PRIVACY POLICY FOR JUSTIN CHAU – REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Effective Date: 15th September 2024
This Privacy Policy outlines the practices of Justin Chau (“we,” “us,” “our”) regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of your personal information in connection with the use of our website, www.justinmchau.com, and the services we provide. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and handling your data in an open, transparent, and lawful manner in compliance with relevant privacy regulations, including but not limited to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy is designed to provide clarity on how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you engage with our website and services. It applies to all visitors, clients, and prospective clients (“you” or “users”) and governs data practices relating to our online presence, advertising efforts, and business operations.
This Policy outlines our legal basis for processing your data, our obligations under the law, and your rights as an individual. It serves to ensure our compliance with applicable privacy laws and to establish trust with our users by maintaining the highest standards of privacy and data security.
2. Data Controller Information
The entity responsible for the processing of your personal data (the “Data Controller”) under this Privacy Policy is:
Name: Justin Chau
Company: Justin Chau – Real Estate Services
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us using the details provided above.
3. Information We Collect
We collect various categories of personal information to facilitate our business operations and to enhance the services we offer. The data we collect is generally categorized as follows:
3.1 Personal Information You Provide:
- Contact Information: This includes your name, email address, phone number, and physical address, collected when you fill out forms on our website, sign up for newsletters, or communicate with us.
- Transaction Information: Data related to property transactions or inquiries, including preferences, property details, and any information you choose to share in communications.
- Communications: The content of any messages or inquiries you send to us, whether through forms on our website, email, or Meta lead ads.
3.2 Automatically Collected Information:
When you interact with our website, certain information is automatically collected through cookies, tracking pixels (including the Meta Pixel), and other data collection technologies:
- Technical Information: Your IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, and language preferences.
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our website, such as pages viewed, time spent on each page, referring URLs, and navigation paths.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, beacons, and similar technologies to collect information that helps us personalize your experience, analyze website performance, and facilitate advertising activities.
3.3 Information From Third Parties:
We may receive data about you from third-party platforms, such as Meta (Facebook, Instagram), when you interact with our advertisements or submit information via their services.
4. How We Collect Information
We employ various methods for collecting personal information, including:
- Direct Interactions: Information that you provide directly when filling out contact forms, requesting services, or responding to Meta lead ads.
- Automated Technologies: Information collected automatically via cookies, pixels, and web beacons as you navigate our website.
- Third-Party Platforms: Data shared with us by third-party advertising platforms, including Meta, when you interact with our advertising content.
5. Purpose of Data Collection
We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes, ensuring that all processing activities are conducted in compliance with applicable laws:
- To Provide Our Services: To facilitate real estate transactions, respond to inquiries, and assist you with buying or selling property.
- Marketing and Advertising: To send you information about our services, new listings, and promotional offers, including the use of targeted advertising through platforms like Meta.
- User Experience Enhancement: To tailor the content and layout of our website to better align with your interests and preferences.
- Analytics and Performance: To monitor, analyze, and enhance website performance and the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, industry standards, and regulatory requirements applicable to our business operations.
6. Legal Bases for Processing Data
For individuals within the European Union, our processing of your personal data is grounded in one or more of the following legal bases under the GDPR:
- Consent: We process your personal data when you have provided explicit consent, for example, by subscribing to our marketing communications or submitting your information via lead ads.
- Legitimate Interests: We process data to pursue our legitimate business interests, including marketing, service improvement, and client management. We ensure that such processing does not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.
- Legal Compliance: We may process your data to comply with legal obligations, such as maintaining records for real estate transactions, responding to legal requests, or meeting regulatory requirements.
Should you wish to withdraw your consent at any time, you may contact us using the information provided in Section 2.
7. How We Use Collected Information
Your personal information is utilized for a range of purposes that are outlined below. In each instance, we commit to using your data in a manner that is transparent, lawful, and aligned with the principles of data minimization:
- Communication: To respond to your inquiries, provide you with requested information about properties, and follow up on interactions through Meta lead ads.
- Service Provision: To facilitate the purchase, sale, and other real estate-related services you request, including consultations and property listings.
- Marketing: To send you newsletters, market updates, property listings, and promotional content related to our services, provided you have given consent. We may employ third-party advertising platforms like Meta to target audiences based on user interactions.
- Personalization: To enhance your experience on our website by customizing content and service offerings based on your preferences and previous interactions.
- Improvement and Analytics: To monitor website performance, analyze trends, and make improvements to our services, products, and marketing strategies.
- Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes, including retaining records and responding to requests from public and governmental authorities.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. All uses of data are in strict compliance with applicable privacy laws and this Privacy Policy.
8. Sharing of Information
We respect your privacy and handle your personal information with care. We do not sell, rent, or otherwise disclose your personal information to third parties except as described in this Privacy Policy. Your information may be shared in the following circumstances:
8.1 Service Providers:
We engage trusted third-party service providers to perform functions and provide services to us, including advertising, marketing, payment processing, data analysis, website hosting, customer service, and email delivery. These service providers have access to your personal information solely for the purpose of performing their duties on our behalf and are contractually obligated to protect the confidentiality and security of your information.
8.2 Advertising Platforms:
We use Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and other advertising platforms to facilitate targeted advertising campaigns. When you interact with our ads, these platforms may collect information as per their privacy policies. We may use information, such as cookies or advertising identifiers, to create targeted audiences for advertising purposes.
8.3 Compliance with Laws and Legal Obligations:
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests from public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency). This includes complying with subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes, and for the purpose of preventing fraud or other illegal activities.
8.4 Business Transfers:
In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of our assets, your personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will ensure that any such entity is contractually obligated to use and protect your data in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.
8.5 Affiliates:
We may share your information with affiliates, subsidiaries, and business partners in connection with the provision of real estate services. These entities will handle your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
9. Meta Advertising & Tracking Technologies
Our website utilizes tracking technologies provided by Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and other similar platforms to better understand user interactions and optimize our advertising strategies. By using these technologies, we can deliver advertisements that are tailored to your interests and preferences.
9.1 Meta Pixel:
We employ Meta Pixel, a piece of code embedded in our website, to collect data about your actions on our site. This data helps us to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns, understand user behavior, and build targeted audiences for future advertisements.
9.2 Cookies and Similar Technologies:
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior on our website. This information is used for analytics, marketing, and enhancing your user experience. You have the ability to control cookies through your browser settings and other tools, as further detailed in Section 14 below.
9.3 Third-Party Data Collection:
When you interact with our advertisements on Meta platforms, Meta may collect information about your interaction as described in their privacy policies. We do not control these third-party data practices and recommend that you review Meta’s privacy policies for more information.
10. User Rights – CCPA
We respect your rights regarding your personal information and provide you with the means to exercise those rights in accordance with applicable laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Your rights include:
10.1 Rights for California Residents (CCPA):
- Right to Know: You have the right to request that we disclose the specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months.
- Right to Delete: You may request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., when the information is required to complete a transaction or comply with a legal obligation).
- Right to Opt-Out: If applicable, you have the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. Note: We do not sell your personal information.
- Non-Discrimination: You have the right not to be discriminated against for exercising any of your CCPA rights.
10.2 Rights for EU Users (GDPR):
- Right to Access: You can request access to the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: You have the right to request corrections of any inaccuracies in your personal data.
- Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): You can request the deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
- Right to Restrict Processing: You may ask us to restrict the processing of your personal data in certain situations.
- Right to Data Portability: You can request that we provide your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
- Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data, including for direct marketing purposes.
11. Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of the rights outlined in Section 10, please contact us at the details provided in Section 2. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by applicable law. To protect your privacy, we may take steps to verify your identity before processing your request.
For California residents, you may also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf. If you do so, we may require proof of your authorization and the agent’s identity. Please note that some requests to delete personal information may be subject to exceptions under applicable laws.
12. Data Security Measures
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
- Encryption: Sensitive data, including communications and personal information, is encrypted during transmission using secure protocols.
- Access Controls: Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel who require such access to perform their duties.
- Data Storage: We store personal data on secure servers with protection against unauthorized access, tampering, or physical damage.
While we strive to protect your personal information, please be aware that no security measures are completely infallible, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have any questions about the security of your personal information, please contact us using the information provided in Section 2.
13. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or to comply with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:
- Service Provision: We retain data for the duration of your engagement with our real estate services.
- Legal Compliance: We retain information as required by applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations.
- Marketing and Analytics: Data collected for marketing and analytics purposes is retained until you withdraw your consent or exercise your right to opt-out, whichever occurs first.
Upon expiry of the applicable retention period, we will securely delete or anonymize your personal information.
14. Use of Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website, to analyze our website’s performance, and to facilitate advertising activities. This section provides an overview of these technologies and your choices regarding their use.
14.1 Types of Cookies:
- Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled in our systems.
- Performance Cookies: These collect information about how visitors use our website, helping us to understand traffic patterns and improve user experience.
- Marketing and Advertising Cookies: These are used to deliver relevant advertisements to you, including through third-party advertising platforms such as Meta.
14.2 Managing Cookies:
You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website and your ability to use certain features.
14.3 Third-Party Cookies:
We may use third-party cookies from advertising and analytics providers, including Meta, to gather information about your activities across our website. These providers may use their cookies in accordance with their privacy policies, and we recommend reviewing those policies for further information.
15. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable regulations, we will take steps to delete any personal information that has been inadvertently collected from a child without verified parental consent.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately using the details provided in Section 2. Upon verification, we will promptly delete the child’s information from our records.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at our discretion, in order to reflect changes to our practices, legal requirements, or regulatory obligations. When changes are made, the “Effective Date” at the top of this policy will be updated to indicate the date of the latest revision.
If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by prominently posting a notice on our website or through other communication channels, as appropriate. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we handle your personal information. Your continued use of our website and services following the posting of changes signifies your acceptance of those changes.
17. Cross-Border Data Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to, processed in, or stored in a country other than your own, including the United States. By using our services or providing us with your information, you consent to the transfer of your data to countries where data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction.
For users located in the European Union, we ensure that any international data transfers comply with applicable legal requirements, including implementing appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission or relying on other recognized legal mechanisms to ensure adequate data protection.
18. Third-Party Links and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, and services, including those operated by Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and other advertising or analytics platforms. Clicking on these links or enabling such connections may allow third parties to collect or share information about you.
We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices or the content of their policies. We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit to understand how they collect, use, and share your information.
19. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling
We do not engage in automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on individuals. While we may use certain automated technologies (e.g., Meta’s advertising algorithms) to tailor content and marketing communications to your preferences, these processes do not involve any decision-making that would have a substantial impact on your rights or interests.
Should our practices change in the future and involve automated decision-making or profiling that significantly affects you, we will update this Privacy Policy accordingly and provide you with the necessary information and safeguards as required by applicable data protection laws.
20. Data Breach Response
We have implemented comprehensive procedures to address any suspected data breach involving personal information. In the event of a data breach, we will:
- Immediately assess the nature and scope of the breach, including the type of data affected.
- Take steps to contain the breach and mitigate potential harm to affected individuals.
- Notify affected individuals as soon as possible if their personal data is compromised and provide them with details about the breach and steps they can take to protect themselves.
- Notify relevant data protection authorities as required by applicable laws, including the GDPR and CCPA, within the prescribed timelines.
We are committed to maintaining a high level of security and data protection. Should you have concerns about the security of your personal information, please contact us using the details in Section 2.
21. Opt-Out and Unsubscribe Options
We provide you with choices regarding the collection, use, and sharing of your personal information for marketing and advertising purposes. You may exercise these choices in the following ways:
21.1 Email Marketing:
If you no longer wish to receive marketing emails from us, you may opt-out at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link included in our emails. You may also contact us directly using the information provided in Section 2 to request removal from our mailing list.
21.2 Targeted Advertising:
To opt out of targeted advertising on Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and other platforms, you may adjust your privacy settings on those platforms or visit the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) opt-out page at www.aboutads.info/choices. Note that opting out of targeted advertising does not mean you will no longer see advertisements; rather, the ads you see may be less relevant to your interests.
21.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies:
As detailed in Section 14, you can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. You may choose to block cookies or receive notifications when cookies are set. Please be aware that disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.
We will endeavor to process opt-out requests promptly, in compliance with applicable laws. Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you non-promotional messages regarding your account, transactions, or our ongoing business relationship.
22. Responding to Legal Requests
We may access, preserve, and disclose your personal information if we believe doing so is required or appropriate to: (a) comply with applicable laws and regulations, legal processes, or government requests, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements; (b) enforce our terms and conditions, policies, or agreements; (c) protect the rights, property, or safety of our business, our users, or others; and (d) detect, prevent, or otherwise address illegal activities, security issues, or technical problems.
We are committed to reviewing each request carefully, ensuring that any disclosure is limited to the personal information necessary to comply with the legal obligation, and is done in a manner consistent with applicable data protection laws.
23. Notification of Policy Changes
We may modify or update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or regulatory obligations. When we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you by:
- Posting a prominent notice on our website indicating the policy’s update,
- Updating the “Effective Date” at the top of this Privacy Policy,
- And, if required by law, providing additional notice to you (e.g., via email or other means).
Your continued use of our services following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to periodically review this Privacy Policy to remain informed about how we handle your personal information and to understand your rights and options.
24. Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us using the following details:
Justin Chau – Real Estate Services
For California residents, you may also contact us to exercise your rights under the CCPA, including requests to know, delete, or opt-out of the sale of personal information (where applicable). For EU residents, please reach out to us with any inquiries or concerns regarding your rights under the GDPR. We are committed to responding to your request within the timeframes required by applicable laws.
25. Effective Date and Version
This Privacy Policy is effective as of 15th September 2024 and supersedes all previous versions.
Version: 1.0
We maintain records of previous versions of this Privacy Policy for reference. Should you wish to review earlier versions of our Privacy Policy, please contact us using the information provided in Section 24.
