Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

WCNegentropy ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (wcnegentropy.com) or use our services.

We provide digital services exclusively to New Jersey local businesses, including web development, e-commerce setup, and automation solutions. This policy applies to information collected through our website and during service delivery.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you contact us or engage our services, we may collect:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, business name, and physical address
• Business Information: Industry, business size, service needs, and project requirements
• Financial Information: Billing address and payment information (processed through secure third-party payment processors)
• Project Materials: Content, images, branding materials, and other information you provide for service delivery
• Communications: Correspondence via email, phone, or in-person meetings

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website
• Log Data: IP address, access times, browser configuration
• Theme Preference: Your dark/light mode preference (stored in browser localStorage)

2.3 Third-Party Information

We may receive information from third-party services we integrate with your website or business systems, such as Shopify, Wix, Google Workspace, or CRM platforms, but only with your authorization.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide Services: Deliver contracted services, including web development, e-commerce setup, and technical support
• Communication: Respond to inquiries, provide project updates, and send important service notifications
• Billing: Process payments and manage invoices
• Improve Services: Analyze usage patterns to enhance our website and service offerings
• Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes
• Marketing: Send promotional emails about our services (with your consent, and with easy opt-out)
• Security: Protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and security threats

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in delivering our services:

• Hosting providers (for websites we build)
• Domain registrars
• Email service providers
• Payment processors
• Cloud storage services
• E-commerce platforms (Shopify, Wix)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Subpoenas, court orders, or legal processes
• Requests from government authorities
• Investigations of potential violations of our Terms of Service
• Protection of our rights, property, or safety, or that of others

4.3 Business Transfers

If WCNegentropy is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to the same privacy protections.

4.4 With Your Consent

We may share information with third parties when you explicitly authorize us to do so.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

5.1 Current Practice: Our website currently does not use cookies for tracking or analytics. We use browser localStorage only to save your theme preference (dark/light mode).

5.2 Future Use: If we implement cookies or analytics in the future, we will update this policy and provide appropriate notice and consent mechanisms.

5.3 Third-Party Services: Websites we build for clients may use cookies and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.) as specified in their own privacy policies.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: HTTPS/SSL encryption for all website communications
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure Storage: Encrypted storage of sensitive client data
• Regular Updates: Keeping software and systems up to date with security patches
• Security Headers: Implementation of security headers (X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, CSP)
• Input Validation: Sanitization and validation of all user inputs

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

7. Data Retention

7.1 Service Data: We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy, typically for the duration of our business relationship plus 7 years for tax and legal compliance.

7.2 Marketing Data: We retain marketing communications and contact information until you opt out or request deletion.

7.3 Post-Termination: After service termination, we retain client data for 30 days to allow for data retrieval, then permanently delete it unless required by law to retain longer.

7.4 Backups: Information may persist in backup systems for up to 90 days after deletion from active systems.

8. Your Privacy Rights

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

8.1 General Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your information

8.2 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@wcnegentropy.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8.3 Marketing Opt-Out

You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or by contacting us directly. You will continue to receive transactional emails related to services you've purchased.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will promptly delete it. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

10.1 External Links: Our website may contain links to third-party websites (GitHub, Hugging Face, social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10.2 Research Projects: Our AI research projects hosted on Hugging Face are subject to Hugging Face's privacy policy and terms of service.

10.3 Client Websites: Websites we build for clients have their own privacy policies, which may differ from ours. We assist clients in creating compliant privacy policies for their sites.

11. Contact Form and Email

11.1 No Server-Side Storage: Our website's contact form does not transmit data to our servers. When you submit the form, it generates a mailto link that opens your email client with the form data pre-filled.

11.2 Email Communications: When you email us directly, your email is processed through standard email protocols. We recommend not sending sensitive financial information (credit card numbers, bank accounts) via unencrypted email.

11.3 In-Person Consultations: For sensitive information, we offer in-person consultations at your New Jersey business location.

12. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information held by businesses
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@wcnegentropy.com with "CCPA Request" in the subject line.

13. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

While we primarily serve New Jersey businesses, if you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Legal Basis: We process personal data based on contract performance, legitimate interests, or consent
• Data Transfers: Your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States
• Right to Lodge Complaint: You may file a complaint with your local data protection authority
• Data Protection Officer: For GDPR inquiries, contact contact@wcnegentropy.com

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.

For material changes, we will provide notice via email (if you have provided an email address) or a prominent notice on our website at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

15. International Users

Our services are primarily directed to businesses located in New Jersey, USA. If you access our website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers and operations are located. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

16. Contact Us

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