Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Alternative Path Private Limited ("Alternative Path," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects information when you visit www.alternative-path.com (the "Site") or otherwise engage with us in connection with our consulting and operating services.

This Privacy Policy applies only to www.alternative-path.com. Alternative Path also operates two commercial products, QA-Path and TestLens, each of which is hosted on a separate website and is governed by its own privacy policy. If you use those products, the privacy policy published on the relevant product website applies to that use, not this Privacy Policy.

We provide professional services on a business-to-business basis. We do not knowingly market to or collect information from individuals under the age of 18.

By using the Site or providing information to us, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site or provide information to us.

2. Who We Are

Alternative Path Private Limited is a company incorporated in India, with its registered office at:

WeWork DLF Two Horizon Centre, 5th Floor, DLF Phase 5, Sector 43, Golf Course Road, Gurugram 122002, Haryana, India

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or your information, contact us at info@alternative-path.com.

3. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

3.1 Information you provide directly

• Business contact details when you contact us through the Site, submit a contact form, respond to a careers posting, or correspond with us by email. This typically includes name, work email address, job title, company name, and any additional details you choose to share.
• Application materials including CVs, cover letters, and related documents when you apply for a role with us.
• Engagement-related information when we are in commercial discussions or active engagement with you or your organisation. This may include business contact information of relevant personnel, organisational details, and the context required to evaluate or deliver an engagement.

3.2 Information we collect automatically

When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect technical information about your visit. This typically includes IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time spent on pages, and similar usage data. We collect this information through cookies and similar technologies. See Section 8 for details on cookies.

3.3 Information from third parties

We may receive information about you from third parties in limited contexts: for example, professional references during a hiring process, publicly available business information (such as LinkedIn profiles for prospective clients or candidates), and information from our service providers (such as analytics platforms).

4. How We Use Information

We use information for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries. Including providing information about our services, scheduling conversations, and continuing commercial discussions.
• To deliver our services. Where we are engaged with your organisation, we use information to perform the work and to maintain the operating relationship.
• To evaluate job applications. Including initial screening, interviews, and any subsequent steps in our hiring process.
• To operate, improve, and secure the Site. Including analytics, troubleshooting, and protection against fraudulent or abusive activity.
• To communicate with you. Including responding to your messages, sending information you have requested, and (where lawful and with your consent or as otherwise permitted) sending occasional updates about our work.
• To comply with our legal obligations. Including responding to lawful requests from regulators and courts, and meeting our record-keeping and reporting obligations.
• To protect our legal interests. Including establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims.

5. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA, UK, and equivalent jurisdictions)

Where the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, or equivalent legislation applies, we process personal information on one or more of the following legal bases:

• Performance of a contract. Where processing is necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you or your organisation.
• Legitimate interests. Including responding to your enquiries, operating and improving the Site, providing our services, and protecting our legal interests, in each case where our interests are not overridden by your fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Consent. Where you have given us consent for a specific processing purpose (for example, optional analytics cookies). You may withdraw consent at any time.
• Legal obligation. Where we are required to process information to comply with applicable law.

For processing under Indian law, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we rely on the lawful grounds set out in that Act, including consent and legitimate uses as defined in the Act.

For processing of personal information of individuals in Australia, we comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including in relation to collection, use, disclosure, and cross-border disclosure of personal information.

6. How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information. We share information only as described below:

• Service providers. We use third-party providers for hosting, analytics, communications, document storage, and similar operational services. These providers are bound by contractual obligations to protect information and to use it only on our instructions.
• Professional advisers. Including lawyers, accountants, auditors, and bankers, where reasonably necessary.
• Engagement counterparties. Where you are part of an active or prospective client engagement, we may share relevant information with the counterparty (typically your or our client's organisation) to deliver the engagement.
• Legal and regulatory disclosures. Where required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or where we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
• Corporate transactions. In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganisation, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of the transaction.

7. International Data Transfers

Alternative Path is headquartered in India. Our clients and prospective clients are predominantly located in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. As a result, information you provide to us may be transferred across borders, including:

• From the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or Australia to India (for example, when you submit a contact form on the Site).
• From India to the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or Australia (for example, when we communicate with you about an engagement).
• To other jurisdictions where our service providers operate.

Where required, we put in place appropriate safeguards for these transfers, including Standard Contractual Clauses adopted by the European Commission, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the cross-border disclosure measures required under Australian Privacy Principle 8, or equivalent mechanisms recognised under applicable law.

8. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure, and improve the Site, and to understand how visitors use it. We use the following categories:

• Strictly necessary cookies. Required for the Site to function. Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies. Help us understand how visitors interact with the Site, including pages visited and traffic sources. We use analytics platforms (which may include Google Analytics or similar) that process this data on our behalf.
• Functional cookies. Used to remember preferences and improve your experience on the Site.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete cookies, or be notified when cookies are being sent. Note that disabling cookies may affect some Site functionality.

Where applicable law requires, we will request your consent before placing non-essential cookies.

9. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

The specific retention periods we apply depend on the nature of the information and the purpose for which it is held. Examples:

• General enquiries. Typically retained for up to two years from the last interaction.
• Active engagements. Retained for the duration of the engagement and for a reasonable period afterwards as required by applicable law, professional standards, and our legitimate interests.
• Job applications. Typically retained for up to one year from the date of application, unless we obtain your consent to retain them for longer for future opportunities.

We may retain certain information for longer where required by law (for example, for tax, audit, or regulatory purposes), or where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

10. Information Security

We maintain reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include access controls, encryption in transit, secure storage, and personnel training.

No method of transmission over the internet or storage system is fully secure. While we work to protect information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law and to any exceptions provided for in that law, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal information:

• Access. To request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Rectification. To request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion. To request that we delete your personal information.
• Restriction. To request that we restrict processing of your personal information.
• Objection. To object to processing on certain legal bases.
• Portability. To receive certain personal information in a portable format.
• Withdrawal of consent. To withdraw consent for any processing where consent is the legal basis.
• Complaint. To lodge a complaint with the data protection authority in your jurisdiction.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@alternative-path.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with equivalent legislation, your specific rights are as set out in that legislation.

If you are located in India, your rights are as set out in the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and any rules issued under it.

If you are located in Australia, your rights are as set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including the right to access and correct your personal information held by us, and to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner if you believe we have not handled your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles.

12. Children's Privacy

The Site is not directed to children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us at info@alternative-path.com and we will take appropriate steps.

13. Third-Party and Product Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites and to the websites of our own commercial products, including our LinkedIn page, the careers subdomain at careers.alternative-path.com, and the websites of our commercial products QA-Path and TestLens.

Each product website has its own privacy policy, which governs information collected on or through that product. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any site or product you use.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice through the Site or by other appropriate means.

Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

15. Contact Us

For questions, requests, or complaints relating to this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, contact us at:

Alternative Path Private Limited WeWork DLF Two Horizon Centre 5th Floor, DLF Phase 5, Sector 43 Golf Course Road, Gurugram 122002 Haryana, India

Email: info@alternative-path.com