Privacy Policy

1. Overview

ScoutCI (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use ScoutCI (“the Service”). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

Information you provide directly:

• Name and email address at account creation
• Business name, address, city, state, and website URL
• Competitor names and URLs you submit for monitoring
• Payment information (processed by Stripe — we do not store raw card data)
• Communications you send us

Information collected automatically:

• Usage data including pages visited, features used, and actions taken
• Device and browser information
• IP address and approximate location
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

Information we collect about your competitors on your behalf:

• Publicly available website content
• Public Google Maps listings and ratings
• Publicly available review data
• Other publicly accessible business information

We do not collect sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, government ID numbers, health data, or financial account numbers beyond what is required for payment processing.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and improve the Service
• Generate competitive intelligence reports and briefings for your account
• Send you weekly briefing emails and alerts you have opted into
• Process payments and manage your subscription
• Respond to your support requests
• Send product updates and announcements (you may opt out at any time)
• Comply with legal obligations
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: We share data with third-party vendors who help us operate the Service, including database hosting providers, payment processors, and email delivery providers. These vendors are contractually obligated to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to us.
• Search and data providers: We use search and business data services to retrieve publicly available competitor data on your behalf. Your competitor list is shared with these providers solely to fulfill your intelligence requests.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government authority.
• Business transfers: If ScoutCI is acquired or merged, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before this occurs.

5. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain your login session, remember your preferences, and understand how you use the Service. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use the Service.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you cancel your account, we retain your data for 30 days before deletion to allow for reactivation. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us. Competitor intelligence data collected on your behalf is retained for up to 12 months to support historical trend analysis.

7. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest, access controls, and secure cloud infrastructure. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We will notify you promptly in the event of a data breach that affects your personal information.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data
• Opt-out: Opt out of marketing communications at any time via the unsubscribe link in any email or through your account Settings

California residents have additional rights under CCPA, including the right to know what personal information is collected and to request deletion. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@scoutci.com.

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is intended for business use by adults only. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18 years of age.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you by email before material changes take effect. The updated policy will be posted at this URL with a revised “last updated” date.

11. Contact

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@scoutci.com.