Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Global Tech Policy Coalition Hackathon 2026 ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and participate in our hackathon event.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Register for the hackathon
• Submit project proposals or entries
• Contact us via email or through our website
• Subscribe to our newsletter or updates
• Participate in surveys or feedback forms

This information may include your name, email address, phone number, affiliation, professional background, and any other information you choose to provide.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process and manage your hackathon registration
• To communicate with you about the event, including updates, schedules, and important announcements
• To evaluate and judge hackathon submissions
• To improve our website and user experience
• To send you promotional materials and newsletters (with your consent)
• To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights
• To prevent fraud and ensure security
• To analyze website usage and trends

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting the hackathon, or providing other services.
• Judges and Evaluators: We may share your submission information with hackathon judges and evaluators for assessment purposes.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information with your explicit consent for specific purposes.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and understand user preferences. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

7. Your Rights and Choices

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

• Access and receive a copy of your personal information
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Object to or restrict processing of your information
• Data portability
• Withdraw consent at any time
• Opt-out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

9. Children's Privacy

Our hackathon is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. 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 country. By using our services, you consent to such transfers.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

12. Contact Us

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