement purposes.

Security Measures

We take security seriously and implement industry-standard measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no online system can be 100% secure, and we encourage you to protect your account credentials.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You can update or correct your account information through your account settings.
• Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and associated data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a portable format.
• Opt-Out: You can opt-out of marketing communications and certain data processing activities through your account settings.
• Subscription Management: You can manage your subscription, update payment methods, and cancel your subscription through your account settings.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@stepwik.com.

Data Deletion Policy

You have the right to request deletion of your account and all associated data from Stepwik. To delete your account and data, please email us at support@stepwik.com with your deletion request.

What Gets Deleted: When you request account deletion, we will delete:

• Your account profile and personal information
• Your published codelabs and courses
• Your usage data and preferences
• Your AI feature usage history

What May Be Retained: Some information may be retained for legal or operational purposes, including:

• Payment and billing records (required for tax and accounting compliance, typically 7 years)
• Data in backup systems (deleted during regular backup rotation cycles)
• Anonymized analytics data that cannot be linked to your identity

Processing Time: Account deletion requests are typically processed within 30 days of receipt. You will receive a confirmation email once your account and data have been deleted.

Note: If you have an active subscription, you may need to cancel your subscription before requesting account deletion, or we will cancel it as part of the deletion process.

Children's Privacy

Stepwik is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will:

• Investigate the breach immediately and take steps to contain and remediate it
• Notify affected users and relevant authorities
• Provide information about the nature of the breach, what data was affected, and steps we are taking to address it
• Recommend actions you can take to protect yourself, such as changing your password

We will notify you via email to the address associated with your account, or through other reasonable means if email is not available.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through the platform. Your continued use of the platform after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Stepwik uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our platform. By using our services, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide you with a better experience by remembering your preferences, analyzing how you use our platform, and enhancing site functionality.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the platform to function properly. They enable core features like user authentication, security, and shopping cart functionality.
• Preference Cookies: These cookies remember your settings and choices to enhance your experience (e.g., language preferences, theme settings).
• Analytics Cookies: We use these cookies to understand how visitors interact with our platform, which helps us improve our services. They collect information about page visits, time spent, and navigation patterns.
• Marketing Cookies: These cookies track your browsing habits to deliver advertising more relevant to you and your interests.

Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the platform, including subscription features and AI-powered tools.

Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. These third-party services may include analytics tools, payment processors, AI service providers, and social media platforms. We do not control these third-party cookies, and their use is governed by the respective third-party privacy policies.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or your privacy rights, please contact us at: policy@stepwik.com

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.