LEGAL
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 15 March 2025
1. Introduction
AFSOM Geological and Mapping Survey Co. ("AFSOM," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who visit our website, submit enquiries through our contact form, or engage with our services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information in the course of operating our website at www.afsomsurvey.com (the "Website") and conducting our business.
By using our Website or providing your information to us, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use our Website or submit personal information to us.
2. Information We Collect
We collect only the information that you voluntarily provide to us when you interact with our Website or contact us directly. This may include:
Contact Form Submissions
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number (optional)
- Company or organization name (optional)
- Country and project location
- Service(s) of interest
- Project stage and timeline (optional)
- Project details and message content
- How you heard about AFSOM (optional)
Direct Communications
- Information you provide when you email us directly at info@afsomsurvey.com
- Information shared during telephone conversations or in-person meetings
- Professional contact details exchanged in the normal course of business
Automatically Collected Information
- Basic server logs including IP address, browser type, referring pages, and access times — used solely for website performance and security monitoring
We do not collect sensitive personal data (such as health information, financial account details, or government identification numbers) through our Website. We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 16.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes and no other:
Responding to Enquiries
- To review and respond to your project enquiries, service requests, or partnership proposals
- To communicate with you about your enquiry and arrange follow-up discussions
Providing Services
- To prepare proposals, scoping documents, and service agreements when you engage our services
- To deliver the geological, mapping, and consultancy services you have requested
- To communicate project updates, deliverables, and technical information
Business Operations
- To maintain internal records of enquiries and service engagements
- To improve our Website and service offerings based on aggregate usage patterns
- To comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations
We will not use your personal information for marketing or promotional purposes without your explicit prior consent. We do not send unsolicited marketing communications.
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
AFSOM does not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise share your personal information with third parties for their commercial purposes. We may disclose your information only in the following limited circumstances:
Service Partners and Subcontractors
- We may share information with laboratory partners, specialist consultants, or field contractors who are directly involved in delivering services you have requested. These partners are bound by confidentiality obligations and may only use your information for the specific purpose of the engagement.
Legal Requirements
- We may disclose information if required to do so by law, regulation, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
Business Transfers
- In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
5. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
Security Measures
- Secure HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted through our Website
- Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel with a legitimate business need
- Regular review of our data collection, storage, and processing practices
- Password protection and secure storage for digital records
While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work continuously to maintain appropriate protections and will notify you in accordance with applicable law in the event of a data breach that affects your personal information.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Our retention periods are guided by the following principles:
Retention Guidelines
- Enquiry data: Retained for up to 24 months after your last communication with us, to maintain context for any future engagement discussions
- Active client data: Retained for the duration of the client relationship and for a reasonable period thereafter as required for legal, regulatory, and business record-keeping purposes
- Server logs: Retained for up to 90 days for security and performance monitoring
When personal information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it. You may request earlier deletion of your information as described in Section 9 (Your Rights).
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Website may use essential cookies — small text files placed on your device — that are necessary for the proper functioning of the Website. These may include:
Cookie Usage
- Session cookies that maintain your browsing state during a single visit and are deleted when you close your browser
- Preference cookies that remember basic settings (such as form preferences) to improve your experience on return visits
We do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, third-party analytics cookies, or any form of behavioral tracking on our Website. We do not collect or sell browsing data to advertising networks or data brokers.
You can configure your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our Website.
8. Third-Party Links
Our Website may contain links to external websites or resources that are not operated by AFSOM. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our Website and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of any third-party websites.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. The inclusion of a link does not imply our endorsement of the linked site or its privacy practices.
9. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Your Rights
- Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correction: You may request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to any legal or contractual obligations that require us to retain it
- Objection: You may object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances
- Withdrawal of Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@afsomsurvey.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable data protection laws. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.
10. Children's Privacy
Our Website and services are not directed to, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from, children under the age of 16. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 16 without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
If you believe that a child under 16 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at info@afsomsurvey.com.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make changes, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Website after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
If we make material changes to this policy, we will provide a prominent notice on our Website prior to the changes taking effect.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Contact Information
- Email: info@afsomsurvey.com
- Head Office: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Main Branch: Borama, Somaliland
- Website: www.afsomsurvey.com
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your data rights, please email us at info@afsomsurvey.com.