Privacy Policy (UK)

Last Updated: 21/01/2025

This privacy notice (our "Policy") describes how Silent Chef Ltd (company number: 16123284) ("we", "our" or "us") collects and processes your personal data with regards to the SilentChef mobile application and related services ("SilentChef" or the "Application"). How we use your personal data will depend on the particular service or feature you use and the nature of your relationship with us.

We primarily operate in the United Kingdom but may make our Application available worldwide. This Policy applies to all personal data we collect or process about you in the context of your use of our services, wherever you reside.

1. Data We Collect

We may collect the following personal data from you (collectively, "Personal Data"):

• Personal Details
  - Name (first and last)
  - Email address
  - Content of any correspondence between you and us (e.g., when you contact customer support)
• Allergy and Diet Preferences
  - Information you provide about allergies (e.g., nuts, dairy) and dietary preferences (e.g., vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free).
  - Please note this may include health-related data, which we refer to as "Health Data."
• Authentication Data
  - Username and password to log in to SilentChef.
  - In the future, we may collect login tokens from third-party services (e.g., Google, Apple, Facebook) if you opt to use those for signup/login.
• Usage Data
  - Information related to how you interact with our Application and website (e.g., recipes you upload or save, how much time you spend on certain screens).
  - IP address, device type, and browser details.
  - Cookies and similar technologies used for analytics and referral tracking. (We do not set our own cookies for now but allow certain third-party cookies for referral links or advertising.)
• Future Data Collection
  - Location Data: We currently do not collect your precise location. However, we may do so in the future (e.g., to facilitate delivery services or suggest nearby shopping options).
  - Grocery Preferences: Should we integrate with grocery retailers, we may collect the items you add to shopping lists or purchase.

2. How We Collect Your Data

We collect your Personal Data in three primary ways:

• Directly from You
  - When you sign up for an account.
  - When you upload or digitise your recipes.
  - When you submit feedback or contact our customer support.
• Through Automated Means
  - Via cookies or similar tracking technologies.
  - Through usage data collected as you interact with the Application (e.g., page views, recipe searches).
• From Third Parties
  - In the future, we may receive data from supermarket checkouts, third-party integrations (e.g., social media logins).
  - Currently, no third-party data is collected.

For more details on how we use cookies and third-party trackers, please refer to our Cookie Policy (if applicable).

3. How We Use Your Data

We may use your Personal Data for the following purposes:

• Providing and Maintaining Our Services
  - Setting up your account on SilentChef.
  - Digitising handwritten or printed recipes at your request.
  - Enabling recipe discovery and meal planning features.
  - Generating custom shopping lists based on your saved or uploaded recipes.
• Analytics and Personalisation
  - To understand user behaviour and preferences so we can improve SilentChef.
  - To offer better recipe recommendations and tailor content to your dietary preferences.
  - To develop machine learning models for meal planning, recipe matching, and trend analysis.
• Future Integrations and Services
  - Grocery Checkout: In the future, we may share relevant data with supermarkets to facilitate the purchase of ingredients.
  - Location-Based Services: We may use location data (once collected) for delivery services or location-specific recipe suggestions.
• Marketing and Advertising
  - To send you special offers, newsletters, or marketing communications (with your consent or as otherwise legally permitted).
  - To provide targeted advertising based on your user preferences, usage patterns, and dietary data.
  - You can opt out or withdraw consent for marketing at any time.
• Legal and Other Purposes
  - To comply with legal obligations or respond to lawful requests by public authorities.
  - To defend ourselves against legal claims or in the event of a merger or acquisition (currently hypothetical).

Legal Basis:
We process your Personal Data on the following legal bases:

• Contract: Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (e.g., providing the SilentChef app's core functionalities).
• Consent: Where you have expressly consented (e.g., for marketing communications, processing Health Data, or using certain cookies).
• Legitimate Interests: For analytics, to improve our services, and to develop new features.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with laws or regulatory requirements.

4. Data Sharing

At present, we do not share your Personal Data with any third parties other than our service providers (e.g., hosting on Amazon Web Services in the UK). We may, however, share your Personal Data under the following circumstances in the future:

• Supermarket Checkouts
  If we partner with grocery retailers, we may share your shopping list data and user ID to facilitate purchases.
• Analytics and Advertising Partners
  If we engage third-party analytics or advertising networks, limited data (e.g., cookie IDs, device info) may be shared for targeted advertising. We will only do so in accordance with applicable laws and with your consent where required.
• Business Transactions
  If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before any such transfer, subject to legal and contractual restrictions.
• Legal Requirements
  We may disclose your Personal Data if required by law, court order, or at the request of a public authority.

5. Data Retention

We retain your Personal Data for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, taking into account:

• The ongoing relationship we have with you (e.g., active user accounts).
• Legal obligations to retain data for a certain period (e.g., accounting requirements).
• The type and sensitivity of the Personal Data.
• The potential need to defend against legal claims.

For example:

• Account Data (name, email) is retained until you delete your account or request erasure.
• Cookies and similar tracking data may be retained for up to two years, depending on their purpose (session vs. persistent).

We periodically review our data retention practices (at least annually) to ensure we are not holding data for longer than necessary. Upon the expiration of the relevant retention period, we will securely delete or anonymise your Personal Data.

6. Data Security

We take the security of your Personal Data seriously and use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect it. These include:

• Secure servers hosted by AWS in the UK.
• Encryption at rest and in transit (e.g., HTTPS, SSL/TLS).
• JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for user authentication.
• Regular security audits and monitoring.

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights Over Your Personal Data

Depending on where you live, you may have the following rights regarding your Personal Data:

• Access: Request a copy of the Personal Data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete Personal Data.
• Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request that we delete your Personal Data.
• Restriction: Ask us to pause the processing of your Personal Data.
• Data Portability: Request a copy of certain Personal Data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to the processing of your Personal Data for certain purposes (e.g., direct marketing).
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:
Email: contact@silent-chef.com
Attn: Data Protection Officer (Luke Barber)

We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Please note that we may need to retain certain information for legal or administrative reasons.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18 (or the equivalent minimum age depending on your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware of such collection without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

9. International Data Transfers

We primarily store and process data within the United Kingdom (via AWS). However, if you are located outside the UK or EEA, your Personal Data may be transferred to, or stored in, a country that does not have the same data protection laws as your home jurisdiction. Where required, we implement appropriate safeguards (e.g., contractual clauses) to ensure that your Personal Data remains protected.

10. Marketing and Advertising

We may send you email newsletters and marketing communications about new features, recipes, and special offers if you have chosen to receive them. You can opt out at any time by:

• Clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in the email.
• Adjusting your marketing preferences in your account settings.
• Contacting us at contact@silent-chef.com.

In addition, we may use some of your data (e.g., preferences, usage patterns) for targeted advertising. Where required, we will obtain your consent before using your data in this way.

11. Links to Other Websites

SilentChef may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., referral links to buy ingredients). We do not control these websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make any material changes, we will notify you via email, push notification, or a prominent notice within our Application before the changes become effective. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically for any updates or changes. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when this Policy was last revised.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data protection practices, please contact:

Silent Chef Ltd
Attn: Luke Barber - Data Protection Officer
Email: contact@silent-chef.com

If you have any unresolved privacy concerns, you have the right to contact the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction (e.g., the UK Information Commissioner's Office).

14. Additional California Consumer Privacy Disclosures

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). For more information on your specific rights, please see Additional California Consumer Privacy Disclosures (link or section to match your final layout), which supplement this Policy.

Thank you for trusting SilentChef with your recipes and meal planning!
We're committed to safeguarding your privacy and providing a secure, personalised cooking experience.