Privacy Policy
Last updated: 31 May 2025
African Geek (theafricangeeks.com) is a free resource for Canva designers across Africa. We take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can control it. We comply with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and, where applicable, the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
1. Who we are
African Geek is operated by The African Geeks, based in Ghana, West Africa. If you have any questions about this policy or your personal data, contact us at hello@theafricangeeks.com.
2. What information we collect
2.1 Information you give us directly
- Email address — when you subscribe to the African Geek newsletter
- Name, country, design niche, Instagram handle, bio, and portfolio image — when you submit work to the Designer Showcase
- Invoice details — entered locally in your browser in our Invoice Generator tool (nothing is sent to our servers)
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time on site, scroll depth, clicks (via Google Analytics)
- Device and browser type, operating system, screen size
- Approximate location (country/city level) derived from your IP address
- Ad interaction data — whether ads were seen or clicked (via Google AdSense)
2.3 Cookies
- Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) — to understand how the site is used. Only set after you consent.
- Advertising cookies (Google AdSense) — to serve relevant ads. Only set after you consent.
- Functional cookies — a single first-party cookie to remember your cookie consent choice.
3. Why we collect your information
| Data | Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | Send design tips, tutorials, and updates via our newsletter | Consent (you opted in) |
| Showcase submission | Feature your work and profile on the Designer Showcase | Consent (you submitted) |
| Analytics data | Understand what content is useful; improve the site | Consent (cookie banner) |
| Advertising data | Serve relevant ads that help fund free content | Consent (cookie banner) |
4. Third-party services
We share data with the following trusted third parties only to the extent needed for the service:
- Resend (email delivery) — stores your email address to send the newsletter. Resend Privacy Policy
- Google Analytics (usage analytics) — receives anonymised usage data. Only active after your consent. Google Privacy Policy
- Google AdSense (advertising) — may set advertising cookies. Only active after your consent. Google Privacy Policy
- Paystack (payment processing in the Shop) — handles payment card data directly; we never see your card details. Paystack Privacy Policy
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.
5. How long we keep your data
- Newsletter email — kept until you unsubscribe. Every newsletter email includes a one-click unsubscribe link.
- Showcase submission — kept until you request removal by emailing us.
- Analytics data — retained for 14 months by Google (their default).
- Cookie consent preference — stored in your browser's localStorage; cleared when you clear your browser data.
6. Your rights
Under POPIA (and GDPR for EU visitors), you have the right to:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction — ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion — request we delete your data (subject to legal obligations)
- Opt out of newsletter — click the unsubscribe link in any email, or email us
- Withdraw consent — change your cookie preference at any time using the banner below, or by clearing your browser data
To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@theafricangeeks.com. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Designer Showcase — special notice
When you submit work to the Designer Showcase, your name, country, design niche, Instagram handle, bio, and portfolio image will be publicly visible on our website. By submitting, you confirm that:
- You own or have the rights to all content you submit
- You grant African Geek a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display the work on this site
- You retain full copyright of your work — we will never claim ownership
To have your submission removed, email hello@theafricangeeks.com with the subject line "Showcase removal request".
8. Security
The site is served over HTTPS. We apply security headers to prevent clickjacking and cross-site scripting. Our free tools (Invoice Generator, Brand Kit Planner, etc.) process your data entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to our servers unless you explicitly submit a form.
9. Children's privacy
Our site is intended for people aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a child has submitted data to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data?
Email: hello@theafricangeeks.com
Subject line: "Privacy enquiry"
If you are an EU resident and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.