Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ancestral Lineage ("we", "our" or "us") is run by Faciotech Foundation. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect when you use our website at https://ancestrallineage.com and related services, why we collect it, who we share it with and the choices you have.

We handle personal data under Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). If you are in the European Union or the United Kingdom, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the UK GDPR also gives you rights over your data. Our GDPR and your data rights page explains them.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, your email address and a password. We never store the password itself, only a one-way scrambled version of it (see section 5). If you sign in with Google, Google sends us your name, email address and profile picture, and we keep a record that links your Ancestral Lineage account to your Google account. In your account settings you can also add a short bio, your location and a phone number. These are optional.

2.2 Family & Genealogical Data

You may add names, dates of birth and death, places, biographical notes and relationships for members of your family. When file uploads are available, the files you upload, such as photographs and documents, are stored with a storage provider acting for us. Family records often describe living relatives, so please add details about a living person only with their agreement (see section 5 of our Terms of Service).

2.3 Things You Post, Send or Share

When you use the community features, we store what you write: clan posts and comments, forum threads and replies, replies to events and private messages to other members. If you invite someone to a clan, website or document, we store their email address and send them an invitation email. Messages sent through our contact form go to our team by email and are not saved in the platform's database.

2.4 Mission Support and Storage Requests

If you contact us about voluntary mission support or optional storage expansion, we process the information needed to respond to that request. The first-launch family tree, records, stories, media, and collaboration tools do not require payment details.

2.5 Server Logs

Like most websites, our web server keeps a log of requests. Each entry records the IP address, the description your browser gives of itself, the page requested and the time. We use these logs to keep the service secure and to find and fix faults. We also use your IP address briefly to limit repeated sign-in attempts. We do not use analytics or advertising tools, and we do not track you on other websites.

3. How We Use Your Information

• Provide and maintain the Ancestral Lineage platform
• Build and display family trees and clan pages you create
• Respond to optional storage expansion and mission support enquiries
• Send service-related notifications and updates
• Respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
• Find and fix problems with the platform, using the server logs described in section 2.5
• Comply with legal obligations and protect against fraud

4. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data only in the following circumstances:

• With your consent: When you share family trees or clan pages with other users or make them public.
• Service providers: Ancestral Lineage runs on a server operated by Faciotech on Microsoft Azure, and your account and family data are held in a database on that server. We use an email provider to send account emails, such as verification, password reset and invitation messages. When file uploads are available, uploaded files are stored with a storage provider acting for us. When you create an account, Cloudflare Turnstile checks that a person, not an automated program, is signing up; Cloudflare receives technical details such as your IP address and browser information for that check. If you choose to sign in with Google, Google handles that sign-in.
• Legal requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation.
• Safety: To protect the rights, safety, and property of our users and the public.

5. Data Storage & Security

Connections to Ancestral Lineage use HTTPS, so data passing between your browser and our server is encrypted. Passwords are stored only as bcrypt hashes, a one-way scramble that cannot be turned back into the password. Access to the server and database is limited to Faciotech staff who need it to run the service. Changing or resetting your password signs you out everywhere else, and we limit repeated sign-in attempts. No system is completely secure, and we cannot promise that yours will never be affected.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Portability: Export your family tree data in a standard format
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Objection: Object to certain types of processing

To use any of these rights, email privacy@ancestrallineage.com from the address on your account. We will reply within 5 business days and complete your request within 30 days. Account deletion is handled by our team at present, so please ask by email.

7. Data Retention

We keep your data for as long as your account is open. To close your account, email privacy@ancestrallineage.com from the address on your account. We will reply within 5 business days and remove your personal data within 30 days, except where the law requires us to keep it. We do not collect analytics data.

8. Cookies & Tracking

We use a small number of cookies and browser storage items to keep you signed in, protect forms and remember your choices. We do not use analytics or advertising cookies. For the full list, and how to clear them, see our Cookie Policy.

9. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not directed at children under 13. While family trees may include information about minors (added by parents or guardians), we do not knowingly collect data directly from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

Our server is hosted on Microsoft Azure. If you live in a different country from the one where your data is held, using the service means your data is sent to that country. If you sign in with Google, Google may process your data in other countries under its own terms, and so may our email provider and, when file uploads are available, our storage provider.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on our platform. Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

For privacy questions, or to use your rights, contact us at: