Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY - "KURD VOTE - Kurdistan research & Survey Platform"

Effective Date: [2023-01-05]

Update Date: [2025-08-13]

1. Introduction

KURD VOTE (“the Entity”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is an independent, non-governmental research platform dedicated to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data for scientific and academic purposes. Our mission is to provide accurate, evidence-based insights to support the nation-building infrastructure and development of a sovereign Kurdistan state.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you interact with the KURD VOTE platform (“the Platform”), whether as a researcher, survey participant, or public user.

By using our Platform, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to fulfill our research and operational objectives.

A. Information Provided Directly by You

Registration details: name, email address, and any other contact information you voluntarily provide when registering as a researcher.
Research proposals: titles, abstracts, and descriptions of your study for review and approval.
Survey responses: data you provide as a participant in polls, surveys, or studies.

B. Information Collected Automatically

IP address, browser type, operating system, and general device information.
Pages visited and time spent on the Platform (for performance and security purposes).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

Facilitate approved research projects in compliance with our Code of Conduct.
Ensure the security and proper functioning of the Platform.
Improve survey methodology and research quality.
Maintain records of consent and compliance with applicable laws.
Generate anonymized, aggregated reports for academic, policy, and developmental purposes.

4. Data Anonymity and Confidentiality

We do not intentionally collect personally identifiable information (“PII”) from research participants unless strictly necessary and approved in writing by KURD VOTE.
All survey results are stored in anonymized or pseudonymized form whenever possible.
Identifiable information, when collected under approved circumstances, is stored separately from research data and is subject to strict access controls.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

We process information under one or more of the following legal bases:

Consent: you have given explicit permission for your data to be used for a specific purpose.
Legitimate Interest: processing necessary for the performance of our research mission while safeguarding individual rights.
Legal Compliance: where processing is required to comply with applicable laws or regulations.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Data may be shared only:

With authorized KURD VOTE personnel for research and operational purposes.
With academic collaborators under strict confidentiality agreements.
If required by law, regulation, or valid legal process.

7. Data Retention

Survey data is retained only for as long as necessary to complete the research project and meet legal or compliance obligations.
Raw data containing any identifying elements will be permanently deleted once anonymized datasets are created.

8. Data Security

We apply technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
However, due to the nature of the digital environment, absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

9. Your Rights

Depending on applicable laws, you may have the right to:

Access your data.
Request corrections to your data.
Withdraw consent at any time (this will not affect processing already carried out).
Request deletion of your data, subject to research and legal obligations.

Requests may be submitted to [info@kurd.vote].

10. International Data Transfers

If your information is transferred outside the jurisdiction in which it was collected, we will ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

11. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal, operational, or research-related changes. Material changes will be posted on the Platform and, where appropriate, notified directly to users.