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MeetYourGuide.ai — POPIA Compliance & Data Protection Statement

Last updated: 2026/05/16

1. Introduction and Role Definition

MeetYourGuide.ai (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is collected and used properly, lawfully, and transparently in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).

Under POPIA, MeetYourGuide.ai acts as the Responsible Party for the data collected specifically to facilitate account creation, job bidding, and the Verified Introduction on our platform.

IMPORTANT OFF-PLATFORM DISCLAIMER: MeetYourGuide.ai is strictly an introductory marketplace. Once a Client selects an AI Guide and the Verified Introduction is made, the platform's role concludes. Any subsequent data sharing, processing, or project execution that occurs between the Client and the AI Guide off-platform is governed by the private agreements made between those two parties. The AI Guide and the Client act as separate, independent Responsible Parties for any data exchanged during their off-platform engagements.

2. The Personal Information We Collect and Process

We adhere strictly to the principle of minimisation, collecting only the personal information required to facilitate the marketplace:

  • Identity Data: First name, full legal name, and account type (Client or Guide).
  • Contact Data: Email address and optional phone number.
  • Professional/Usage Data: Job descriptions, bid proposals, skill levels, token ledgers, and platform-generated ratings.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (Why We Need Your Data)

We process your personal information under the following lawful bases as defined by POPIA:

  • Consent: By registering an account and using the platform, you provide explicit consent for us to process your data to operate the marketplace.
  • Performance of a Contract: Processing your data is necessary to fulfil our obligations under the MeetYourGuide.ai Terms of Use (e.g., executing the Verified Introduction).
  • Legitimate Interest: To maintain the security of the platform, prevent fraud, and manage the token economy.

4. The Verified Introduction and Consent to Share

A core principle of our platform is “Privacy by Default.” During the open bidding phase, AI Guides are presented pseudonymously. Your full contact information is never sold, broadcast, or made publicly available.

Explicit, point-in-time consent is given for data sharing at the exact moment a Client clicks “Select for Discovery Session.” By initiating this action, the Client instructs the platform to generate the Verified Introduction, which shares the Client's and the selected AI Guide's contact details with one another via email.

5. Cross-Border Data Transfers

To provide advanced platform features (specifically the “Polish my description” tool), MeetYourGuide.ai integrates with third-party Artificial Intelligence providers, such as Anthropic (Claude API), which may be hosted outside of South Africa.

  • When this tool is utilised, only the text of the job description is transmitted.
  • We do not append your name, email, or direct contact information to these third-party AI requests.
  • By using these specific features, you consent to the cross-border transfer of the inputted text, provided that the third party is subject to binding corporate rules or agreements that provide an adequate level of data protection equivalent to POPIA.

6. Security Safeguards

We implement appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational measures to prevent loss of, damage to, or unauthorised destruction of personal information, and unlawful access to or processing of personal information. This includes secure database hosting, encrypted password storage, and secure third-party payment gateways (Yoco) for token purchases.

7. Your Rights as a Data Subject

Under POPIA, you possess the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right of Access: You may request a record or description of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You may request that we correct or update any inaccurate personal information.
  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): You may request the deletion of your personal information, subject to our right to retain data required for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes. Deleting your account via the user dashboard will execute this right, anonymising your past activity.
  • Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal information based on reasonable grounds.

8. The Information Officer

If you have any questions about this statement, wish to exercise your rights as a Data Subject, or need to log a data privacy complaint, please contact our appointed Information Officer:

  • Name: Garry Buckland
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Physical Address: 4 La Montagne Estate, Somerset West, Cape Town, 7130

9. The Information Regulator (South Africa)

If you are unsatisfied with how we handle your personal information or address your complaints, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator:

POPIA Compliance — MeetYourGuide.ai · MeetYourGuide.ai