Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Building Markets operates this website, a B2B platform that connects Turkish companies with international buyers and provides a business directory, a sourcing directory and a tender directory. This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use the site, why we collect it, and the choices you have.

2. Information we collect

We collect the following information, depending on how you use the platform:

• Account details: your name, email address, password (stored only in encrypted form), country, phone number and whether it has been verified, and your account role.
• Sign in with Google: if you choose Google login, we receive the basic profile information Google shares with us, such as your name and email address. We never receive your Google password.
• Business profile: information you or your company add to the business directory, such as company name, contact person, email, phone, address, map location, sectors, biography, social media links, logo, photos, documents and videos.
• Sourcing requests: the details you submit in a sourcing request, such as the title, description, category, buyer and company name, contact details, and any images or documents you attach.
• Access verification: to view the sourcing directory we may ask you for your company tax number, tax office name and city, or an uploaded tax board document.
• Surveys and newsletter: answers you give in our company verification survey, and your email address (with the IP address used) if you subscribe to the newsletter.
• Technical data: IP address, browser and device information, sign-in, sign-up and sign-out events, and the company profiles and sourcing requests you view or edit.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• create and secure your account, and let you sign in;
• verify your phone number by sending a one-time code through WhatsApp, and verify your email address;
• operate the business, sourcing and tender directories and show your company profile to other users;
• review access requests and verify that businesses and buyers are genuine;
• send service messages such as verification emails, password resets and notices about listings you create;
• send our newsletter, only if you subscribed to it;
• prevent fraud and abuse, keep the platform secure, and understand how the site is used so we can improve it.

4. Who can see your information

Company profile information is visible to users who are signed in to the platform. Sourcing requests and tenders are visible only to users whom our team has approved. Your account email, phone number and password are never shown to other users. Our administrators can see account and activity information to run the platform.

We do not sell your personal data.

5. Service providers we use

We share limited data with trusted providers who help us run the platform:

• Google, for the optional sign-in with Google feature.
• Meta (WhatsApp Cloud API), to deliver phone verification codes.
• Email delivery and hosting providers, to send messages and run the website.
• Map and video providers: pages that show a map load map tiles from OpenStreetMap, and company videos may be embedded from YouTube. These providers receive your IP address and browser details as part of normal web requests. Our fonts, scripts and icons are served from our own servers.

We may also disclose information when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users and the platform.

6. Automated categorisation

Text you write in a company description may be analysed by an automated tool to suggest business sectors. This helps people find your company and does not make decisions about you.

7. Cookies

We use only the cookies needed for the site to work: a session cookie that keeps you signed in and remembers your language, and a security cookie that protects forms against cross-site request forgery. We do not use advertising or analytics cookies.

8. International transfers

Our users and some of our providers are located in different countries, so your data may be processed outside the country where you live. Where this happens we take steps to protect it as required by applicable law.

9. How long we keep your data

We keep your data for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service. You can delete your account at any time from your profile page, which removes your account. We may keep limited records where the law requires it or where we need them to prevent fraud and keep the platform secure.

10. Security

We protect your data with measures such as encrypted passwords, secure connections and access controls. No online service can be completely secure, so please use a strong, unique password and keep it private.

11. Your rights

Depending on where you live, including under Turkish data protection law (KVKK) and the EU GDPR, you may have the right to:

• find out whether we process your data and request a copy;
• ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data;
• ask us to delete your data;
• object to or restrict certain processing, and withdraw your consent where we rely on it;
• complain to your local data protection authority.

You can edit most of your information on your profile page. For any other request, use the contact details below.

12. Children

This platform is intended for businesses and is not directed at anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the date at the top of this page. If a change is significant, we will tell you in a clear way.

14. Contact us

If you have questions about this policy or want to use your rights, email us at info@buildingmarketstr.online, use our Contact page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 534 814 10 95.