GSG Academy ("the App") is operated by German Standard Veterinary Medicines Trading LLC ("we", "us", "our"), with development services provided by Novamind Technologies. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the App.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly when you create an account, update your profile, enrol in courses, upload certificates, make payments, or communicate with other users.
Account Information: Name, email address, password (stored as a secure hash, never in plain text), professional role, veterinary specialty, workplace or institution, and profile photo.
Certificate Data: Certificate images you upload for verification, including text extracted via optical character recognition (OCR). OCR data is processed automatically and stored for verification by authorised personnel only.
Payment Information: For paid physical courses, payment is processed by our third-party payment gateway (CCAvenue). We store your order ID, seat selection, meal choice, payment status, and transaction reference. We do not store your credit card number, CVV, or full card details.
Device and Usage Data: We collect device type, operating system version, app version, screen navigation events, session duration, approximate location (country and city derived from IP address), and timezone. This data is used for analytics and to improve the App.
Communications: Messages you send and receive through the App's direct messaging and group chat features are stored on our servers to enable message delivery and history.
Push Notification Tokens: We collect your device's push notification token (via Firebase Cloud Messaging) to deliver notifications. You can disable notifications in your device settings at any time.
Crash and Performance Data: We use Sentry to collect crash reports and performance metrics. This data is not linked to your identity and is used solely to improve app stability.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to: provide, operate, and maintain the App and its features; verify your professional credentials and veterinary certificates; facilitate communication between veterinary professionals; deliver educational content through courses and live streams; process payments for physical course enrolments; send you notifications about new courses, messages, and platform updates; generate personalised course recommendations; monitor and analyse usage patterns to improve the App; detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service; and comply with applicable legal obligations.
3. AI-Powered Features
The App uses artificial intelligence for course recommendations, certificate OCR, content moderation, and message analysis. AI outputs are advisory in nature and are reviewed by authorised personnel where they affect your account. AI-generated insights about your activity are not shared with other users. AI processing may be performed by third-party providers whose servers may be located outside your country of residence.
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
With Other Users: Your profile information (name, specialty, rank, avatar) is visible to other authenticated users. Messages are visible only to their intended recipients. Posts you create are visible to all authenticated users.
With Service Providers: We share data with third-party services that help us operate the App, including cloud hosting and storage (Backblaze B2, Cloudflare), payment processing (CCAvenue), push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging), email delivery (Brevo), crash reporting (Sentry), and AI processing. These providers are contractually obligated to use your data only for the purposes of providing services to us.
For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
5. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on servers located in Finland (EU) and may be processed by third-party services in other jurisdictions. We implement industry-standard technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures are regularly reviewed and updated. No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you delete your account, your personal data will be permanently removed within 30 days, except where retention is required by applicable law. In-app notifications are automatically deleted after 30 days. Analytics data may be retained in anonymised, aggregated form.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to: access and obtain a copy of the personal information we hold about you; rectify inaccurate information via your profile settings; delete your account and associated data via the App settings; restrict or object to processing of your information; and request your data in a structured, machine-readable format (data portability). To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@gsgroup.co. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
8. Children's Privacy
The App is intended for veterinary professionals and students aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 years of age. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
9. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to, and processed in, countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using the App, you consent to such transfers. We take appropriate measures to ensure that your data remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will notify you of material changes via push notification or email. Your continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Dubai, UAE.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
German Standard Veterinary Medicines Trading LLC
Email: privacy@gsgroup.co
Website: https://gsgroup.co