Privacy Policy

January 2026

Version 1.0, effective 1 January 2026

We value your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains your rights and how TrustCheck collects, uses, discloses, transfers, and stores your personal data in line with Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), and other applicable laws.

Terms we use in this policy

When we say “TrustCheck”, “we”, “our”, or “us”, we mean TrustCheck, the entity responsible for processing your personal data. When we say “website”, “platform” or “service”, we mean all TrustCheck websites, apps, and services. “Public personal data” means personal data published on our platform that anyone can access. “Private personal data” means personal data we do not publish on our platform.

Third‑party websites

Our platform may link to third‑party websites. We do not control those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

We’re an open platform

Reviews and reviewer profiles are public. Your profile may show your country, review history, and any photos or videos you upload. Business replies to reviews are also public. You choose how much personal information to share in your profile and username.

Personal data we collect

Personal data is information that identifies or can identify an individual. We collect personal data when you create an account, post reviews, claim a brand, or otherwise use TrustCheck. Please avoid sharing sensitive personal data (for example, health data, religious beliefs, or national ID numbers) unless we explicitly request it for verification.

Public personal data

• Account profile details such as username, profile photo, and country.
• Review information: business reviewed, product or service reviewed, review date, review content, and star rating.
• Photos or videos submitted with your reviews.
• Location of the business reviewed and the date of your experience.
• “Helpful” signals such as how many people marked a review as useful.
• Optional social profile information if you connect a social account (name and profile photo).

Business account public data

• Business profile details such as business name, category, address, and public contact details you choose to display.
• Replies to reviews, including the reply content and date.

Private personal data

• Account credentials (password) and preferred language.
• Contact details such as name and email address.
• Review activity history (edits, deletions, and verification requests).
• Device and usage data (IP address, browser details, time zone, usage patterns).
• Verification data when requested (name, document images, expiry dates, and date of birth).
• Questions and replies submitted through our platform.
• Support communications, feedback, and metadata related to those interactions.

Business account private data

• Account credentials and admin contact details.
• Reports or flags submitted on reviews and related reasons.
• Verification data for business ownership or authority (documents and relevant identifiers).
• Billing details if you are on a paid plan.

How we collect personal data

We collect data directly from you, from your activity on the platform, and from third‑party services you choose to connect. We also receive limited information from businesses that invite you to leave a review, or when we investigate fraud or abuse.

Who controls your personal data?

TrustCheck is the data controller for most personal data on the platform. If a business uses our invitation tools or request‑for‑information features, that business may be the data controller for the data they submit, while TrustCheck processes it on their behalf.

Why and how we use your personal data

• Provide and operate the TrustCheck platform, including reviews and accounts.
• Authenticate users, prevent fraud, and protect platform integrity.
• Improve features, user experience, and analytics.
• Respond to support queries and enforce our policies.
• Send service‑related notices and newsletters (where you opt in).
• Moderate content and investigate violations.
• Comply with legal obligations and protect our rights.

We may use automated tools, including machine learning, to detect fraud, enforce guidelines, and improve platform safety. We only process personal data where we have a valid legal basis, including contract performance, legal compliance, legitimate interests, public interest tasks, or consent where required.

Who may access your personal data?

Public data is visible to anyone using TrustCheck. Private data is accessed only by authorized staff and trusted service providers under strict confidentiality and data protection agreements. Businesses may access data connected to reviews or invitations they issued.

Sharing with third parties

We may share public review content via APIs or integrations with partners to improve discoverability. We share private data only with trusted processors who help operate our services, or when required by law. We do not sell private personal data for profit.

Data transfers

We may process data outside Ghana where our service providers operate. We use appropriate safeguards to protect your information and comply with cross‑border transfer requirements under applicable laws.

How long we keep your data

We retain personal data only as long as necessary to provide our services, meet legal requirements, or protect platform integrity. When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it.

Security

We use technical and organizational safeguards to protect personal data. No online system is 100% secure, so avoid sharing sensitive data in public reviews or emails.

Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to run the platform, improve performance, and personalize content. See our Cookie Policy for details on how to manage your preferences.

Your rights

You have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data, and to object to certain uses. You may also withdraw consent where applicable. These rights may be limited by law or legitimate interests.

Children

TrustCheck is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as laws or our services evolve. We will post updates and notify you of material changes.

Contact us

If you have questions or requests about your data, please contact our Data Protection Officer via our support channels. If you are in Ghana and have unresolved concerns, you can contact the Data Protection Commission.