Privacy Policy

1. About this policy

BeeSTAR Holdings Pty Ltd (ABN [insert]) and its related companies, together "BeeSTAR", "we", or "us", respect the privacy of everyone who uses our website, our app, or our services. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the rights you have over your data.

We comply with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. We are also a signatory to the Australian Farm Data Code, which sets out how we handle data generated on Australian farms.

2. What we collect

From the website:

Contact form submissions (name, email, organisation, message, audience type)
Newsletter signups (name, email)
Standard analytics data (browser type, pages visited, referring site, approximate location)
Cookies for essential site functions and analytics

From the BeeSTAR app:

Account details (name, email, role, organisation, phone number)
Apiary and hive identifiers
Sensor data from BeeSTAR devices (temperature, humidity, light)
Hive and apiary location data, entered by you in the app
Hive history records, including inspections, treatments, queen events, and harvest data where you choose to log them
Device and connection diagnostics

From beekeepers, growers, and partners we work with:

Business details
Operational data shared with us under contract
Communications

3. How we use your information

We use personal and business data to:

Provide and improve the BeeSTAR service
Communicate about your account, hives, and any issues
Send updates and newsletters where you've signed up
Conduct research and product development, in line with the Farm Data Code
Meet legal and regulatory obligations

4. How we share your information

We don't sell your personal data. We share it only when:

You ask us to, for example sharing pollination reports with a grower
Service providers help us run the platform under appropriate confidentiality agreements, including connectivity providers and cloud hosting partners
We're required to by law

Hive data may be used to improve our products, support research and development, and contribute to industry research. Where hive data is shared with research institutions or industry partners, it's de-identified or aggregated unless you've explicitly consented to identifiable sharing.

5. Where your data is stored

Your data is stored on secure servers in Australia. We use encryption in transit and at rest. Access is limited to authorised BeeSTAR personnel under role-based controls.

6. Retention and termination

We keep your data for as long as you're an active BeeSTAR customer, plus the periods set out below. When your service ends, or when you ask us to remove your account:

Personal information is deleted within thirty days of completion of the termination process and return of any BeeSTAR hardware
Hive data is retained in identifiable form for six months for backup, continuity, and research support purposes
After six months, hive data is de-identified and may be retained in aggregated or anonymous form for research, product development, and industry contribution

If you have specific deletion requests outside this default, contact us and we'll work through them with you.

7. Data ownership and the Australian Farm Data Code

BeeSTAR is a signatory to the Australian Farm Data Code. The core commitment is straightforward.

The data your operation generates is yours.

Specifically:

You own the raw sensor and operational data from your hives
We own the analytical models, derived insights, and aggregated research outputs we build from that data
We're transparent about what we collect and why
We give you control over how your data is used
We support your right to switch providers, export your data, or request deletion
Our contracts have no hidden data clauses

You can read the full Code at farmdatacode.org.au.

8. Your rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct anything that's inaccurate
Withdraw consent for marketing communications
Request deletion of your data, subject to legal exceptions
Make a complaint about how we handle your data

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [privacy contact email].

9. Cookies

We use cookies for essential site functions (keeping you logged in) and analytics (understanding how the site is used). You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some site features may stop working as a result.

10. Children

The BeeSTAR service is designed for commercial users and is not intended for children under sixteen. We don't knowingly collect data from children.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on our website with the latest effective date. Significant changes will be communicated to active users.

12. Contact

For privacy questions or requests, contact:

[Privacy contact email]
BeeSTAR Holdings Pty Ltd
[Office address], Brisbane QLD, Australia