Privacy Notice

🔐 ConnectAsian Privacy Notice & Policy

Last updated: Jan 2026

At ConnectAsian, we’re all about conscious connection — and that includes how we treat your personal data. This Privacy Notice explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how it’s used across our website, WhatsApp communities, Facebook groups, and in-person events, and the choices available to you.

👤 1. Who We Are

ConnectAsian is a UK-based dating, community, and events platform created and managed by Amit Sodha.

📧 Email: ca@connectasian.net

📦 2. What Personal Data We Collect & Why

We collect only the minimum personal data necessary to operate our services safely, effectively, and lawfully.

🖥️ Website & Bookings

We may collect your:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Booking or enquiry details

This occurs when you:

  • Register for events (typically via Eventbrite)
  • Submit a contact form
  • Book coaching or services with Amit

Purpose:
To manage bookings, deliver services, communicate relevant updates, and administer payments or access.

📱 WhatsApp Communities & Facebook Groups (Paid & Free)

When you join any ConnectAsian WhatsApp group or Facebook community:

  • Your phone number, name, and profile photo may be visible to other members (this is a platform-level limitation, particularly on WhatsApp).
  • Any information you choose to post or share is visible to group members.
  • Admins may view posts, interactions, and reports for moderation and safeguarding purposes.

✅ By joining our communities, you acknowledge and accept that:

  • Participation is voluntary
  • Your contact details may be visible to others
  • You are responsible for how and what you share
  • ConnectAsian cannot control how other individuals use information you voluntarily disclose

These communities are moderated under our Legitimate Interests to ensure safety, integrity, and a respectful environment.

📸 ConnectAsian Photos & Media Consent

ConnectAsian events are social, celebratory, and community-led. From time to time, we may capture photos or short video clips at our events for marketing, promotional, and community purposes (e.g. social media, website, future event promotion).

What We Capture

This may include:

  • Group photographs
  • Short video clips of the event atmosphere
  • Candid moments in shared spaces

We do not intentionally single out individuals for close-up content without their awareness.

We process images and video on the basis of:

  • Legitimate Interest (documenting and promoting community events), and
  • Consent, where required.

How to Opt Out

If you do not wish to appear in photos or videos, you must:

1️⃣ Notify us in writing at least 48 hours before the event, and
2️⃣ Remind the event host or a ConnectAsian team member upon arrival at the event.

We will then take reasonable steps to avoid capturing you in identifiable content.

Reasonable Steps (Important)

Reasonable steps may include:

  • Avoiding direct or posed photography of you
  • Advising photographers and hosts
  • Excluding you from identifiable group shots where practicable

However, we cannot guarantee complete exclusion from:

  • Wide-angle group shots
  • Background or incidental appearances
  • Crowd footage where individuals are not the focus

Post-Event Requests

Where personal data appears in published content, we will assess removal requests in line with UK GDPR and take reasonable and proportionate steps where appropriate.

This does not extend to:

  • Re-editing or recreating content
  • Removing content where individuals are incidental or not readily identifiable
  • Content lawfully captured and published where no opt-out was communicated in advance

By attending a ConnectAsian event, you acknowledge and accept this policy.

⚖️ 3. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data under the following lawful bases (UK GDPR):

  • Consent
    When you voluntarily join a community, subscribe to updates, or attend an event.
  • Contract
    Where processing is necessary to deliver services you have paid for or requested (e.g. coaching, tickets, memberships).
  • Legitimate Interest
    To:
    • Operate and moderate communities
    • Safeguard members
    • Enforce community guidelines
    • Prevent misuse, harassment, or harmful behaviour
    • Improve our services and member experience

A Legitimate Interest Assessment (LIA) has been carried out for these activities.

⏳ 4. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:

  • While you are an active member of a community, event, or coaching programme
  • For a reasonable period afterwards where required for safeguarding, dispute resolution, or legal obligations

You may request removal of your data at any time, subject to legal or operational requirements.

🔒 5. Data Security

We take data protection seriously.

Your data is:

  • Never sold
  • Never shared unnecessarily
  • Stored and processed using reputable platforms including:
    • Google Workspace
    • WhatsApp
    • Facebook
    • Eventbrite
    • Stripe / SumUp / Moosend (where applicable)

Access is restricted to authorised persons only.

🧽 6. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Request correction or deletion
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interest
  • Withdraw consent (where applicable)
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

To exercise any of these rights:
📧 ca@connectasian.net

👀 7. Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party platforms to deliver our services (e.g. Eventbrite, Stripe, Moosend, WhatsApp, Meta).

Your data is also subject to their respective privacy policies. We select providers that demonstrate GDPR compliance where reasonably possible.

🌍 8. International & Cross-Border Data Transfers

Some platforms we use may process data outside the UK or EU (e.g. WhatsApp / Meta).

Where this occurs, we rely on providers that implement appropriate safeguards and recognised data protection mechanisms.

🧭 9. Changes to This Privacy Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time.
The most current version will always be available at:

📍 https://connectasian.net/privacy-notice

❤️ Final Word

ConnectAsian exists to help people connect consciously — not to exploit data.

By choosing to participate, you do so knowingly and voluntarily, and we commit to handling your data responsibly, proportionately, and with integrity.

Questions? Just ask.

Amit Sodha
ConnectAsian
📧 ca@connectasian.net
🌐 https://connectasian.net