ArtYard Data Deletion Policy

Last updated: January 2025

At ArtYard, we respect your right to control your personal data. This page explains how to delete your data, what happens when you delete your account, and what data may be retained.

1. Your Right to Delete Data

You have the right to delete your ArtYard account and associated data at any time, for any reason. The deletion process is:

Simple - Can be done directly in the app in just a few taps
Immediate - Most data is deleted right away
Permanent - Deleted data cannot be recovered
Free - No fees or charges for account deletion

2. How to Delete Your Account

Method 1: Delete Through the App (Recommended)

📱 Step-by-Step Instructions:

Open the ArtYard app
Go to Profile tab
Tap the ⚙️ Settings icon in the top right
Scroll down to Account Management
Tap "Delete Account"
Read the warning message carefully
Enter your password to confirm
Tap "Delete My Account Permanently"

⚠️ Warning: This action is permanent and cannot be undone. All your artworks, messages, and account data will be deleted.

Method 2: Request Deletion via Email

If you cannot access the app, you can request account deletion by email:

📧 Email Deletion Request:

Send an email to: artyard2025@gmail.com

Subject: Account Deletion Request

Include:

Your registered email address
Your display name (if you remember it)
Reason for deletion (optional)

Response Time: We will process your request within 48 hours and confirm via email.

3. What Data Gets Deleted

When you delete your account, the following data is immediately deleted:

Data Type	Deletion Status	Timeline
Profile Information	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
Email address, display name, bio, profile photo	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
Your Artworks	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
All uploaded images, titles, descriptions, prices	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
Messages & Comments	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
All your messages and comments	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
Likes & Bookmarks	✅ Deleted Immediately	Instant
Purchase History	⏳ Archived for Legal Compliance	7 years (required by law)
Transaction records (for tax/legal purposes)	⏳ Anonymized	Personal info removed, transaction ID kept
Backup Copies	⏳ Deleted from Backups	Within 90 days

4. What Happens After Deletion

4.1 Immediate Effects

Your profile disappears from search results
Your artworks are removed from the marketplace
Other users cannot see your profile or artworks
You are logged out of all devices
Your email address becomes available for new registrations after 30 days

4.2 Cannot Be Recovered

⚠️ Important: Once deleted, your account cannot be recovered. You will need to:

Create a new account if you want to use ArtYard again
Re-upload all your artworks
Rebuild your followers and connections

4.3 Impact on Other Users

Purchases: If someone bought your artwork, they keep access to it (they paid for it)
Comments: Your comments on other users' artworks are deleted
Messages: Conversations with you are deleted from both sides
Followers: Your followers list is deleted; they lose you from their following list

5. Partial Data Deletion Options

If you don't want to delete your entire account, you can delete specific data:

5.1 Delete Individual Artworks

Steps:

Go to My Artworks
Tap on the artwork you want to delete
Tap the ⋮ (three dots) menu
Select "Delete Artwork"
Confirm deletion

5.2 Clear Messages

Steps:

Go to Messages
Long press on a conversation
Select "Delete Conversation"
Confirm deletion

5.3 Remove Profile Information

Steps:

Go to Profile → Edit Profile
Remove or update any information you don't want to share
You can clear your bio, remove profile photo, etc.
Tap "Save"

6. Data Retention for Legal Compliance

Some data may be retained for legal or security reasons:

6.1 Financial Records (7 Years)

If you sold artworks on ArtYard, we are legally required to keep transaction records for tax purposes. These records are:

Anonymized - Your name and email are removed
Secured - Stored in encrypted format
Not Shared - Only accessible to tax authorities if legally required
Auto-Deleted - Permanently deleted after 7 years

6.2 Security Logs (90 Days)

For security and fraud prevention, we keep:

Login IP addresses (anonymized after 90 days)
Reported content or accounts you reported
If your account was banned, ban records (to prevent re-registration)

7. Special Situations

7.1 Legal Hold

If your account is involved in legal proceedings, we may be required to preserve data until the matter is resolved.

7.2 Account Suspension vs. Deletion

Suspended Account - You can still delete it; data deletion follows the same process
Banned Account - You can request deletion via email; ban records are kept to prevent re-registration

7.3 Deceased User's Account

Family members can request account deletion by contacting us at artyard2025@gmail.com with proof of death certificate and relationship to the deceased.

8. Questions or Issues?

Need Help with Account Deletion?

Contact our support team:

📧 Email: artyard2025@gmail.com
📱 In-App Support: Profile → Settings → Help & Support
⏱️ Response Time: Within 48 hours

✅ We're Here to Help:

We understand that sometimes you need assistance with account deletion. Our support team is ready to help you through the process and answer any questions.

9. Your Rights Under GDPR / CCPA

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights:

European Union (GDPR)

Right to be Forgotten - Request complete data deletion
Right to Access - Download all your data
Right to Rectification - Correct inaccurate data
Right to Data Portability - Export your data

California (CCPA)

Right to Delete - Request deletion of personal information
Right to Know - Request disclosure of data collected
Right to Opt-Out - Opt-out of data selling (we don't sell data!)

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Data Deletion Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.