Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY – APNA CONNECT

Effective Date: 01 July 2026

Ozii Services Pty Ltd (“we”, “our”, “us”) operates APNA CONNECT (“APNA CONNECT”, “Platform”, “Service”). We respect your privacy and are committed to handling personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles where applicable.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when it may be disclosed, and the choices and rights available to users.

By using APNA CONNECT, you acknowledge this Privacy Policy and our collection and use of information as described below.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you use APNA CONNECT, we may collect the following information:

Account and Profile Information

  • Name
  • Username
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Profile information and profile images
  • Account and authentication information

User-Generated Content

We may collect content that users voluntarily submit through the Platform, including:

  • Posts
  • Comments
  • Images
  • Videos
  • Messages
  • Business information
  • Event information
  • Opportunities and other community content
  • Reports and complaints submitted by users

Technical and Usage Information

We may collect technical information necessary to operate and secure the Platform, including:

  • Device information
  • IP address
  • Browser or application information
  • Session information
  • Platform usage information
  • Diagnostic and performance information
  • Information about interactions with Platform features where necessary to operate, secure, and improve the Service

Moderation and Safety Information

We may collect information relating to:

  • Content reports
  • User reports
  • Complaints
  • Moderation actions
  • Account restrictions or suspensions
  • Security incidents
  • Investigations into suspected misuse or violations of our Terms or Community Guidelines

2. How We Use Information

We may use information collected through APNA CONNECT to:

  • Create and manage user accounts;
  • Authenticate users and maintain secure sessions;
  • Provide and maintain the Platform;
  • Enable communication between users;
  • Display user profiles and user-generated content;
  • Provide community features;
  • Support businesses, events, opportunities, and other Platform features;
  • Process and investigate reports and complaints;
  • Moderate user-generated content;
  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and other misuse;
  • Protect the security and integrity of the Platform;
  • Investigate suspected violations of our Terms and Community Guidelines;
  • Respond to legal obligations and lawful requests;
  • Communicate with users regarding their accounts or the Service;
  • Diagnose technical problems and improve Platform functionality and performance.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

APNA CONNECT uses essential and functional cookies to support:

  • Authentication;
  • Session management;
  • Security;
  • User preferences; and
  • Core Platform functionality.

These cookies are not used to track users across websites or apps.

APNA CONNECT does not use these cookies for cross-site advertising tracking.

Users may be able to manage or delete cookies through their browser or device settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect the availability or functionality of some Platform features.

For more information about how cookies are used, users may contact us using the details provided in Section 12.

4. Analytics and Usage Information

APNA CONNECT may collect technical and usage information to help us understand how the Platform operates and to improve reliability, security, functionality, and user experience.

Where analytics information is collected, it is used for Platform operation, security, diagnostics, and improvement and is not used to track users across websites or apps.

5. Third-Party Services

APNA CONNECT may use third-party service providers where necessary to provide specific Platform functionality.

These may include:

SMS Services

We may use Twilio to deliver SMS verification or one-time passwords (OTPs).

Twilio may process information necessary to deliver these messages, such as phone numbers and related technical information.

Maps

APNA CONNECT may use Google Maps Platform services to provide map-related functionality.

Google may process information associated with requests to its services in accordance with its applicable policies.

Email

We may use our own email infrastructure/SMTP service to send account-related emails, verification messages, notifications, and other communications.

We do not use a third-party email OTP provider for authentication.

Third-party services may process information only as necessary to provide their respective services and in accordance with their applicable privacy policies and terms.

6. User-Generated Content

APNA CONNECT allows users to create and share content with the community.

Depending on the relevant Platform feature and privacy settings, content submitted by users may be visible to other users.

Users should not submit information that they do not wish to make available to others.

Users are responsible for the content they upload, publish, communicate, or otherwise distribute through the Platform.

We may remove or restrict content that violates our Terms, Community Guidelines, applicable law, or Platform safety requirements.

7. Messages and Communications

APNA CONNECT may provide messaging and communication features.

Messages and communications may be processed and stored as necessary to provide the messaging functionality, maintain security, investigate reports, enforce our Terms and Community Guidelines, and comply with legal obligations.

Users should avoid sharing sensitive personal information through public posts or communications unless necessary.

8. Moderation and Automated Systems

APNA CONNECT may use automated systems, including artificial intelligence (“AI”), to assist with:

  • Detecting potentially harmful or prohibited content;
  • Identifying spam or fraudulent activity;
  • Detecting suspicious behaviour;
  • Supporting content moderation and platform safety.

Automated systems may make mistakes. Automated moderation results may therefore be reviewed or acted upon by human moderators or administrators.

We may remove content, restrict functionality, suspend accounts, or terminate accounts when necessary to protect users, maintain Platform safety, enforce our Terms and Community Guidelines, or comply with applicable law.

9. Disclosure of Information

We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary:

  • To service providers that assist in operating the Platform;
  • To providers of services such as SMS, maps, hosting, security, or infrastructure;
  • To comply with applicable laws or legal obligations;
  • In response to lawful requests from law enforcement, regulators, or other authorised authorities;
  • To investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, or violations of our Terms;
  • To protect the rights, safety, property, or security of APNA CONNECT, its users, or others; or
  • In connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, sale, or transfer of some or all of our business or assets.

We do not sell personal information to third parties for advertising purposes.

10. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from:

  • Misuse;
  • Interference;
  • Loss;
  • Unauthorised access;
  • Modification; and
  • Unauthorised disclosure.

However, no internet-based service or electronic storage system can guarantee absolute security.

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials and should notify us if they suspect unauthorised access to their account.

11. Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:

  • Providing the Platform;
  • Maintaining account functionality;
  • Security and fraud prevention;
  • Moderation and dispute resolution;
  • Compliance with legal obligations; and
  • Establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims.

When information is no longer reasonably required, we may delete or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal, security, or operational requirements.

12. Your Privacy Rights and Requests

Subject to applicable law, users may request:

  • Access to personal information we hold about them;
  • Correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
  • Deletion of their account and associated information, subject to applicable retention requirements; or
  • Information about how their personal information is handled.

Requests may be submitted to:

admin@apnaconnect.com.au

We may need to verify the identity of a requester before processing certain requests.

Some information may need to be retained where required or permitted by law, or where reasonably necessary for security, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or legal purposes.

13. Children's Privacy

APNA CONNECT is intended for users who meet the applicable minimum age requirements for the Service.

Where parental or guardian consent is required by applicable law, that consent must be obtained before a child uses the relevant Service.

We do not knowingly encourage children to provide unnecessary personal information.

If we become aware that personal information has been collected from a child in circumstances where it should not have been collected, we may take reasonable steps to delete the information or account, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Parents or guardians who have concerns about a child's use of APNA CONNECT may contact us at:

admin@apnaconnect.com.au

14. International and Third-Party Processing

APNA CONNECT is primarily intended to serve the Indian community in Australia.

Some service providers used to operate the Platform may process information outside Australia. Where applicable, we take reasonable steps to use appropriate service providers and handle personal information in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

The availability of particular community content, businesses, events, opportunities, and other information may vary according to location, user activity, and Platform administration.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to:

  • The Platform;
  • Our services;
  • Applicable laws;
  • Technology; or
  • Our privacy practices.

When we make material changes, we may provide appropriate notice through the Platform or other reasonable means.

The updated Privacy Policy will indicate its effective date.

16. Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests, complaints, or concerns, contact:

Ozii Services Pty Ltd

Email: admin@apnaconnect.com.au

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

1. Our Community

APNA CONNECT is intended to provide a safe, respectful, and useful community environment.

Users are expected to interact respectfully and comply with applicable laws and our Terms of Service.

2. Respect Others

Users must not:

  • Harass, bully, or threaten others;
  • Encourage violence;
  • Engage in hate speech;
  • Share discriminatory or abusive content;
  • Impersonate individuals or organisations; or
  • Intentionally target other users with abusive behaviour.

3. Illegal Activity

Users must not use APNA CONNECT to:

  • Commit or facilitate fraud or scams;
  • Conduct illegal solicitation;
  • Facilitate criminal activity;
  • Traffic illegal drugs;
  • Distribute illegal materials; or
  • Support or facilitate terrorism-related activities.

4. Harmful or Prohibited Content

Users must not upload, publish, or distribute:

  • Graphic or excessively violent material;
  • Non-consensual intimate content;
  • Child sexual exploitation material;
  • Content encouraging self-harm;
  • Dangerous or intentionally misleading information intended to cause harm;
  • Content intended to cause panic or serious disruption; or
  • Other content prohibited by applicable law or our Platform rules.

5. Spam and Misuse

Users must not:

  • Send spam or unsolicited bulk messages;
  • Operate bots or automated systems without authorisation;
  • Attempt to disrupt Platform operations;
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access;
  • Exploit security vulnerabilities;
  • Scrape or collect user information without authorisation; or
  • Abuse Platform functionality.

6. Intellectual Property

Users should only upload or share content that they own or have permission to use.

Content that infringes another person's intellectual property rights may be removed.

Repeated or serious infringement may result in account restrictions or termination.

REPORTING CONTENT AND USERS

Users can report:

  • Illegal activity;
  • Harassment or abuse;
  • Harmful content;
  • Spam or scams;
  • Impersonation;
  • Threats or safety concerns; and
  • Other violations of our Terms or Community Guidelines.

Reports may be submitted through:

Where possible, reports should include:

  • Username or profile involved;
  • Description of the issue;
  • Relevant content;
  • Screenshots or other evidence; and
  • Relevant dates and times.

We may review reported content or accounts and take appropriate action, including content removal, restrictions, suspension, or account termination.

False or malicious reporting may itself result in account restrictions.

ADMINISTRATION AND MODERATION

APNA CONNECT administrators and moderators may review user reports and Platform content to maintain safety, security, and compliance.

Moderators do not endorse user-generated content and are not responsible for statements, opinions, media, or communications posted by users.

Moderation is not necessarily performed in real time. The failure to immediately identify or remove particular content does not constitute approval or endorsement of that content.

Users remain responsible for the content they post or distribute.

AUTOMATED AND AI MODERATION

APNA CONNECT may use automated systems, including AI-assisted systems, to support content moderation, spam detection, fraud prevention, and Platform safety.

Automated systems may produce inaccurate results. Where appropriate, automated moderation actions may be reviewed by human administrators or moderators.

Users may contact admin@apnaconnect.com.au regarding moderation decisions or other concerns.