Privacy policy

Scope

This Policy applies to people who use Govoir, in particular:

• visitors to the Site;
• users with an account;
• buyers;
• private sellers;
• professional sellers;
• people contacting our customer service;
• people reporting a listing or a User.

It applies to data processed through the Site and the other Govoir services that refer to this Policy.

Data we may collect

The data collected varies according to the features used.

3.1 Account data

When creating or using an account, we may in particular collect:

• first and last name;
• username or alias;
• email address;
• phone number;
• password in a secured form;
• profile photograph;
• account creation date;
• account preferences and settings.

3.2 Listing data

When you publish a listing, we may in particular process:

• listing title and description;
• category;
• price;
• location of the good;
• photographs and videos;
• product or service characteristics;
• seller information;
• listing history.

Information you voluntarily include in a listing may become visible to other Users.

3.3 Communication data

When you use Govoir messaging, we may process:

• the identity of the participants;
• the content of messages;
• attachments;
• the date and time of exchanges;
• data needed to prevent abuse and fraud.

Private messages are not intended to be made public.

3.4 Transaction data

When the relevant features are available, we may process information concerning:

• purchases and sales;
• the amount of a transaction;
• the status of a transaction;
• the payment method used;
• a refund or a dispute;
• delivery or handover of a good.

When payment is made by an external provider, sensitive information such as full card numbers may be processed directly by that provider and may not be accessible to Govoir.

3.5 Technical data

When you use Govoir, certain information may be recorded automatically, in particular:

• IP address;
• device type;
• browser;
• operating system;
• technical identifiers;
• connection date and time;
• pages viewed;
• actions taken on the platform;
• technical and security logs.

Cameroonian law treats IP addresses and digital identifiers in particular as capable of constituting personal data.

3.6 Location data

Depending on the features used, Govoir may process:

• a city;
• a region;
• a location entered in a listing;
• a more precise position when the User expressly authorises it.

Access to the device’s location, when offered, is subject to the permissions available on the User’s device.

3.7 Verification and fraud prevention

When needed for Govoir’s security, we may request or process additional information in particular to:

• verify a phone number;
• verify an email address;
• detect fraudulent accounts;
• detect fraudulent listings;
• prevent identity theft;
• handle reports;
• protect Users and the platform.

If Govoir later introduces identity verification that requires official documents, the Users concerned will receive specific information before collection.

Purposes of processing

We may process personal data in order to:

• create and administer accounts;
• allow listings to be published and managed;
• display relevant listings;
• allow buyers and sellers to communicate;
• provide search features;
• allow transactions to be completed when that feature exists;
• provide Govoir paid services;
• personalise the user experience;
• provide customer support;
• handle complaints;
• prevent fraud, scams, and abuse;
• detect conduct contrary to the Terms;
• secure accounts and infrastructure;
• improve how Govoir works;
• produce statistics and measure use of the Service;
• send notifications related to how the account works;
• send commercial communications when authorised;
• comply with our legal obligations;
• respond to lawful requests from competent authorities.

Data must be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes in accordance with law No. 2024/017.

Consent

When applicable law requires the User’s consent, Govoir collects it before the processing concerned.

Consent must in particular be freely given, informed, specific, and unambiguous. Cameroonian law also provides for particular situations in which processing may be carried out without prior consent, in particular when a legal obligation so requires.

When processing is based on consent, that consent may be withdrawn under the conditions provided by applicable law.

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before that withdrawal.

Sharing data with third parties

Govoir does not sell its Users’ personal data.

Some data may nevertheless be shared with the following categories when necessary:

• hosting providers;
• IT providers;
• email or SMS services;
• payment providers;
• delivery providers;
• security and fraud-prevention providers;
• audience-measurement tools;
• customer-support providers;
• Govoir’s professional advisers;
• administrative, judicial, or law-enforcement authorities when the law so requires.

Providers that process data on our behalf must offer the necessary guarantees as to data protection and security. Law No. 2024/017 also imposes obligations on processors of personal data.

Data visible to other Users

Because Govoir is a classifieds platform, some information is intended to be visible publicly or to other Users.

This may in particular include:

• the alias;
• the profile photograph;
• listings;
• product photographs;
• the approximate location of a listing;
• a seller’s professional information;
• information relating to their activity on Govoir when that feature is offered.

The User must not publish in a listing personal information they do not want others to be able to see.

Private messaging

Conversations in Govoir messaging are intended for the people taking part in the exchange.

However, some data relating to conversations may be processed when necessary to:

• operate the messaging service;
• fight scams;
• detect spam;
• investigate a report;
• protect a User;
• comply with a legal obligation.

Govoir must not use the content of conversations for purposes incompatible with those for which they were collected.

Data retention

Govoir retains data for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to legal obligations requiring a longer retention period.

The period may in particular depend on:

• how long the account exists;
• the nature of the data;
• how long a listing is published;
• accounting or tax obligations;
• fraud prevention;
• applicable limitation periods;
• an ongoing dispute;
• a request from a competent authority.

After an account is closed, some data may therefore be retained for an additional period when there is a legal or security justification.

When the applicable period expires, the data is deleted, anonymised, or made unusable by appropriate means.

Security

Govoir implements reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect data against, in particular:

• unauthorised access;
• disclosure;
• alteration;
• destruction;
• loss;
• theft;
• fraudulent use.

These measures may in particular include authentication, access control, encryption of communications, logging, backup, and security monitoring.

No digital service can guarantee absolute security, so Users must also protect their credentials and promptly report any suspicious activity.

Law No. 2024/017 requires the controller and its processors to secure the data.

International transfers

Some technical providers used by Govoir may be established or host infrastructure outside Cameroon.

When an international transfer of personal data takes place, Govoir implements the mechanisms and safeguards required by applicable Cameroonian law.

Law No. 2024/017 governs international transfers of personal data.

Cookies and similar technologies

Govoir may use cookies, local storage, or similar technologies in particular to:

• keep a session open;
• secure an account;
• save the User’s preferences;
• operate the Site;
• measure performance;
• produce usage statistics;
• personalise certain features.

When consent is legally required to use a cookie or tracker, Govoir asks for that consent first.

The User may also use their browser settings to control certain cookies.

Govoir measures how the Site is used with Rybbit, an audience-measurement tool that Govoir operates on its own server. When the User is signed in, their visits are linked to their account identifier, name and email address, so that Govoir can understand how members use the Service. This data is not used for advertising and is not shared with advertisers.

Commercial communications

Govoir may send information about its products, services, or offers when the User has consented or when applicable law allows it.

Users may ask to stop receiving these communications in particular by using:

• the unsubscribe link in the message;
• the settings available on Govoir;
• or the address contact@govoir.com.

Messages strictly necessary for the operation of the account or the security of the Service may continue to be sent.

Your rights

Under Cameroonian law No. 2024/017, data subjects have in particular, subject to the conditions provided by law, the following rights:

• the right to information;
• the right of access to their data;
• the right to rectify inaccurate information;
• the right to erasure;
• the right to object to certain processing;
• the right to restriction of processing;
• the right to portability of certain data.

These rights are among the information the controller must provide at the time of collection.

How to exercise your rights

To exercise a right concerning your personal data, you may contact Govoir – Data protection at contact@govoir.com.

The request must allow Govoir to identify the account or the data concerned sufficiently.

When necessary to prevent a fraudulent disclosure of data, Govoir may ask for additional information to verify the requester’s identity.

Govoir responds to requests in accordance with the time limits and conditions provided by applicable law.

Minors

Minors benefit from particular protection.

Law No. 2024/017 provides in particular that the consent of a person under 18 must be supported by that of their father and mother or legal representative when consent is required.

Govoir may also impose a higher minimum age for certain features, transactions, or product categories.

Reporting a privacy issue

Anyone who believes that personal information has been published without their authorisation, or that processing carried out by Govoir infringes their rights, may contact us at contact@govoir.com.

Govoir may review the request and take appropriate measures, in particular hiding or deleting certain information when such a measure is justified.

Requests from authorities

Govoir may have to disclose certain information when such disclosure is required by:

• a law;
• a court decision;
• a competent authority;
• an applicable legal procedure.

Govoir may also retain certain information when it is needed to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights.

Changes to this Policy

Govoir may amend this Policy in particular to take into account:

• new features;
• technical changes;
• changes to its data processing;
• new regulatory or legal obligations.

The date of the last change is shown at the top of the document.

When a change requires new consent under applicable law, that consent will be requested before the processing concerned.

Governing law

This Policy is governed primarily by Cameroonian law, in particular:

• law No. 2024/017 of 23 December 2024 on the protection of personal data;
• law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on cybersecurity and cybercrime;
• law No. 2010/021 of 21 December 2010 governing electronic commerce in Cameroon.

Contact

For any question about this Policy or the processing of your personal data, write to us using the details below.