Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services to you:

Personal Information

When you register for competitions or contact us, we may collect:

• Full name and contact details (email, phone number)
• Age, grade level, and educational background
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
• Competition results and performance data

Automatically Collected Data

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website:

• IP addresses and device information
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring website addresses

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Remember user preferences
• Analyze website traffic
• Improve user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for various purposes:

Competition Administration

• Register participants for competitions
• Verify eligibility and age requirements
• Administer competition rounds
• Calculate and publish results
• Distribute prizes and awards

Communication

• Send competition updates and announcements
• Respond to inquiries and support requests
• Provide important notices about competition changes
• Send educational content and resources (with opt-out option)

Improvement and Research

• Analyze competition participation trends
• Improve question difficulty and quality
• Develop new competition formats
• Conduct educational research (anonymized data only)

Data Protection Measures

We implement robust security measures to protect your information:

Technical Safeguards

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure server infrastructure with regular updates
• Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
• Limited access to personal information

Organizational Measures

• Staff training on data protection principles
• Strict confidentiality agreements
• Regular policy reviews and updates
• Incident response procedures

Third-Party Processors

We carefully select service providers who meet our security standards:

• Payment processors with PCI DSS compliance
• Hosting providers with robust security certifications
• Email service providers with encryption capabilities

Compliance with Regulations

South Africa - POPIA

We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa:

• Lawful processing of personal information
• Purpose limitation and data minimization
• Right to access and correct personal information
• Appointment of an Information Officer

European Union - GDPR

For participants from the EU, we adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation:

• Right to access, rectify, and erase personal data
• Right to restrict processing and data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Appropriate safeguards for international transfers

Global Standards

We follow international best practices for data protection:

• Transparency about data collection and use
• Security measures appropriate to data sensitivity
• Regular review of compliance with evolving standards
• Cooperation with regulatory authorities

Your Data Protection Rights

Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your personal data (with limitations)

Control Over Your Data

You can:

• Opt-out of marketing communications
• Request restriction of processing
• Object to certain types of processing
• Request data portability where applicable

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@mathemacontest.com. We will respond within 30 days and may request verification of your identity.

Complaints

If you believe we have not addressed your concerns adequately, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.

Children's Privacy

We take special care to protect the privacy of young participants:

Age Restrictions

• Primary category participants must have parental consent
• Junior category participants (14-17) may need parental consent based on jurisdiction
• We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent

Parental Rights

Parents and guardians can:

• Review their child's personal information
• Request deletion of their child's information
• Refuse further collection or use of their child's information

Educational Focus

All collected data about children is used solely for educational competition purposes and is never shared with third parties for marketing.

Changes to This Policy

Policy Updates

We may update our Privacy Policy periodically to:

• Reflect changes in our practices
• Comply with new legal requirements
• Improve clarity and transparency

Notification

We will notify you of significant changes through:

• Email to registered participants
• Notice on our website
• Announcements during competitions

Effective Date

Changes become effective immediately upon posting unless otherwise noted. Your continued participation in our competitions constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.