Privacy Policy
(Effective as of September 8, 2023)
“We’ve crafted this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) to clarify how we gather, employ, and distribute information and personal data acquired via your utilization of our websites, applications, and online services (collectively referred to as “Services”), which are managed, controlled, or affiliated with DropCGN Media, LLC. Please note that this Policy exclusively pertains to data collected through our Services and through direct interactions between you and DropCGN Media, LLC. It does not extend to information collected on other websites, applications, or via other means (unless expressly stated), such as when you contact us via phone, email, or any other method not involving the Services. Your use of the Services implies your consent to the collection, utilization, and sharing of your information and personal data, as well as your agreement to abide by the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy. We will handle your personal data strictly in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.
1. Information We Collect
We, along with our third-party service providers (including third-party content, advertising, and analytics providers), automatically gather specific data from your device or web browser whenever you engage with our Services. This information aids us in comprehending how our users utilize the Services and enables us to tailor advertising to you. In this Privacy Policy, we collectively refer to this information as ‘Usage Data.’
To illustrate, each time you access our Services, both we and our third-party service providers may automatically capture details such as your location, IP address, unique identifiers like mobile device identifiers, browser type, computer type, the Internet service provider you use, clickstream data, access times, the webpage you arrived from, the URL you proceed to, the webpages you visit during your session, and your interaction with the content or advertisements on the Services. We may engage third parties to collect this information on our behalf for analytical purposes.
1.1 Types of Information We Collect
A) Personal Information: This includes but is not limited to your name, email address, postal address, phone number, and other identifiers when you provide them voluntarily.
B) Usage Information: We collect data about your interactions with our Services, including your IP address, device type, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages, and other usage data. This information is collected through cookies and similar technologies. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
C) Location Information: If you grant us access, we may collect precise geolocation data from your mobile device or browser to provide location-based services. You can disable location services through your device settings.
D) User-Generated Content: Any content you submit to our Services, such as comments, reviews, or forum posts, may be collected and published by us.
E) Third-Party Sources: We may obtain information from third-party sources or partners, including social media platforms, advertising networks, and analytics providers.
2. Data We Collected
We, along with our third-party service providers, utilize the Usage Data for various purposes, which include identifying issues with our servers and software, managing the Services effectively, gathering demographic insights, and delivering targeted advertisements to you on the Services and across the internet. Consequently, our third-party advertising networks and ad servers furnish us with information, such as reports detailing the number of ads displayed and clicked on the Services, without disclosing the identity of any specific individuals.
While the Usage Data we collect is generally not personally identifiable, if we link it to you as an identifiable individual, we will treat it as Personal Data.
2.1 Detailed Use of Data
3.1. Providing and Improving Services: We use your data to deliver our media content, personalize your experience, and enhance our Services’ quality.
3.2. Communication: We may send you newsletters, updates, and promotional materials based on your preferences. You can opt out of receiving these communications at any time.
3.3. Analytics: We analyze usage data to understand user behavior, improve our content and offerings, and optimize our Services.
3.4. Advertising: We may display advertisements, both our own and from third parties, and use your data to target ads relevant to your interests. We may use advertising networks and technologies for this purpose.
3.5. Legal and Security: We may use your information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and protect our rights and interests.
3. Information And Data You Choose To Submit
You can browse our Services anonymously without disclosing any information that could personally identify you, collectively referred to as “Personal Data” in this Privacy Policy. However, if you decide to register as a member, we’ll need you to provide specific Personal Data like your name, email address, username, and password. We use this information to fulfill your requests, enhance our Services, occasionally contact you about our products and services, and as described in this Privacy Policy.
All information we collect that isn’t Personal Data, including Usage Data, demographic data, and de-identified Personal Data, is termed “Non-Personal Data.” If we merge Non-Personal Data with Personal Data, we treat it as Personal Data under this Privacy Policy.
When you engage with us in Interactive Areas, such as contests, surveys, or reader discussions, you may need to provide Personal Data pertinent to those activities. This information is used to identify and communicate with you. We may also share this data with sponsors, advertisers, affiliates, or partners in specific cases. Additionally, when you participate in quizzes, surveys, or polls, we may record your IP address and other identifiers for outcome reporting and advertising purposes as outlined in this Privacy Policy.
When you apply for a job or submit supporting materials, you must provide specific Personal Data. You may also choose to share additional information like demographic details and preferences. Failure to provide required Personal Data may limit our ability to offer requested Services, such as member registration or job application processing.
3.1 Information You Submit
3.1 Contact Data: This includes your name, email, postal address, phone number, and similar contact information.
3.2 Credentials: Information like passwords and password hints necessary for account access.
3.3 Demographic Data: Details about your age, gender, and country.
3.4 Payment Data: If you make a purchase, data is required for payment processing, excluding certain partial information like the last four digits of your credit card. Third-party payment processors handle Payment Data directly.
3.5 Profile Data: Your username, interests, favorites, and other profile-related information.
3.6 Contacts: Any contact information you provide to fulfill specific requests, such as gift subscriptions. This feature is for U.S. residents, and by using it, you confirm that you and your contacts are in the U.S. and have their consent for us to use their information for your request.
3.7 Content: Messages sent to us, including feedback, product reviews, questions, and customer support interactions. We also collect communication content as needed to provide our services.
3.8 Resume Data: Information submitted for job applications, including employment history, writing samples, and references.
3.9 Survey Data: Voluntary responses to surveys on various topics, such as events, preferences, and service improvements.
3.10 Public Postings: Information submitted for public display on our Services, like comments on articles or reviews. Please be aware that such content is public, and any Personal Data shared in these areas may be collected and used by others. We do not guarantee its protection, so exercise caution when sharing Personal Data in public postings.
4. Cookies And Tracking Features We Use
When you use our Services, we may employ cookies and local storage on your computer. On your initial visit, a unique identifier will be sent to your browser through a cookie or local storage, which is a small file containing characters stored on your device. These are commonly used by many websites to offer helpful features. Each website can send its own cookie to your browser. Initially, most browsers are set to accept cookies, but you can change this to refuse all cookies or receive a notification when a cookie is sent. However, rejecting cookies may limit your access to our Services. If you clear all cookies after adjusting your settings, you’ll need to reset your browser to refuse cookies or enable notifications again.
5. Information And Data We Receive From Third-Party Sources
To enhance our understanding of our users and provide more personalized content and offers, we may enhance the data we gather with information from external sources. This additional information may come from public sources or third-party entities such as consumer data resellers, social networks, and advertisers. We may merge this external information with the data we collect via our Services, and our Privacy Policy will apply to this combined dataset.
We might obtain different forms of Personal Data and Usage Data from our third-party associates and suppliers. This may encompass analytics data regarding your interactions with our Services, reports concerning advertising campaigns, insights into your online behavior, interests, preferences, and contact particulars (like your email address). For instance, third-party entities that offer advertising and associated services, such as analytics providers and advertising networks, may furnish us with data. We may then compare this data with the Personal Data we possess to ascertain if it corresponds to the same individual. One technique for achieving this is known as “cookie-matching.”
We might obtain your Personal Data from third parties in scenarios like when you make purchases via our Services or through third-party vendors after following an affiliate link from our content. This information could encompass your contact information, like your name and email address, as well as transaction-related details such as the items bought and the purchase price. This data is typically sourced from providers of technical, payment, and delivery services. Other users of the Services may contribute to the provision of your Personal Data, such as when a friend introduces you to the Services by entering your email address.
6. Public Information
By designating any User Information as public, you grant us permission to share that information openly. For instance, you have the option to make specific User Submissions (like your username, bio, email, or photos) accessible to the public. Additionally, certain sections of the Services (such as message boards, discussion rooms, and online forums) permit you to share information that will automatically be viewable by all other Service users. By utilizing these areas, you acknowledge and consent to the fact that any information you post there can be accessed, utilized, and disclosed by anyone.
7. Anonymous Data
When we mention “anonymous data,” we are describing information that cannot identify you or anyone else, either on its own or when combined with other data accessible to third parties. We may generate anonymous data from the Personal Data we gather, including information from individuals besides yourself. This anonymous data incorporates analytics insights and data gathered through cookies. To render Personal Data into anonymous data, we remove details (such as your name or individual identifiers) that would identify it with you personally. This anonymous data aids us in studying usage patterns to enhance our Services.
8. Users located outside of the United States and their consent for data transfer.
The Services operate from the United States. If you are located in a different jurisdiction, please note that the information you provide to us will be transferred, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the Services or providing us with any information, you consent to this transfer, processing, and storage of your data in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your home jurisdiction, such as the European Union. You acknowledge that, if required for investigative purposes (e.g., terrorism investigations), the U.S. government may access the Personal Data you submit. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is handled securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including the use of appropriate safeguards when transferring your Personal Data to the U.S.
8. Children's Privacy
We take the privacy of young children seriously. Most of our Services, except for specific child-directed services mentioned below, are designed for a general audience and should not be used by individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 16 on our general audience services, nor do we target such services toward them.
Certain Services are explicitly aimed at children under the age of 16, like our Dodo Kids channel and other child-oriented offerings. In these cases, we adhere to applicable legal requirements, including compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a U.S. federal law created to safeguard children online. For child-directed services, we do not knowingly gather Personal Data from users under 16 without complying with COPPA and providing appropriate disclosures. We may collect and store persistent identifiers (e.g., IP addresses) from children for the purpose of supporting the internal operations of the Services or as allowed by COPPA.
If a parent or guardian becomes aware that their child has provided us with information without consent, they should contact us using the contact information provided in the ‘Contact Us’ section below. We will promptly remove such information from our records.
9. Security And Settings
We have put in place reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational security measures to safeguard your Personal Data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, misuse, or unauthorized access or disclosure. However, it’s important to note that no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure. While we make every effort to protect your User Information, we cannot provide a 100% assurance of its security. Your use of the Services and the information you provide is done at your own discretion and risk. If you suspect that the security of your interactions with us has been compromised (e.g., if you believe your account’s security has been breached), please promptly inform us of the issue by using the contact details provided in the ‘Contact Us’ section below.
10. Privacy Policy Updates
We may periodically update this Privacy Policy at our discretion, and we will inform you of any significant changes in how we handle Personal Data. Notices of such changes will be posted in relevant areas of the Services. Additionally, we may choose other methods to notify you, such as using the contact details you have provided. The updated Privacy Policy will take effect immediately upon its posting, unless stated otherwise. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy (or any other specified action at that time) will signify your agreement to these changes. However, we will not use your Personal Data in a substantially different manner than what was disclosed when your Personal Data was initially collected without your consent.
