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Privacy Policy

for Direct Honest Safe International Exchange FZE

Version 01Last updated: June 10, 2024

Introduction

At Direct Honest Safe International Exchange FZE ("Direct Honest Safe International Exchange FZE", "we", "our", or "us"), we are committed to respecting your privacy and safeguarding the personal data you provide when using our services.

This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, store, process, and protect your personal information in compliance with the latest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, the UAE Data Protection Law (2021), and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) regulations.

We are dedicated to maintaining transparency regarding how we handle your personal information and ensuring that we adhere to global standards for privacy, security, and legal compliance.

By using our services, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, we recommend that you refrain from using our services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of personal information to provide our services, comply with regulatory obligations, and improve your user experience:

Personal Identification Information:

  • Full Name: First and last name
  • Date of Birth: To ensure you meet age-related requirements
  • Nationality: For KYC (Know Your Customer) and regulatory compliance
  • Contact Information: Email address, phone number, physical address

Financial Information:

  • Bank Details: Including bank account numbers and payment methods
  • Payment Information: Credit card details, payment history, and virtual asset wallet addresses
  • Transaction History: Details of virtual asset purchases, sales, transfers, and exchanges

Identity Verification Information (for KYC/AML compliance):

  • Government-Issued IDs: Passport, national ID card, or driving license
  • Proof of Address: Utility bills, bank statements, or official documents
  • Biometric Data: If required for identity verification (e.g., facial recognition, fingerprints)

Device and Usage Data:

  • IP Address: To detect and prevent fraud, and to improve security
  • Browser and Device Information: Including device type, operating system, and web browser
  • Cookies and Tracking Data: For analytics, user experience improvement, and personalization

2. How We Use Your Information

A. To Provide Our Services:

  • Facilitate your access to and use of our platform
  • Process transactions involving virtual assets and related activities (purchases, transfers, exchanges)
  • Provide account management and customer support

B. To Comply with Legal and Regulatory Requirements:

  • Know Your Customer (KYC): Collect and verify your identity to prevent fraud and comply with AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) obligations as per FATF and VARA regulations.
  • AML & CTF Compliance: Monitor transactions for signs of suspicious activity and report any unusual or potentially illicit activities to the appropriate regulatory bodies, as required by UAE law and FATF guidelines.
  • Transaction Monitoring: Conduct ongoing surveillance of your financial activity to detect and prevent money laundering or terrorist financing.
  • Regulatory Reporting: Share your data with regulatory authorities if required by law or under legal processes such as subpoenas or court orders.

C. To Improve Security:

  • Enhance the security of your account by identifying and mitigating potential threats or breaches
  • Use encryption to protect sensitive personal and financial data
  • Implement fraud detection systems

D. To Communicate with You:

  • Send you essential notifications (e.g., transaction confirmations, account activity, system updates)
  • Provide updates about our services, promotions, or news, only if you have opted in for marketing communications

3. Data Retention Policy

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, and to the extent required to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations:

Identity Verification Data

KYC documents and verification data will be retained for a minimum of five (5) years after the termination of our relationship with you, in compliance with FATF's recommendation on record-keeping for AML/CTF purposes.

Transaction Records

We retain data related to virtual asset transactions, including wallet addresses, transaction amounts, and dates, for a minimum of five (5) years as required by UAE law and VARA regulations.

Account Information

Account data may be retained until you request deletion or termination of your account, subject to legal retention requirements.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your personal data in the following scenarios:

A. Service Providers:

We may engage third-party service providers to support various aspects of our business operations, including but not limited to payment processing, customer support, fraud prevention, and identity verification. These service providers may be granted access to your personal information strictly on a need-to-know basis and solely for the purpose of performing their designated functions on our behalf, in accordance with applicable data protection laws and contractual safeguards.

B. Regulatory Authorities and Law Enforcement:

We may disclose your information to UAE regulatory bodies, including VARA, the UAE Central Bank, or other governmental agencies, if required by law or to comply with legal obligations such as AML/CTF regulations. This may also include disclosures to law enforcement agencies if requested under applicable legal processes.

C. Business Transactions:

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that any acquiring or successor entity complies with the terms of this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

D. Other Legal Compliance:

We may disclose your personal data in cases where it is necessary to protect our legal rights, defend against legal claims, or fulfill our obligations under applicable laws or regulations.

5. Security of Your Data

We implement robust security measures to protect your personal data:

Encryption

Sensitive data such as financial and identity information is encrypted both during transmission and while stored.

Access Control

Access to your personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only, and we use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance account security.

Regular Audits

We perform regular security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate any vulnerabilities.

Security Notice

While we take reasonable measures to safeguard your personal information, no security system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

6. Your Rights Under UAE Data Protection Law

As per the UAE Data Protection Law (2021) and other applicable regulations, you have the following rights:

Right to Access

You may request access to the personal data we hold about you.

Right to Rectification

You have the right to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.

Right to Deletion

You may request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.

Right to Object or Restrict Processing

You may object to the processing of your personal data or request restrictions on how it is used.

Right to Data Portability

You may request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we rely on consent for processing, you can withdraw your consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the contact details provided in Section 10.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our platform. Cookies enable us to:

  • Remember your preferences
  • Provide personalized services
  • Analyze site usage
  • Improve our platform's functionality

Cookie Management

By continuing to use our platform, you consent to our use of cookies as outlined in this Privacy Policy. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings; however, please be aware that disabling cookies may impact certain features and the overall functionality of the platform.

8. Compliance with FATF, UAE, and VARA Regulations

As a licensed virtual asset service provider, Direct Honest Safe International Exchange FZE adheres to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF). This includes:

Know Your Customer (KYC)

We collect and verify your identity, address, and other relevant details before allowing you to transact on our platform.

Transaction Monitoring

We continuously monitor transactions for suspicious activity and comply with FATF's requirements on reporting such activities.

AML & CTF Procedures

We use advanced tools and processes to detect and prevent money laundering and financing of terrorism in alignment with FATF's 40 recommendations.

Compliance with VARA Regulations

As per VARA's guidelines, we ensure that virtual asset services we provide are compliant with UAE regulations for data protection, financial security, and consumer protection.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

  • Our business practices
  • Legal requirements
  • Technological advancements
  • Regulatory obligations

Policy Updates

Any updates will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be revised accordingly. Please check this page periodically for the latest information. Your continued use of our services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal data, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights under this policy, please contact us at:

Email: compliance@dhscrypto.com
Website: www.dhs.exchange
Phone: 0585798074