1. About this Privacy Policy
Handout ("Handout", "we", "us" or "our") is a social learning platform that helps learners discover and share educational materials, request peer support through HelpTap, connect with other learners, participate in Study Networks, and use AI-assisted study features.
This Policy applies when you use our website, mobile application, services and related features. It is designed with the privacy principles and data-subject rights recognised under applicable Nigerian data-protection law, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
This page describes Handout's intended privacy practices. Before publication, Handout should ensure that the descriptions of its hosting, analytics, AI, messaging, retention and deletion practices match the systems actually used in production.
2. Information we collect
Information you give us
Depending on how you use Handout, you may provide your name, email address, phone number, profile photo, date of birth, institution, programme or course of study, year or level, location information you choose to add to your profile, password or authentication information, interests and profile biography.
You may also provide learning materials and metadata, HelpTap requests and responses, messages, comments, reactions, ratings, Study Network posts, connection activity, reports, feedback, survey responses and communications with our support team.
Information generated when you use Handout
We may collect device and technical information, IP address, app or browser type, operating system, device identifiers, login and session information, timestamps, feature interactions, searches, material views, downloads, saves, uploads, quiz activity, HelpTap activity, connection and network activity, notification interactions, crash/error information and similar usage data.
Information from others
Other users may interact with you, mention you, send connection requests, rate a completed interaction, report content or otherwise create information associated with your account. We may also receive information from service providers that support authentication, infrastructure, analytics, communications, security or other platform functions.
3. How we use information
We use information to provide and operate Handout; create and secure accounts; personalise relevant learning experiences; enable Handout uploads and discovery; operate HelpTap, Connect and Study Networks; deliver messages and notifications; provide AI-assisted study features; process reports; prevent abuse; troubleshoot errors; understand product usage; improve features; communicate service or security updates; and comply with applicable legal obligations.
We may analyse aggregated or de-identified patterns to understand how learners use Handout, such as whether materials are useful, whether peer-help requests receive responses, or where users encounter friction.
4. Lawful bases for processing
Where applicable, Handout processes personal data on one or more recognised lawful bases, including performing a contract with you when providing the service, complying with legal obligations, pursuing legitimate interests that do not override your rights, protecting vital interests where relevant, and obtaining consent where consent is the appropriate basis.
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to legal and technical limitations. Withdrawing consent does not make earlier lawful processing unlawful.
5. Public and private content
Handout includes social and user-generated features. Information you choose to make public—such as a public Handout, profile information, HelpTap request, comment or Study Network contribution—may be visible to other users and may be shared or interacted with according to the feature's settings.
Private materials and communications are intended to be accessible only according to the relevant feature and permissions. However, no online service can guarantee that another user will never copy, screenshot or redistribute information they are able to see.
Do not upload confidential information, personal data about another person, copyrighted material you do not have permission to share, or academic content that you are not authorised to distribute.
6. AI-assisted study features
Handout may offer AI-powered features such as summaries, explanations, key points or quizzes. When you use these features, we may process the learning material you select, your prompts or instructions, and relevant contextual information needed to generate the requested output.
AI processing may be performed by Handout systems or contracted technology providers. AI-generated content can contain mistakes or omissions and should be treated as a study aid rather than an authoritative academic source.
Handout will not describe personal information as being excluded from model training or retained for a specific AI-provider period unless that claim is supported by the provider configuration and contractual terms actually in use.
8. International data transfers
Some technology providers may process or store information outside Nigeria. Where personal data is transferred internationally, Handout will take appropriate steps required by applicable law to ensure the transfer has a lawful basis and appropriate safeguards.
9. How long we keep information
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide Handout, maintain account and security records, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent abuse and support legitimate business needs. Different categories of information may have different retention periods.
If you delete content or close your account, some information may remain for a limited period in backups, security records, transaction logs or where retention is required or permitted by law. Public content that other users have independently shared may not disappear from copies outside Handout's control.
10. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration, disclosure or misuse. Security is a shared responsibility: keep your login credentials confidential, use a strong password, and tell us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised.
No internet service is completely secure, and we cannot promise absolute security.
11. Your privacy rights
Subject to applicable law and any relevant exceptions, you may have rights to be informed about processing, access personal data, correct inaccurate data, object to or restrict certain processing, request deletion, request portability, withdraw consent where processing relies on consent, and seek protection in relation to certain automated decision-making.
You may also complain to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission or another competent supervisory authority where applicable. We may need to verify your identity before completing a rights request.
Contact us and tell us what you would like to access, correct or delete.
12. Younger users
Handout is currently designed primarily for tertiary learners. If you are below the age at which you can validly consent to the processing required for a feature under applicable law, you should use Handout only with the involvement or authorisation of a parent, guardian or other person legally permitted to act for you.
If Handout later expands services specifically to children or younger secondary-school learners, we will introduce age-appropriate safeguards, notices and consent processes before doing so.
14. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as Handout evolves, our technology changes, or legal requirements change. We will update the date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice of material changes.
15. Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, how Handout uses personal information, or a privacy request or complaint, contact us.