SampleLayer Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 21, 2025

Last Updated: October 29, 2025

At SampleLayer, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform and services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account or use SampleLayer, we collect information you provide directly:

Account Information: Email address, display name, username, and password
Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, location, website, and social media links
Content: Audio samples, images, descriptions, tags, and metadata you upload
Communications: Messages you send through our contact form or support channels

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access SampleLayer, we automatically collect certain information:

Usage Data: Pages visited, samples viewed/downloaded, search queries, and interaction patterns
Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Cookies and Tracking: Session cookies, authentication tokens, and analytics data

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Authentication Providers: If you sign in with Google or other OAuth providers, we receive your email and basic profile information
Payment Processors: For future paid features, we may receive transaction data from payment providers

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 To Provide and Improve Services

Create and manage your account
Process uploads and downloads
Enable sample discovery and search functionality
Personalize your experience and recommendations
Improve platform performance and user experience

2.2 To Communicate with You

Send verification emails and account notifications
Respond to your inquiries and support requests
Send important updates about the service (with your consent)
Send marketing communications (only if you opt-in)

2.3 For Safety and Security

Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats
Enforce our Terms and Conditions
Protect intellectual property rights
Comply with legal obligations

2.4 For Analytics and Research

Analyze usage patterns and trends
Measure the effectiveness of features
Conduct research to improve our services

3. How We Share Your Information

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

3.1 Public Information

Your profile information (display name, bio, profile picture) is publicly visible
Samples you upload are publicly accessible unless you delete them
Your playlists may be visible to other users based on your privacy settings

3.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform:

Firebase/Google Cloud: Authentication, database, and hosting services
Bytescale: File storage and CDN for audio and image files
Netlify: Web hosting and deployment
Analytics Providers: To understand how users interact with our platform

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for providing services to us.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

Valid legal requests (subpoenas, court orders)
Protection of our rights and property
Investigation of potential violations
Protection of user safety

3.4 Business Transfers

If SampleLayer is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

4. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy:

Account Information: Retained until you delete your account
Uploaded Samples: Retained until you delete them or your account is deleted
Usage Data: Typically retained for up to 2 years for analytics purposes
Backup Data: May be retained in backups for up to 90 days after deletion

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your account information at any time through your profile settings.

5.2 Delete Your Account

You can delete your account at any time. When you delete your account:

Your profile information will be removed
Your uploaded samples will be deleted (unless they're part of other users' projects)
Some information may be retained in backups for up to 90 days
Anonymized usage data may be retained for analytics

5.3 Communication Preferences

You can opt out of marketing emails at any time
Essential service communications (verification, security alerts) cannot be disabled
You can manage notification preferences in your account settings

5.4 Cookie Preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality.

5.5 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data by contacting us. We will provide your information in a commonly used format.

6. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
Firebase Authentication for secure account access
Regular security audits and updates
Access controls and monitoring
Secure file storage with access controls

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children's Privacy

SampleLayer is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

8. International Data Transfers

SampleLayer is operated from Australia, but our services are available globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your country of residence, including the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including using service providers that comply with international data protection standards.

9. Third-Party Links

SampleLayer may contain links to external websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information we collect, use, and share
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

11. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Right of Access: Obtain confirmation of whether we process your data and request a copy
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to Restriction: Request limitation of processing
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

12. Australian Privacy Principles (APP)

SampleLayer complies with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988. Australian users have rights to:

Know why we collect personal information and how it will be used
Access and correct their personal information
Opt out of direct marketing
Make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes:

We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
For material changes, we will provide notice through email or a prominent notice on the platform
Your continued use of SampleLayer after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Email: Contact Form
Privacy Requests: Use the contact form and specify "Privacy Request" in your message

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.

15. Data Controller

SampleLayer
Based in Australia
For data protection purposes, SampleLayer is the data controller of your personal information.

SampleLayer - Free samples for the world to create with.