1. Introduction

Asktender PTY LTD (ACN 700 409 703, ABN 30 700 409 703) ("we", "us", "our") operates AskTender. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

Account information: name, email address, and password when you create an account
Payment information: billing details processed securely through our payment provider (Stripe). We do not store your full credit card number.
Usage data: information about how you interact with the Service, including pages visited, searches performed, features used, and session duration
Device and technical data: IP address, browser type and user-agent string, operating system, device identifiers, and the referring or originating page URL
Communications: any information you provide when contacting us for support or feedback
AI chat data: the questions, queries, and messages you submit through our AI-powered chat features, together with the responses generated. We log these interactions even where you use the chat anonymously (i.e. without creating an account or verifying an email address).

We collect and retain the above information — including for anonymous visitors — because our AI chat and tender-search tools are provided free of charge, and doing so allows us to operate, secure, analyse, and improve the Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
Process your account registration and manage your subscription
Process payments and send billing-related communications
Respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
Send you service-related notifications (e.g., tender alerts, account updates)
Analyse usage patterns, including anonymous chat sessions, to understand demand, improve the Service, develop new features, and inform our marketing and business decisions
Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, abuse, and security threats (for example, rate-limiting and fraud prevention using IP and device data)
Comply with legal obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information on the following bases:

Contractual necessity: to provide the Service you have signed up for
Legitimate interests: to improve our Service, ensure security, and communicate with you
Consent: where you have given consent for specific processing activities (e.g., marketing emails)
Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws and regulations

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

Service providers: trusted third parties who assist us in operating the Service, including hosting providers, payment processors (Stripe), email delivery services, and analytics providers
AI providers: queries submitted to AI features may be processed by third-party AI providers (e.g., Anthropic) to generate responses. These providers are contractually bound to protect your data.
Legal requirements: when required by law, court order, or governmental authority
Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers located in Australia and/or the United States. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest, access controls, and regular security assessments.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Maintain your session and remember your preferences
Understand how you use the Service through analytics
Improve the performance and functionality of the Service

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the Service.

8. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act, you have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct any inaccurate or outdated personal information
Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
Withdraw consent for processing where consent was the basis
Complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you believe we have breached the APPs

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. After account deletion, we may retain certain data for a reasonable period to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside Australia, including the United States, where our service providers operate. We take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients handle your information in accordance with the APPs.

11. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child, we will take steps to delete it.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on the Service and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us.

The entity responsible for handling your personal information is Asktender PTY LTD (ACN 700 409 703, ABN 30 700 409 703), Australia. If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.