Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Nova ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our remote work platform and related services.

This policy applies to all users of our platform, including applicants, active contractors, and website visitors. By using our services, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

We comply with applicable privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada and other relevant privacy regulations in jurisdictions where we operate.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you apply to work with Nova or use our platform, we collect:

Category	Examples	Purpose
Personal Identifiers	Name, email address, phone number, postal address	Account creation, communication, payment processing
Professional Information	Work experience, skills, availability, education	Matching with appropriate work opportunities
Financial Information	Payment method details, tax information, banking details	Processing payments and tax compliance
Communication Data	Messages, support tickets, feedback	Customer support and service improvement

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our platform, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, click patterns, feature usage
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Performance Data: Task completion rates, quality scores, response times

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Payment processors (transaction confirmations, fraud prevention)
• Identity verification services (background checks when applicable)
• Social media platforms (if you connect your accounts)
• Referral partners and marketing affiliates

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

3.1 Primary Business Operations

• Account Management: Creating and maintaining your account, verifying identity
• Work Matching: Connecting you with suitable remote work opportunities
• Payment Processing: Calculating earnings, processing payments, tax reporting
• Communication: Sending work assignments, updates, support responses
• Quality Assurance: Monitoring work quality and providing feedback

3.2 Service Improvement

• Analyzing platform usage to improve user experience
• Developing new features and services
• Conducting research and analytics
• Training our support and quality assurance teams

3.3 Legal and Security

• Complying with legal obligations and regulations
• Preventing fraud and protecting platform security
• Resolving disputes and enforcing our Terms of Service
• Protecting the rights and safety of users and third parties

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 With Clients

We may share limited information with clients who offer work opportunities:

• First name and general location (city/region)
• Relevant skills and experience for the specific task
• Work quality ratings and completion history
• Communication for work-related purposes only

We do not share your full name, contact details, or personal information unless required for specific work assignments.

4.2 With Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our platform:

• Payment Processors: To handle secure payment transactions
• Cloud Hosting: To store and secure platform data
• Analytics Services: To understand platform usage and improve services
• Communication Tools: To send emails and platform notifications
• Customer Support: To provide technical and account support

All service providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal process, court orders, or government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service or other agreements
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Nova, users, or the public
• Prevent or investigate fraud, security breaches, or illegal activities

4.4 Business Transfers

If Nova is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control.

5. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information:

5.1 Technical Safeguards

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols
• Access Controls: Strict access limitations based on job requirements and need-to-know
• Secure Infrastructure: Protected servers and databases with regular security updates
• Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for unauthorized access or suspicious activity

5.2 Administrative Safeguards

• Employee training on privacy and security best practices
• Background checks for employees with access to personal information
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Incident response procedures for potential security breaches

5.3 Your Role in Security

You can help protect your information by:

• Using a strong, unique password for your account
• Not sharing your login credentials with others
• Logging out when using shared or public devices
• Reporting suspicious activity immediately

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

6.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services. We use both session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (remain until expiration or deletion).

6.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Cookie Type	Purpose	Retention Period
Essential	Required for platform functionality and security	Session or up to 1 year
Analytics	Help us understand how users interact with our platform	Up to 2 years
Preferences	Remember your settings and preferences	Up to 1 year
Marketing	Deliver relevant content and track campaign effectiveness	Up to 1 year

6.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality. Most browsers allow you to:

• View and delete existing cookies
• Block cookies from specific sites
• Block third-party cookies
• Clear all cookies when you close the browser

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

7.1 Active Accounts

• Account Information: Retained while your account is active
• Work History: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Communication Records: Retained for 3 years for support purposes
• Payment Information: Retained as required by financial regulations

7.2 Inactive Accounts

If your account becomes inactive for 2 years:

• We will contact you before deletion
• Non-essential data will be deleted after 30 days notice
• Some information may be retained longer for legal compliance
• You can reactivate your account before deletion occurs

8. Your Privacy Rights

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

8.1 Access and Portability

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Right to Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Account Dashboard: View and download most information directly from your account

8.2 Correction and Deletion

• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information
• Limitations: Some information may be retained for legal or business purposes

8.3 Processing Control

• Right to Restrict: Limit how we process your information
• Right to Object: Object to processing for direct marketing or legitimate interests
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for processing where applicable

8.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise these rights:

1. Email us at [email protected] with your request
2. Include your full name and account email address
3. Specify which right(s) you want to exercise
4. We will respond within 30 days of receipt

9. International Data Transfers

Nova operates primarily from Canada, but we may transfer your information to other countries for processing:

9.1 Transfer Safeguards

• All transfers comply with applicable privacy laws
• We use appropriate safeguards such as contractual protections
• Service providers must meet our data protection standards
• We assess the privacy laws of destination countries

9.2 Your Consent

By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different privacy laws than your own. We will always ensure appropriate protections are in place.

10. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for individuals under 21 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. When we make changes:

• We will post the updated policy on our website
• We will notify users of material changes via email or platform notification
• The "Last Updated" date will be revised
• Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of changes

We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

12.1 Complaints

If you believe we have not adequately addressed your privacy concerns, you may file a complaint with:

• Canada: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (www.priv.gc.ca)
• EU/UK: Your local data protection authority
• Other jurisdictions: Your local privacy regulator

This Privacy Policy is designed to be transparent about our data practices. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will continue to improve our practices as technology and regulations evolve.