Privacy Policy - artmodels.ca

1. Introduction

artmodels.ca ("we," "us," or "our") operates a community platform connecting artists and models across Canada for creative collaboration. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of artmodels.ca, whether you're an artist, model, or visitor to our website. By using our platform, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

We comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other applicable Canadian privacy legislation.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you sign up to join artmodels.ca, we collect:

Display name
Email address
Password (encrypted)
City
Account type (artist, model, or both)
Information about your connection to the arts community

Profile Information

Once approved, you may provide additional information for your profile:

Profile photo
Portfolio images
Biography and experience description
Artistic discipline or modeling preferences
Availability and scheduling preferences
Social media links (optional)

User-Generated Content

We store content you create on the platform:

Opportunity postings
Messages sent through our platform
Reviews and ratings
Comments or feedback

Usage Data

We automatically collect certain information about how you use our platform:

Pages visited and features used
Time and date of visits
Browser type and device information
IP address (for security purposes)
Referral source (how you found our site)

What We Don't Collect: We do not collect sensitive information such as financial data, detailed location tracking, or information about your race, religion, sexual orientation, or health, unless you voluntarily choose to include it in your profile or communications.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Facilitate Connections

Create and maintain your account
Display your profile to other members
Enable messaging between artists and models
Match artists with models based on preferences
Notify you of relevant opportunities or interests

Maintain Community Safety

Review registrations for membership
Monitor for violations of our Community Guidelines
Investigate reports of inappropriate behavior
Prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
Enforce our Terms of Service

Improve the Platform

Understand how members use our features
Identify areas for improvement
Develop new features and functionality
Troubleshoot technical issues
Analyze usage patterns and trends

Communicate with You

Send important account notifications
Respond to your questions or support requests
Send platform updates and announcements
Request feedback on your experience
Share community news (you can opt out)

We Will Never: Sell your personal information to third parties, use your data for political purposes, or share your contact information publicly.

4. Information Sharing

We share your information only in limited circumstances:

With Other Members and the Public

Your profile information (name, bio, portfolio images, preferences) is visible to the public and search engines by default. You can hide your profile in your settings if you prefer. You control what information appears on your profile. Your email address is never shared publicly.

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the platform, such as:

Web hosting services
Email delivery services
Analytics providers (with anonymized data)
Security and fraud prevention services

These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and can only use your information to provide services to us.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal obligations
Protect our rights or property
Prevent fraud or abuse
Protect the safety of our users or the public

With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties if you give us explicit permission to do so.

What We Don't Share: We never sell your data to advertisers, data brokers, or marketing companies. We're a non-commercial platform committed to protecting your privacy.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction:

Message Encryption: All messages between users are encrypted using AES-256-GCM. Administrators cannot read your private conversations. The only exception is when you report a user—a portion of the conversation is decrypted and included with your report so moderators can take appropriate action.
Transport Encryption: We use SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers
Password Protection: Passwords are stored using industry-standard hashing (bcrypt)
Secure Storage: Data is stored on secure servers with restricted access
Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access personal information, and only when necessary

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.

Your Role in Security: Protect your account by using a strong, unique password and not sharing your login credentials with others. Report any suspicious activity to us immediately.

6. Your Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We'll provide this information in a readable format within 30 days of your request.

Right to Correction

If your personal information is inaccurate or incomplete, you can update it directly through your account settings or request corrections by contacting us.

Right to Deletion

You can delete your account at any time from your account settings. When you delete your account:

Your profile is removed from public view
Your messages show you as "[Deleted User]" to other participants
Your reviews are no longer visible
Your personal information is removed from our active systems

Some information may be retained in backup systems for a limited time for security and legal compliance purposes.

Right to Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format that you can transfer to another service.

Right to Opt-Out

You can opt out of non-essential communications (like newsletters) through your account settings or by clicking "unsubscribe" in any marketing email. You cannot opt out of essential account-related communications.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we process your information based on your consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time by contacting us or adjusting your account settings.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us or email [email protected].

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on artmodels.ca.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They help us remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the platform to function properly. They enable:

Keeping you logged in as you navigate
Remembering your preferences
Security features and fraud prevention

Analytics Cookies: These help us understand how visitors use our site:

Which pages are most visited
How long people spend on the site
Where visitors come from
What features are most used

We use our own built-in analytics system. Your data is anonymized and we do not track you across other websites. We do not use third-party analytics services like Google Analytics.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. However, disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.

Active Accounts

Information associated with active accounts is retained indefinitely while your account remains active.

Inactive Accounts

If your account has been inactive for an extended period (no login activity), we may send you a notice before deleting your account to free up resources. You'll have an opportunity to log in and keep your account active.

Deleted Accounts

When you delete your account:

Your profile is immediately removed from public view
Your messages show you as "[Deleted User]" to other participants
Your reviews are no longer visible
Some data may be retained in backups or if required by law

Legal Obligations

We may retain certain information longer if required by law, such as for tax purposes or to comply with legal proceedings.

9. Children's Privacy

artmodels.ca is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.

If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make changes:

We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page
For significant changes, we'll notify you by email or through a prominent notice on the platform
We'll give you an opportunity to review the changes before they take effect

Your continued use of artmodels.ca after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. If you don't agree with the changes, you can delete your account.

11. Contact Us

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

Email: [email protected]
Contact Form: artmodels.ca/contact

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.

Privacy Complaints: If you believe we have not complied with this Privacy Policy or applicable privacy laws, please contact us first. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca.