Privacy Policy – Smile Elm
1. Introduction
At Smile Elm, accessible via https://smileelm.com, we recognize the importance of your privacy and are firmly committed to safeguarding the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal data when you visit or interact with our website. We strive to uphold the highest standards of data protection in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other applicable privacy regulations. Our approach is guided by principles of transparency, responsibility, and user-centricity.
2. Scope of the Policy and Data Controller Role
This Privacy Policy applies to the use of the website smileelm.com and all associated services. Smile Elm is the data controller responsible for the processing of personal information collected via the website and other communications. If you access third-party services through our platform, their privacy policies may also apply. For any data-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
3. Categories of Data Processed
We collect and process the following categories of personal data, depending on your interactions with our website and services:
a) Usage Data
Includes information such as your browser type and version, Internet Protocol (IP) address, operating system, referral URL, pages visited, session duration, and your engagement with website features.
b) Account Data
Includes personally identifiable details you provide when creating an account, such as your name, email address, physical address, and phone number.
c) Profile Data
Includes information associated with your user profile, such as communication preferences, browsing history, purchase behavior, and saved interests or content.
d) Communication Data
Includes details from your interactions with our support team or inquiries made through the contact forms, customer service chat, or email communication.
e) Technical Data
Includes device information such as hardware model, system configurations, mobile OS, device identifiers, browser type, and network information.
f) Transaction Data
Includes records relating to the purchase of products or services from Smile Elm, including payment method details (processed through secure third parties), billing/shipping address, delivery status, and transaction confirmations.
g) Preference Data
Includes data related to your opt-in status for newsletters, brand communications, personalized services, and information inferred from engagement with marketing content or products of interest.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Smile Elm processes your personal data based on one or more of the following lawful grounds:
– Contractual Necessity: To fulfill a contract with you or take requested steps prior to entering into a contract, such as processing transactions or delivering purchases.
– Legitimate Interests: To enhance website performance, improve customer experience, safeguard our systems, and market relevant products with minimal privacy impact.
– Consent: Where required by law, especially for marketing communications and certain cookies, we will ask for your explicit consent.
– Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and legal requirements, including tax obligations and dispute resolution.
5. Your Rights Under GDPR and CCPA
You are entitled to exercise your data subject rights, including:
– Right of Access: Request information about what personal data we hold and how it is used.
– Right of Rectification: Request corrections to incorrect or incomplete personal information.
– Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data where there is no lawful reason for continued processing.
– Right to Restriction: Request the limited processing of your data, subject to certain conditions.
– Right to Data Portability: Obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes across different services.
– Right to Object: Object to processing under conditions defined by GDPR or CCPA, including direct marketing.
– Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be discriminated against for exercising your CCPA rights.
To exercise your rights, please email us at [email protected] with adequate identification to verify your request.
6. Security Measures
We implement a multi-layered approach to data security, including:
– Encryption protocols (TLS/SSL) for data-in-transit and secure storage environments for data-at-rest.
– Role-based access controls and authentication mechanisms for internal data access.
– Routine backups, disaster recovery readiness, and secure system design.
– Staff training and awareness programs to minimize the risks of data misuse or breach.
7. International Data Transfers
Our operations may involve transferring your data to third-party processors or affiliates located in jurisdictions outside your country of residence. In such cases, we implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission or ensure the recipient country has adequate data protection laws as defined by applicable regulations.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, financial, and recordkeeping obligations. Specific retention periods include:
– Usage, Technical, and Preference Data: Up to 12 months
– Communication Data: Up to 24 months from the last interaction
– Account, Profile, and Transaction Data: Retained for up to 6 years in accordance with tax and legal obligations, or longer if disputes arise
Where data is no longer required, it is securely erased or anonymized.
9. Cookie Policy
Smile Elm uses cookies and related technologies to personalize your experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies fall into the following categories:
– Essential Cookies: Necessary for the operation of the website, such as login sessions and checkout functionality.
– Functional Cookies: Used to remember your preferences, such as language settings and display preferences.
– Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site to improve features and content (e.g., Google Analytics).
– Performance Cookies: Measure the performance of our website and communications, allowing optimization of delivery and marketing efficiency.
10. Cookie Management and Compliance with GDPR & CCPA
Upon your first visit to smileelm.com, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You may accept or decline different categories of cookies in accordance with your preferences. You can change your consent choices at any time via our Cookie Settings, or by adjusting browser preferences to reject all or specific cookies.
We respect “Do Not Track” signals as required and offer opt-out options for data usage under CCPA and related frameworks.
11. Special Protections for Children Under 13
Smile Elm does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a child without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. Parents or legal guardians who believe their child may have provided us with personal data should contact [email protected].
12. Policy Updates & User Notifications
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy as necessary to reflect changes to our practices, technology, legal obligations, or user feedback. Material changes will be communicated via prominent notices on our website. We encourage users to review this policy periodically to remain informed.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://smileelm.com
Smile Elm is committed to protecting your personal data and ensuring transparency over its use. We comply with applicable data protection laws and welcome any inquiries or feedback regarding our privacy practices.