Privacy policy

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Privacy Policy & Cultural Data Sovereignty Statement

Your History. Your Data. Our Security.

At Malofie, we recognize that the information, images, and stories you share with us are not just "data"—they are measina (treasures) and a record of your lineage. We operate under a strict code of conduct that prioritizes the sanctity of the tatau and the privacy of the individual above commercial interests.

1. Our Cultural Data Sovereignty Promise

Before any standard legal terms, we make these three binding commitments to our community regarding your cultural information:

  • Custodianship, Not Ownership: We act strictly as custodians of your data. You retain full ownership and intellectual property rights over any images of your Malu or Sogaimiti that you upload to our archive. Malofie.com claims no ownership over your personal history or cultural markings. Our responsibilities are limited to authorized and consented capture, usage per the outline and mission of Malofie.com, secure storage, and deletion on the receipt of a verified request from the data owner.

  • Zero Data Sales: We will never sell, trade, or license your personal information or cultural imagery to third parties, advertisers, or data brokers. Your heritage is not a commodity. This has already been factored into the subscription cost, which removes the need for us to transact any of your data to a third party for revenue generation.

  • No AI Training & Zero Unauthorized Transfer: We strictly prohibit the use of uploaded images for the training of Generative AI models. Your unique patterns and marks will not be used by us to teach algorithms or generate synthetic designs.

    Community Obligation: This prohibition is binding on all members of the community wherein all members are strictly forbidden from digitally transacting, harvesting, or transferring data from Malofie.com to any external party (including AI datasets) without the express permission of the Data Guardians.

    Enforcement & Consequences: To protect the integrity of the tatau, we enforce a strict collective accountability policy. If a member is found to have unauthorizedly shared or transacted community data, the following penalties will apply:

    • Individual Ban: Immediate and permanent removal of the offender’s access.

    • Familial Revocation: Removal of access for the offender's verified familial connections.

    • Legal Action: Malofie Limited reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings against the offender to protect the community’s cultural assets.

2. Information We Collect

To operate the Malofie network and store, we collect the following types of information:

  • Order Information: When you make a purchase, we collect your name, billing address, shipping address, and payment confirmation details (processed securely via Shopify Payments) to fulfill your order.

  • Account Information: If you create a member account, we store your name, email, and password to verify your identity within the network.

  • Verification Data: For access to restricted areas of the archive, we may request specific verification details to confirm your status as a Sogaimiti or Malu wearer. This data is reviewed for verification purposes only and is stored securely.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information solely to:

  • Process and ship your orders.

  • Verify your identity for community access.

  • Communicate with you regarding your account or orders.

  • Screen for potential risk or fraud.

4. Security & Storage

We are committed to the highest standards of digital security. Your data is stored on secure servers with robust encryption. We limit access to personal data to only those employees or partners who strictly need it to perform their jobs (e.g., fulfilling your order).

5. Your Rights

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and to ask that your personal information be corrected, updated, or deleted. If you wish to exercise this right, please contact us.

6. Changes

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.

7. Contact Us

For more information about our privacy practices, or if you have questions, please contact us by e-mail at matou@malofie.com and we will respond to your enquiry within 2 business days.