Verification Policy

Effective Date: 1 May 2026 Last Updated: 1 May 2026

This Verification Policy explains what the "✓ verified" badge on GIA means — and, equally importantly, what it does not mean.

1. What We Verify

When you set up a profile on GIA, you can verify the following channels:

Each channel is verified separately for each role you hold. If your phone number is the same across roles, the verification carries over.

2. What "✓ Verified" Means

A green "✓ verified" badge means:

• The channel works (the SMS/email/code arrived)
• You had control of that channel at the time of verification

A "✓ in profile" badge (for Telegram and Instagram) means:

• You declared the handle is yours
• The handle is shown publicly so other users can independently check

3. What "✓ Verified" Does Not Mean

The badge is intentionally light verification. It does not mean GIA has confirmed:

• Your legal identity
• Your age (other than your self-declaration of 18+)
• Your professional credentials or training certificates
• The truthfulness of your portfolio or self-described experience
• The legal status of your business (registered company, licensed studio, etc.)
• Your health and safety standards
• Your off-platform conduct (history of disputes, criminal record, etc.)
• The truth of any statement you make on GIA

In plain English: "✓ verified" means we can reach you at the number/email shown. It is not a quality stamp, a background check, or a guarantee of honesty.

4. What We Do Not Collect

To keep verification light and to minimize the personal data we hold, we do not ask for:

• Government-issued identification (passport, driver's licence, national ID)
• Selfies with documents
• Liveness checks
• Training certificates or diplomas
• Studio licences or business registrations
• Insurance documents
• Videos of your work
• Tax IDs (unless required at payout for educators or shop vendors)

If we change this in the future, we will update this Policy and the Privacy Policy in advance.

5. Special Note on Studio and Festival Verification

For Studio and Festival roles:

• The verified contact channels reach the person who set up the profile, not necessarily a fixed business identity
• The address you provide is shown publicly only after a deal is mutually fixed in the in-app checklist
• We do not verify that the studio is the registered owner of the address
• We do not verify that the festival has secured a venue or permits

For Educators who upload courses to learn.getgia.app, additional verification may apply under the Educator Content License Agreement.

6. Loss of Verification

A verification can be revoked if:

• You change the underlying channel (e.g. update your phone number) — the new value must be re-verified
• We detect that the channel no longer reaches you
• We have credible reason to believe the channel was obtained fraudulently
• A user disputes ownership and provides credible evidence of impersonation

Verification is not revoked because:

• A user complained about your conduct (we may suspend or warn separately, but the channel stays verified)
• Time has passed (verification does not expire automatically)

7. Reporting a Suspected Fake Account

If you believe a profile on GIA is impersonating you or a real business, write to privacy@globalinkalliance.com with:

• The username and a link to the profile
• Evidence that you are the legitimate owner of the impersonated identity (a public Instagram you control, your business registration, etc.)
• A short description of the impersonation

We respond within 48 hours for impersonation reports.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy if our verification procedure changes. Material changes will be announced with at least 14 days' notice.

9. Contact

Email: privacy@globalinkalliance.com Address: Global Ink Alliance Ltd, Suite RA01, 195-197 Wood Street, London, E17 3NU, UK

Document prepared for Global Ink Alliance Ltd. Version 1.0 — 1 May 2026