1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how Merchnet (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information in connection with your use of Merchnet: Social (the “App”), a Shopify application that enables merchants to create AI-generated social media posts and publish them to platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and other supported social media channels.
By installing or using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not install or use the App.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information from Shopify
When you install the App, we access certain information from your Shopify store as permitted by the Shopify API and the permissions you grant during installation. This may include:
- Store name, domain, and contact email address
- Product information (titles, descriptions, images, prices, and collections)
- Store owner name and locale/language preferences
- Shopify plan information
2.2 Social Media Account Information
To publish posts on your behalf, the App requires you to connect one or more social media accounts. When you connect an account, we may receive:
- Social media profile identifiers and display names
- Authentication tokens (OAuth access tokens) required to post on your behalf
- Page or business account identifiers you select for publishing
2.3 Content You Create
We store the content generated through the App, including:
- AI-generated social media post text, captions, and hashtags
- Images selected from your product catalog or uploaded for posts
- Scheduling preferences and publication history
- Any customizations or edits you make to generated content
2.4 Usage and Analytics Data
We automatically collect certain technical information when you use the App:
- Log data such as IP address, browser type, and access timestamps
- Feature usage patterns and interaction data within the App
- Error and performance logs for troubleshooting
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To generate AI-powered social media post content based on your products and preferences
- To publish, schedule, and manage posts on your connected social media accounts
- To provide, maintain, and improve the App and its features
- To communicate with you about updates, support requests, and service-related notices
- To monitor and analyze usage trends to improve user experience
- To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security incidents
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service
4. AI-Generated Content
The App uses artificial intelligence services to generate social media post content. When generating content:
- Product data (such as titles, descriptions, and images) may be sent to third-party AI service providers to generate post content.
- We do not use your data to train AI models. Your product data is used solely for the purpose of generating content at your request.
- AI-generated content is provided as suggestions. You are responsible for reviewing, editing, and approving all content before it is published.
5. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with the following categories of third parties:
- Social Media Platforms: When you publish a post, the content is sent to the social media platforms you have connected (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest). Your use of these platforms is governed by their respective privacy policies.
- AI Service Providers: Product information is shared with our AI service providers solely for the purpose of generating content. These providers are contractually bound to process data only as instructed.
- Shopify: The App operates within the Shopify ecosystem and interacts with Shopify APIs. Shopify’s privacy policy governs how Shopify handles your data.
- Service Providers: We may use third-party hosting, analytics, and infrastructure providers who process data on our behalf under appropriate data processing agreements.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
6. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the App’s services. Specifically:
- Store and account data is retained while the App is installed on your Shopify store.
- Generated content and publication history are retained for your reference unless you delete them.
- Upon uninstallation of the App, we will delete your data within 30 days, unless we are required to retain it for legal or compliance purposes.
Social media authentication tokens are revoked or deleted upon disconnection of the respective account or uninstallation of the App.
7. Data Security
We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL), secure storage of authentication tokens, and access controls limiting who within our organization can access your data.
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- The right to access the personal information we hold about you
- The right to request correction of inaccurate data
- The right to request deletion of your data
- The right to data portability
- The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- The right to object to or restrict certain types of processing
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@merchnet.app. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
9. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
10. Children’s Privacy
The App is designed for use by Shopify merchants and is not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal data, we will take steps to delete such information.
11. GDPR Compliance
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data on the following legal bases:
- Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide you with the App’s services.
- Legitimate Interests: Processing for analytics, security, and service improvement where our interests do not override your rights.
- Consent: Where you have provided explicit consent, such as connecting social media accounts.
You may contact our data protection contact at the email address listed below for any GDPR-related inquiries.
12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, to request deletion, and to opt out of the sale of personal information. As noted above, we do not sell personal information.
13. Shopify App Store Compliance
This App complies with Shopify’s API terms of service and the Shopify App Store requirements. We access only the Shopify API scopes necessary for the App to function and handle all merchant data in accordance with Shopify’s Partner Program Agreement.
14. Third-Party Links and Services
The App may contain links to or integrations with third-party services (such as social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party service you interact with.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by updating the effective date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, through in-app notifications or email. Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
16. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: