IMPORTANT: This Policy explains how ShieldPort collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information. It should be read with the ShieldPort Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.
1. Scope and Who We Are
This Privacy Policy applies to ShieldPort IT & Management Marketplace LLC ("ShieldPort," "we," "our," or "us") and to personal information processed through shieldportglobal.com, related web pages, applications, dashboards, communications, marketplace features, direct ShieldPort services, and affiliate or referral features that link to independent third parties (collectively, the "Platform").
ShieldPort operates a digital marketplace that may connect Clients with independent freelance or professional Providers. ShieldPort may also provide certain consulting, e-commerce management, account-support, advertising, or other digital services directly when expressly identified in an Order or separate agreement. Current travel and concierge features are affiliate, referral, informational, or redirect features only; ShieldPort does not make or manage travel bookings or collect travel payments.
This Policy applies to visitors, account holders, Clients, Providers, applicants, business contacts, and other people who interact with the Platform. It does not govern an independent third party's website, application, booking service, payment service, marketplace, or privacy practices, even when linked from ShieldPort.
2. Personal Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how a person uses the Platform, the services requested, applicable law, and the features available at that time.
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account and profile information. Name, username, email address, telephone number, country, language, profile photograph, biography, skills, professional title, portfolio, work history, education, certifications, rates, availability, and account preferences.
- Identity, eligibility, and compliance information. Date of birth or age confirmation, address, business-registration information, beneficial-ownership information, tax details, professional licences, insurance information, sanctions-screening results, identity-document details, and verification records where reasonably necessary. We seek to minimize copies of identity documents and use verification providers where appropriate.
- Project, service, and transaction information. Project postings, proposals, Offers, Orders, Milestones, scopes, budgets, invoices, delivery records, acceptance status, cancellations, disputes, refunds, ratings, reviews, and related support records.
- Communications and content. Messages, attachments, Deliverables, source files, support requests, reports, complaints, survey responses, feedback, and communications with ShieldPort or other users through the Platform.
- Payment and payout information. Billing name and address, transaction identifiers, payment status, payout destination details, tax information, fraud indicators, chargeback and refund records. Full payment-card numbers are generally collected and processed by authorized payment providers rather than stored by ShieldPort.
- Applications and business contacts. Resumes, LinkedIn or portfolio links, interview notes, professional references, correspondence, and information submitted for employment, freelance, supplier, partnership, or business opportunities.
- Information for direct ShieldPort services. Access instructions, seller-account identifiers, product or listing information, analytics, advertising data, customer-service materials, and other information a Client authorizes ShieldPort to access for an agreed service. Users should provide least-privilege access and avoid sharing passwords through unprotected messages.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device and network information. IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, language, time zone, approximate location derived from IP address, and device or advertising identifiers where permitted.
- Usage and log information. Pages viewed, searches, clicks, referring and exit pages, timestamps, session information, feature interactions, error logs, performance data, and security events.
- Cookies and similar technologies. Cookie identifiers, local storage, pixels, tags, software-development kits, and comparable technologies used for essential operations, preferences, measurement, security, and—with consent where required—analytics, advertising, and affiliate attribution.
2.3 Information From Other Sources
- Other users and organizations. Clients, Providers, authorized business representatives, references, or team members may provide information about a person in connection with a Project, Order, organization account, review, dispute, or referral.
- Service and verification providers. Payment processors, payout providers, identity-verification services, fraud-prevention vendors, sanctions-screening providers, hosting services, analytics providers, customer-support systems, and communications services may provide transaction, verification, risk, and technical information.
- Public and professional sources. Public websites, professional profiles, company registries, sanctions lists, and other lawful sources may be used to verify identity, qualifications, authority, or compliance.
- Affiliate and referral partners. An affiliate network or third-party provider may report that a qualifying click, registration, booking, or purchase occurred, together with a referral identifier, campaign information, and commission status. ShieldPort does not receive the complete travel booking record or payment-card information merely because a user follows an affiliate link.
3. How and Why We Use Personal Information
We use personal information for the following purposes, as appropriate to the relationship and subject to applicable law:
- Provide and administer the Platform. Create accounts, display profiles and listings, enable Projects and Orders, deliver direct ShieldPort services, support communications, and provide requested features.
- Process transactions. Coordinate payment and payout processing, calculate fees, maintain transaction records, support refunds and disputes, and meet tax, accounting, and financial-control obligations.
- Trust, safety, and compliance. Verify identity and authority, prevent fraud and abuse, screen for sanctions, protect accounts, investigate prohibited conduct, enforce agreements, moderate content, and respond to lawful requests.
- Support and communications. Respond to inquiries, provide notices, troubleshoot problems, communicate about Orders and accounts, and maintain service records.
- Improve and protect services. Analyze performance and usage, fix errors, develop features, maintain backups and resilience, conduct audits, and secure systems.
- Personalization and recommendations. Present relevant categories, Providers, services, search results, promotions, or affiliate offers based on context and preferences, subject to available choices and applicable law.
- Marketing. Send promotional communications where permitted. A recipient may unsubscribe from marketing without affecting transactional, security, or legally required messages.
- Affiliate attribution. Measure qualifying referrals and commissions when a user chooses to follow an affiliate or promotional link. Non-essential tracking is used only with consent where consent is required.
- Legal and corporate purposes. Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims; respond to regulators or courts; support corporate transactions; maintain records; and comply with applicable law.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Where a law such as the EU GDPR or UK GDPR requires a legal basis, ShieldPort relies on one or more of the following, depending on the circumstances:
- Contract. Processing necessary to enter into or perform the Terms, an Order, or another agreement with the individual.
- Legitimate interests. Operating and improving the Platform, supporting users, securing services, preventing fraud, maintaining records, marketing to business contacts, and protecting legal rights, after considering the individual's rights and reasonable expectations.
- Legal obligation. Processing necessary for tax, accounting, sanctions, consumer-protection, law-enforcement, regulatory, or other legal requirements.
- Consent. Processing based on a freely given choice, including certain cookies, marketing, or optional features. Consent may be withdrawn for future processing without affecting prior lawful processing.
- Vital interests or public interest. Processing necessary to protect life or safety, or perform a task in the public interest, where the relevant law permits and the circumstances require it.
5. How We Disclose Personal Information
We disclose personal information only as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, under appropriate contractual, technical, and legal safeguards where required.
- Clients, Providers, and organization members. Information necessary to evaluate, form, perform, administer, or resolve a Project or Order may be shared with the relevant users. Public profile and listing information may be visible to visitors or account holders as indicated by the Platform.
- Service providers and processors. Hosting, cloud storage, security, communications, analytics, customer support, identity verification, fraud prevention, professional advisers, and other vendors may process information for ShieldPort under applicable obligations.
- Payment and payout providers. Transaction, identity, fraud, billing, refund, chargeback, tax, and payout information may be disclosed to financial institutions and authorized payment-service providers.
- Third-party platforms authorized by a Client. For direct e-commerce or account-management services, information may be disclosed to or accessed within Amazon, Noon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, advertising networks, or another platform selected by the Client. The third party's terms and privacy policy govern its independent processing.
- Affiliate and referral partners. When a user voluntarily follows an affiliate link, the destination provider and affiliate network may receive referral parameters, cookie or device identifiers, page context, and information the user submits directly to them. Travel providers control booking, payment, cancellation, refund, customer-service, and privacy practices. ShieldPort may receive confirmation of a qualifying action and commission, but not necessarily the full transaction details.
- Legal, safety, and compliance recipients. Information may be disclosed where reasonably believed necessary to comply with law or legal process, respond to an authority, enforce agreements, protect rights or safety, prevent fraud, or investigate security incidents.
- Corporate transactions. Information may be disclosed under confidentiality protections in connection with financing, due diligence, reorganization, merger, acquisition, asset transfer, insolvency, or a similar transaction.
- With direction or consent. We may disclose information for another purpose clearly explained at the time or at the user's direction.
6. Affiliate Travel, Concierge, and Product Links
ShieldPort's current travel, accommodation, cruise, car-rental, tourism, concierge, and selected product features operate as affiliate, referral, informational, or redirect features. Users complete any booking, purchase, payment, cancellation, refund request, or support interaction directly with the independent third-party provider.
Affiliate links may include parameters that identify ShieldPort, the campaign, the referring page, or the click. The destination provider or affiliate network may place its own cookies or collect information under its own privacy policy. ShieldPort may receive a commission when a qualifying action occurs. Users should review the destination provider's privacy notice and cookie choices before submitting personal information.
ShieldPort does not use an affiliate redirect to obtain a user's passport, full travel itinerary, payment-card number, or other booking information unless the user separately provides that information to ShieldPort for a clearly stated and lawful purpose.
7. Cookies and Privacy Choices
ShieldPort may use essential cookies required for sign-in, session continuity, security, load balancing, fraud prevention, language, and user-requested features. Depending on available tools and consent requirements, ShieldPort may also use preference, analytics, advertising, and affiliate-attribution technologies.
Where required, non-essential technologies will not be activated until the user makes a recorded choice. Users may manage available choices through the cookie banner or preference center and may also adjust browser settings. Blocking some technologies may affect functionality. The separate Cookie Policy should identify the technologies currently deployed, their providers, purposes, and durations.
Where applicable, ShieldPort will process a legally recognized browser-based opt-out preference, such as Global Privacy Control, for sale or sharing associated with that browser or device. Browser privacy signals do not necessarily withdraw consent for an account on another device.
8. Sale, Sharing, and Targeted Advertising
ShieldPort does not knowingly sell personal information for money. Certain advertising, analytics, or affiliate technologies may constitute a "sale," "sharing," or processing for targeted advertising under some U.S. state privacy laws even when no money is exchanged for personal information. To the extent such law applies to ShieldPort and such activity occurs, eligible users may opt out through the method provided on the Platform or by contacting [email protected]. ShieldPort does not knowingly sell or share for cross-context behavioural advertising the personal information of people under 16.
9. International Data Transfers
ShieldPort is a Delaware limited liability company serving an international user base. Personal information may be processed in the United States and other countries where ShieldPort, its users, or service providers operate. Those countries may have privacy laws different from the user's country.
Where required, ShieldPort will use an approved transfer mechanism and supplementary safeguards, which may include adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, the UK International Data Transfer Addendum or Agreement, contractual restrictions, access controls, encryption, and transfer-risk assessments. A person may contact ShieldPort for information about the applicable safeguard, subject to lawful confidentiality limitations.
10. Data Retention
ShieldPort retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including providing services, maintaining business and transaction records, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, preventing fraud, protecting security, and complying with tax, accounting, sanctions, consumer-protection, and other legal obligations.
Retention varies by data type and context. Account and profile information is generally retained while an account is active and for a reasonable period afterward. Order, payment, payout, tax, compliance, dispute, and legal records may be retained for longer periods required or permitted by law. Security logs and backups are retained according to operational cycles. Unsuccessful applications may be retained for a limited recruiting or business-opportunity period unless consent or law supports longer retention.
Project files and Deliverables are not permanent storage. Users are responsible for downloading and retaining their own copies. ShieldPort may delete or make files unavailable after an Order and related dispute periods have ended, after account closure, according to a disclosed feature-specific period, or where necessary for legal, security, privacy, or operational reasons. Backup copies may persist temporarily until overwritten through ordinary cycles.
11. Security
ShieldPort uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information, taking account of the nature of the information and processing risks. Measures may include access controls, least-privilege permissions, authentication, encryption in transit, secure hosting configurations, logging, backups, vendor review, incident response, and personnel confidentiality obligations.
No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure. Users are responsible for strong passwords, account security, safe credential-sharing methods, endpoint protection, backups, and promptly reporting suspected unauthorized access. A security concern may be reported to [email protected].
12. Individual Privacy Rights
Depending on location and applicable law, an individual may have rights to access, confirm, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or obtain a portable copy of personal information; withdraw consent; opt out of marketing, sale, sharing, or targeted advertising; limit certain sensitive-information uses; and complain to a supervisory authority.
Requests may be submitted to [email protected] with the subject "Privacy Request." The request should identify the account email, right requested, jurisdiction, and enough information to locate relevant records. ShieldPort may verify identity and authority, request clarification, deny or limit a request where an exemption applies, and retain a record of the request. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted, subject to proof of authorization and identity verification.
ShieldPort will respond within the period required by applicable law and will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising a privacy right. Where an applicable U.S. state law provides an appeal right, an appeal may be submitted to the same address with the subject "Privacy Appeal" within the period stated in ShieldPort's response.
13. Regional Disclosures
13.1 European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland
Where applicable, ShieldPort acts as a controller for account administration, marketplace operations, direct ShieldPort services, security, compliance, support, marketing, and affiliate attribution. A Client or Provider may act as an independent controller for information it processes in connection with its own business, Project, or service. The parties will enter a data-processing agreement where one processes personal information on behalf of the other and applicable law requires it.
Eligible individuals may complain to the data-protection authority in the country where they live or work or where an alleged infringement occurred. Where ShieldPort's actual activities trigger a legal requirement to appoint an EU or UK representative or data protection officer, ShieldPort will make the appointment and publish the relevant contact details before offering the affected processing.
13.2 California and Other U.S. States
If ShieldPort is subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended, or another applicable U.S. state privacy law, eligible residents may exercise the rights provided by that law. Categories collected may include identifiers; customer records; commercial information; internet or network activity; approximate geolocation; professional or employment information; account credentials and financial information treated as sensitive; communications content processed to provide requested services; and inferences drawn from usage or profile information. Sources, purposes, and recipient categories are described in Sections 2, 3, and 5.
ShieldPort does not use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes that require a separate right to limit unless disclosed at or before collection. If practices change, ShieldPort will provide the required notice and choice. California metrics and detailed category disclosures will be added when legally required based on ShieldPort's actual activities.
13.3 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Other GCC Jurisdictions
Where the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law or another Gulf Cooperation Council privacy law applies, ShieldPort will process personal information according to the applicable requirements concerning notice, lawful purpose or consent, data minimization, accuracy, security, retention, data-subject rights, breach response, and cross-border transfers. Rights requests may be submitted through Section 12. Any local registration, representative, transfer assessment, or filing will be completed where legally required based on ShieldPort's actual processing.
14. Children
The Platform is intended for adults and is not directed to children. Users must be at least 18 years old to create an account or enter an Order. ShieldPort does not knowingly collect personal information from a child in a manner prohibited by law. If a parent or guardian believes a child provided personal information, they should contact [email protected] so ShieldPort can investigate and take appropriate action.
15. Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools
ShieldPort or its service providers may use automated tools to assist with search, recommendations, translation, fraud detection, security, moderation, support, or workflow efficiency. Results may be reviewed by personnel where appropriate. ShieldPort does not represent that every automated output is accurate. Where applicable law grants a right concerning a decision based solely on automated processing that produces legal or similarly significant effects, ShieldPort will provide required information and a method to request human review or contest the decision.
Users must not submit another person's confidential, sensitive, or regulated information to an AI feature without authorization and an appropriate lawful basis.
16. Third-Party Links and Services
The Platform may link to independent websites, applications, marketplaces, payment providers, social networks, and affiliate destinations. ShieldPort does not control their privacy practices. Their privacy notices govern information they collect directly. A link, integration, or reference does not by itself mean ShieldPort endorses every practice of the third party.
17. Changes to This Policy
ShieldPort may update this Policy to reflect changes in law, technology, providers, features, or business practices. The revised Policy will state its effective date. ShieldPort will ordinarily provide at least 30 days' advance notice of a material change that adversely affects privacy rights, through the Platform, email, or another reasonable method, unless a shorter period is reasonably necessary for law, security, fraud prevention, urgent operational needs, or a change that does not reduce accrued rights. Where consent is required for a new purpose, ShieldPort will request it before that processing.
18. Contact Information
For privacy questions, rights requests, complaints, or appeals, contact:
A Delaware limited liability company
Registered Office: 16192 Coastal Highway
Lewes, Delaware 19958, United States
Privacy and legal email: [email protected]
Security and general support: [email protected]
Website: https://shieldportglobal.com
The registered office is provided for corporate registration and service-of-process purposes and is not represented as ShieldPort's headquarters, principal place of business, or general mail-forwarding address. ShieldPort will publish any legally required privacy representative or data protection officer contact separately when appointed.