Last updated: October 2026
VESConnections ("VES", "we", "us", or "our") operates the VES app and website (the "Service"), a platform for professional networking, mentorship, and career opportunities. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, when it may be shared or retained, and the choices available to you.
Account information: Your name, email address, phone number, username, and authentication information. Your password is handled by our authentication provider and is never visible to us in plain text. If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive the information that provider shares with us, which may include your name and email address.
Profile information: Information you choose to provide, including your headline, biography, selected city, university, industry, employment information, professional interests, and résumé.
Profile and content images: Photos and other images you upload to your profile or share through the Service.
Content and communications: Posts, comments, reactions, messages, meeting invitations, and files shared with other users. Direct messages are protected by authentication and access controls. Messages and attachments may remain available to other conversation participants after you delete your account.
Connections and activity: Your followers, connections, joined spaces, followed companies, interactions, and actions such as blocking and reporting other users.
Contacts (optional): If you choose to find people you know, VES may process phone numbers and email addresses from your device or connected Google contacts to identify existing users. Contact information used for matching is not intended to be retained after the matching process or used to contact those individuals without an authorized invitation action. You can manage contact permissions through your device or connected account settings.
Job applications: When you apply for an opportunity, we process information necessary to submit and manage your application, which may include your résumé, answers, contact details, application status, and submission dates. Authorized company representatives may access relevant application information while your application is active.
If you withdraw an application, the company retains a limited record of the withdrawal, while access to your résumé and personal application details is revoked.
Company and recruiter verification: We may collect work email addresses, company associations, verification status, and related information to confirm access to a company email address and help prevent impersonation. Email verification does not independently guarantee a person's identity, job title, employment status, or authority to represent an organization.
NET MAP: NET MAP allows users to share their selected city with permitted connections. It does not require precise GPS location for city-based visibility. You can choose to share with all connections, selected connections, or nobody. Sharing with all connections may include connections made in the future. Sharing with selected connections uses the specific people you choose.
VES Score: VES may calculate a score using profile information and activity on the Service. The score is intended to reflect aspects of platform participation and profile development. It is not a verified assessment of professional ability, qualifications, or employability.
AI features (optional): VES uses Google's Gemini AI to generate suggestions such as replies and introductory messages. When you choose to use these features, relevant information may be sent to Google, potentially including conversation context, another participant's name, and profile information. AI features are optional, and applicable consent and preference controls are provided within the Service.
Technical information: We may process device information, app versions, notification tokens, diagnostic information, usage information, and performance data through services including Google Firebase Analytics and Performance Monitoring.
We do not sell your personal information or use third-party advertising trackers.
We use information to:
We do not intend VES Scores to automatically determine employment eligibility.
VESConnections uses Google Firebase and related infrastructure to store and process information.
We use authentication, access controls, and security rules to restrict access to personal information, conversations, applications, and uploaded files.
Private account information is not intended to be publicly accessible. Information that users choose to share may be accessible to other users according to the Service's visibility settings.
Application résumés and attachments are restricted to authorized participants and reviewers according to the application's status.
No system can guarantee absolute security. We take reasonable measures to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, and loss.
We may share information:
With other users: According to your profile settings, connection permissions, participation in shared spaces, and information you choose to publish or send.
With employers and recruiters: When you apply for opportunities, authorized representatives may access information necessary to review your application. Withdrawal removes their authorized access to your résumé and personal application details, although limited withdrawal records may remain.
With service providers: Including Google Firebase and Google Gemini, to the extent necessary to operate the Service and provide features you choose to use.
For safety and legal purposes: When reasonably necessary to investigate abuse, protect users, comply with legal requirements, or respond to lawful requests.
During business transactions: If VESConnections is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to applicable privacy obligations and appropriate notice.
We do not sell personal information.
Profile controls: You may edit profile information and use available privacy settings to manage what other users can see.
Blocking and reporting: You may block or report users. Blocking information is treated as private, although restrictions on interactions may affect what other users can do.
NET MAP: You can choose All Connections, Selected Connections, or Nobody. You can change these preferences through the Service. Users whose older settings require confirmation will remain hidden until they make an explicit choice.
Notifications: You may manage optional notifications through available settings and device controls. Certain necessary account and security communications may still be delivered.
AI features: You may choose whether to use available AI suggestions and disable optional AI functionality through applicable settings.
Job applications: You may withdraw an application. When you do, authorized recruiters lose access to your résumé and personal application details associated with that withdrawn application. A limited record of the withdrawal remains.
Account deletion: You may request account deletion through the Service.
When an account is deleted, VES removes the account and associated profile information, subject to the exceptions described below.
Certain previously shared information may remain:
We aim to remove identifying information from retained records where appropriate, but information previously shared with others may still contain details included in the original content.
You may contact us regarding questions about your information or applicable privacy rights.
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the Service, meet applicable obligations, and support legitimate security and operational purposes.
Active accounts: Relevant account and profile information is generally retained while an account remains active, subject to applicable deletion controls.
Withdrawn applications: Authorized recruiters retain a limited record showing the withdrawal status and relevant dates. Access to the applicant's résumé and personal application details is revoked.
Applications after account deletion: Minimal, de-identified application records may be retained for up to 12 months after account deletion, unless a longer period is legally required.
Safety and abuse reports: Necessary reports and supporting evidence may be retained for up to 12 months after a case is closed, unless an ongoing investigation, legal obligation, or dispute requires longer retention.
Messages and attachments: Previously shared messages and attachments may remain available to other conversation participants. When no active participants remain, associated conversations and attachments are scheduled for deletion, subject to necessary legal or safety retention.
Company verification: Work email information is removed through the account-deletion process, although a limited non-reversible fingerprint may be retained where necessary for fraud prevention, subject to applicable retention limits.
Backups and technical records: Information may remain temporarily in backups or operational logs according to applicable retention and deletion schedules.
When retention is no longer necessary, we delete or appropriately de-identify the information.
The Service is not directed to anyone under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16.
If you believe someone under 16 has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify users through the Service or other suitable channels.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how VESConnections handles your personal information, contact: thevesnetwork@gmail.com