1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how AL-RIESALAH EDUCATION collects, uses, discloses, and protects the personal information you provide when you communicate with us via WhatsApp using our official WhatsApp Business API account.
By initiating a conversation with us on WhatsApp, subscribing to our updates, or providing your phone number for communication, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
When you interact with AL-RIESALAH EDUCATION on WhatsApp, we may collect the following information:
Phone Number: Your mobile phone number, which is essential for using the WhatsApp service.
Profile Information: Your WhatsApp profile name and profile picture (if available and if you have chosen to share it).
Message Content: All messages, media files (photos, videos, documents, voice notes), and other content you send to us or we send to you.
User-Provided Information: Any information you voluntarily provide, such as:
Your name, email address, and student ID for verification.
Queries about courses, admissions, schedules, or fees.
Feedback, complaints, or support requests.
Automated Information: Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) provides us with certain metadata, such as:
Time and date of messages.
Status of message delivery (e.g., sent, delivered, read).
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information solely for legitimate educational and administrative purposes, including:
Providing Services: To respond to your inquiries, provide information about our courses and programs, and deliver educational support.
Authentication: To verify your identity as a student, parent, or prospective student.
Administrative Communication: To send important updates, class schedules, assignment reminders, fee payment confirmations, and changes to institute policies.
Customer Support: To troubleshoot problems, resolve technical issues, and address your concerns.
Service Improvement: To analyze trends and feedback to improve our educational services and communication efficiency.
Security: To protect our systems, prevent fraud, and ensure the security of our community.
4. Legal Basis for Processing (For GDPR Compliance)
Our legal basis for processing your personal data is:
Performance of a Contract: Processing is necessary to provide you with the educational services you have requested (e.g., replying to your specific query).
Legitimate Interests: For administrative communications, service improvement, and security, which we pursue while ensuring your privacy rights are not overridden.
Consent: For sending promotional or marketing communications (e.g., new course announcements). You will always have the option to opt-out of such messages.
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We value your privacy. We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
Your information may be shared with:
Service Providers: We use trusted third-party providers who assist us in operating our WhatsApp API service (e.g., the official WhatsApp Business API provider). These partners are bound by strict data processing agreements and cannot use your information for their own purposes.
Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
Protection of Rights: To protect the rights, property, or safety of AL-RIESALAH EDUCATION, our students, staff, or others.
6. Data Storage and Security
Storage: Your message history and data are stored on secure servers provided by our WhatsApp API service provider, which adheres to industry-standard security practices.
Retention: We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Your Rights section).
Security: We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: You can request the erasure of your personal information.
Objection: You can object to our processing of your personal data.
Data Portability: You can request a structured, machine-readable copy of your data.
Opt-Out: You can opt-out of receiving promotional messages from us at any time. To stop all communications, you can block our number on WhatsApp or send us a message with the word “STOP”.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@alriesalah.com.
8. Children’s Privacy
AL-RIESALAH EDUCATION is committed to protecting the privacy of children. For students under the age of 13 (or the relevant age in their jurisdiction), we will only process personal data with verifiable parental consent. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided us with personal information without their consent should contact us immediately so we can delete it.
9. Third-Party Platform: WhatsApp
Our communication is delivered through WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta Platforms Inc. Your use of WhatsApp is also governed by Meta’s own Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We encourage you to review their policies to understand how they handle your data. We are not responsible for WhatsApp’s data practices.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We will notify you of any material changes via WhatsApp or other prominent means.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:
AL-RIESALAH EDUCATION
Email: info@alriesalah.com
Physical Address: Block 60, B/3, Street# 19, House# 03, Sector G 10/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Legal Counsel: It is highly recommended to have this document reviewed by a legal professional to ensure full compliance with local laws in your region Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Consent Mechanism: You must have a clear process for obtaining and recording consent, especially for marketing and for data belonging to minors.