GDPR & Privacy Policy — Social News Community

At Social News Community, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our platform. We are committed to complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and all applicable data protection laws.

1. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Social News Community acts as the data controller for the personal information you provide to us. We determine the purposes and means of processing your personal data and are responsible for ensuring it is handled in compliance with applicable data protection laws including the GDPR.

2. What Personal Data We Collect

Account Information: Name, email address, date of birth, photographs, interests, location, and personal description.
Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time on platform, search queries, and interactions with other users.
Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and referring URLs.
Communication Data: Messages to other users and correspondence with our support team.
Payment Data: Billing details for premium subscriptions. Full card data is processed by our payment processor and not stored on our servers.
Location Data: General location based on IP address or, with your explicit consent, precise GPS data.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide the services you signed up for.
Legitimate Interests: Fraud prevention, platform security, and improving our services.
Consent: For marketing communications and sensitive personal information. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal requirements such as tax and regulatory record-keeping.

4. How We Use Your Personal Data

Creating and managing your account
Providing and improving matchmaking and connection features
Personalising your experience and showing relevant profiles
Processing payments for premium subscriptions
Sending notifications, updates, and marketing communications (with your consent)
Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and Terms of Service violations
Ensuring security and integrity of our platform
Conducting analytics and research to improve services
Complying with legal obligations

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with: service providers bound by data processing agreements; other users (public profile information); law enforcement or courts when legally required; successors in the event of merger or acquisition.

6. International Data Transfers

When we transfer data outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission or adequacy decisions.

7. Data Retention

Account and profile data: Until deletion plus up to 90 days for backup
Usage logs and analytics: Up to 24 months
Financial and billing records: As required by tax law, typically 7 years
Support correspondence: Up to 3 years after resolution

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are in the EEA or UK, you have the following rights:

Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing.

We will respond to your request within 30 days. Identity verification may be required.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve our platform. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality.

10. Security of Your Data

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures including encryption of data in transit and at rest, access controls, regular security assessments, and staff training. No internet transmission method is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Children's Privacy

Our platform is intended for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under 18. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us immediately.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy with a new effective date, and where appropriate, by sending an email notification.

13. Contact Us and Complaints

For questions about this Policy or to exercise your rights, contact us via the support section of our platform. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.

Last updated: 2025