1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") describes how UpWord and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and assigns (collectively, "UpWord," "we," "us," or "our") collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process personal information in connection with our websites, applications, and services (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you ("User," "you," or "your") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this Policy.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with applicable laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA"), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA"), and other applicable privacy regulations.
2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information in the following categories:
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Account registration information, including name, email address, and password;
- Business information, including business name, business address (city and state), website URLs, industry classification, and service descriptions;
- Billing and payment information, including credit card numbers, billing addresses, and transaction history (processed through third-party payment processors);
- Communications and correspondence, including emails, support tickets, and feedback you submit to us;
- Content and materials you upload, submit, or provide through the Service.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device information, including IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers;
- Usage data, including pages visited, features used, clickstream data, and session duration;
- Log data, including access times, error logs, and referring URLs;
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies as described in Section 8 below.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Information from analytics providers and advertising partners;
- Publicly available business information from your website or public directories;
- Information from third-party integrations you authorize.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Service;
- To generate, optimize, and publish content on your behalf using artificial intelligence and automated systems;
- To analyze your business's visibility in AI-generated search results and provide related reporting;
- To process transactions, billing, and subscription management;
- To communicate with you regarding the Service, including service announcements, updates, and support responses;
- To personalize and enhance your experience with the Service;
- To conduct research, analytics, and product development;
- To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, and technical problems;
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and policies;
- For any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection or with your consent.
4. Disclosure of Your Information
WE DO NOT SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. We may disclose your information to the following categories of recipients:
4.1 Service Providers
We share information with third-party vendors, consultants, and service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:
- Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers;
- Payment processors and billing services;
- Analytics and performance monitoring services;
- Customer support and communication platforms;
- Security and fraud prevention services.
4.2 Artificial Intelligence Providers
To deliver our AI-powered content generation and visibility analysis services, we transmit certain business information to third-party AI providers, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The information shared with AI providers may include:
- Your business name and brand information;
- Your website URLs and publicly available page content;
- Your business location (city and state);
- Your industry classification and service descriptions;
- Other business details necessary to generate relevant content.
We do not share your personal contact information (such as email address, phone number, or home address) with AI providers unless explicitly required for a feature you have requested. AI providers are subject to their own privacy policies and terms of service.
4.3 Legal and Compliance Disclosures
We may disclose your information when required by law or in response to valid legal process, including:
- Subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process;
- Requests from law enforcement or government agencies;
- To protect the rights, property, or safety of UpWord, our users, or others;
- To enforce our terms of service or other agreements;
- In connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.
4.4 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to:
- Provide the Service and maintain your account;
- Comply with legal, accounting, and reporting obligations;
- Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements;
- Conduct legitimate business operations.
When personal information is no longer needed for these purposes, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable law. Certain information may be retained in backup systems for a limited period or as required by law.
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical security measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest;
- Access controls and authentication requirements;
- Regular security assessments and monitoring;
- Employee training on data protection practices.
HOWEVER, NO METHOD OF TRANSMISSION OVER THE INTERNET OR ELECTRONIC STORAGE IS COMPLETELY SECURE. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information, and you transmit data to us at your own risk. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
7. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
7.1 General Rights
- Access: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you;
- Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions;
- Portability: You may request a copy of your information in a portable format;
- Opt-Out: You may opt out of certain processing activities, such as marketing communications.
7.2 Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@goupword.com. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. In certain circumstances, we may decline requests that are unreasonable, repetitive, or prohibited by law.
8. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):
8.1 Right to Know
You have the right to request that we disclose:
- The categories of personal information we have collected about you;
- The categories of sources from which the personal information was collected;
- The business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling personal information;
- The categories of third parties with whom we share personal information;
- The specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
8.2 Right to Delete
You have the right to request deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions permitted by law.
8.3 Right to Correct
You have the right to request that we correct inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.
8.4 Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing
WE DO NOT SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes.
8.5 Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information
We do not use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes beyond those permitted under CCPA/CPRA.
8.6 Non-Discrimination
We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA/CPRA rights. We will not deny you goods or services, charge you different prices, or provide you a different level of service for exercising your rights.
8.7 Authorized Agents
You may designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf. We may require verification that you authorized the agent to act on your behalf.
8.8 Categories of Information Collected
In the preceding 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information as defined by the CCPA:
- Identifiers (name, email address, IP address, account name);
- Commercial information (transaction history, subscription records);
- Internet or network activity (browsing history, usage data);
- Geolocation data (city and state level only);
- Professional or employment-related information (business name, industry);
- Inferences drawn from the above to create a profile.
9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve the Service. These technologies may collect information about your browsing activity, preferences, and device characteristics.
9.1 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function properly;
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the Service;
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences;
- Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (if applicable).
9.2 Your Cookie Choices
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You may also opt out of certain analytics and advertising cookies through industry opt-out mechanisms. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.
10. Third-Party Links and Services
The Service may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access.
11. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States, where our servers and service providers are located. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries as described in this Policy.
12. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for use by children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us at privacy@goupword.com.
13. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers transmit "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals to websites. Because there is no common understanding of how to interpret DNT signals, the Service does not currently respond to DNT signals. We will continue to monitor developments in DNT technology and may update this Policy if a standard is established.
14. Changes to This Privacy 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 material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated Policy on this page with a new effective date. We may also provide additional notice, such as by email or through the Service, for significant changes. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
UpWord Privacy Team
Email: privacy@goupword.com
For California residents, you may also submit requests by calling our toll-free number (if available) or through our online request form.