Privacy Policy

The Accountability Journalism Institute is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a secure and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you visit our website accountabilityjournalism.org. This Privacy Policy applies to all users of our website, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA), and is designed to comply with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

By using our website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms outlined below, please do not use our website.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of data:

  • Personal Information: This includes information you voluntarily provide to us, such as your name, email address, phone number, and any other details you provide when subscribing to newsletters, commenting on articles, or contacting us via forms.

  • Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your interactions with our website, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, location, pages viewed, and the time spent on those pages. This data helps us analyze website performance and improve user experience.

  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. These technologies help us remember your preferences, analyze website traffic, and customize content for you. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

2. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data (GDPR Compliance)

Even though we are based in the United States, we process personal data in a way that is compliant with the GDPR, specifically when interacting with users in the European Economic Area (EEA). We process personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Consent: We collect and process personal data when you provide your consent, such as when you subscribe to newsletters or fill out a contact form. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

  • Contractual Necessity: We may process your personal data to fulfill services you have requested, such as delivering the news content you subscribe to.

  • Legitimate Interests: We process personal data based on legitimate interests, such as improving our website, providing a personalized experience, and analyzing website usage in a way that does not infringe on your rights.

  • Legal Obligations: We may process your personal data if required by law, to comply with legal obligations, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To provide and deliver news and content that you have requested.

  • To send newsletters, updates, and marketing materials (if you have opted in).

  • To personalize your experience on our website.

  • To monitor website performance, user behavior, and traffic analytics.

  • To respond to your inquiries or provide customer support.

  • To comply with legal obligations and enforce the terms of service.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following cases:

  • Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website and services (e.g., hosting, analytics, and email distribution). These service providers are obligated to keep your data confidential and may only use it for the purposes we specify.

  • Legal Compliance: We may disclose your personal data to comply with legal obligations, enforce our website’s terms, or protect the rights, property, or safety of others.

  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred. We will notify you if this occurs and provide options to manage your information.

5. Your Rights Under GDPR (For EEA Users)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

  • Right to Rectification: You can request that we correct or update any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

  • Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain conditions.

  • Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we process your personal data in certain circumstances.

  • Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format or transfer it to another data controller.

  • Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data, including for marketing purposes or when processing is based on legitimate interests.

  • Right to Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent for processing, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by applicable laws. When personal data is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. International Data Transfers

As an American company, we may transfer your personal data to the United States. While data protection laws in the U.S. may differ from those in the European Economic Area (EEA), we take steps to ensure that your personal data is protected in accordance with the GDPR, including using Standard Contractual Clauses or other appropriate safeguards where necessary.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child, we will take steps to delete it as soon as possible.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date." We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, or if you wish to exercise your GDPR rights, please contact us at support@optout.news