Privacy Policy

Som First Online Market ("we", "us", "the platform") connects buyers and sellers in Somalia. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

• Account details: full name, username, phone number, email address, gender, date of birth, country, city, address, and profile photo.
• Business information (sellers): business/shop name, logo, description, category, phone, WhatsApp, email, address, location, and years in business.
• Product information: titles, descriptions, images, prices, category, condition, city, and delivery availability.
• Order information: items, delivery details, payment method, payment reference, and order status.
• Reviews, ratings, comments, and replies you submit.
• Support requests and reports you submit.
• Device/app information such as app version and basic usage data where applicable.

• Creating and managing your account.
• Processing orders and connecting buyers with sellers.
• Arranging delivery where applicable.
• Customer support and dispute resolution.
• Fraud prevention and account security.
• Reviews, ratings, and trust features such as Verified Purchase.
• Platform improvement and notifications.

We do not sell your personal information. Information may be shared:

• With sellers, to fulfil your orders.
• With buyers, where necessary to complete a transaction.
• With delivery providers where applicable.
• With service providers that help us operate the platform.
• With authorities when legally required.

We share only what is necessary and avoid exposing private information unnecessarily.

• View your information in your profile and account settings.
• Edit your information at any time.
• Request account deletion from Settings.
• Contact support regarding your data.

To reduce fake seller accounts and keep the marketplace safe, sellers may be required to verify their identity using a valid government-issued ID or passport.

• What we collect: an image of your ID/passport (and both sides for an ID card), and information read from it such as full name, date of birth, document number, nationality, and expiration date.
• Why: to confirm that a seller is a real person or business owner and to protect buyers and other sellers.
• How we use it: only for identity review and fraud prevention. Identity verification is separate from Blue Verified Business status and from paid subscriptions — it cannot be purchased.
• Storage and access: document images are stored in private storage and are never shown on your public profile, shop, products, search results, or reviews. Only authorized verification administrators can access them, via temporary secure links. We do not expose full document numbers publicly.
• Protection: access is protected by role-based permissions and backend authorization checks. Sellers cannot access another seller's documents, and buyers cannot access seller documents.
• Retention: we retain verification documents and records for as long as reasonably necessary for safety, legal, and operational purposes, including investigating disputes or fraud. You may request deletion or further information by contacting support, though some information may need to be retained to meet legal or security obligations.
• Verification providers: document reading may be assisted by automated extraction, which is not infallible. Final verification decisions are made by our review team. A camera photo, automated reading, or simple face detection alone does not prove identity.

Passwords are handled securely and never displayed in plain text. Access to your data is restricted by role-based permissions.

For privacy questions, contact us through the Help & Support page.