Privacy & Data Policy

1. Introduction & Commitment

Welcome to Aevum News. We believe that informed citizens are the foundation of a healthy democracy, and we are equally committed to protecting the privacy of every reader who trusts us with their attention and data. This Privacy & Data Policy outlines how we collect, process, store, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, use our mobile applications, or engage with our newsletter services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information to deliver accurate news, personalize your reading experience, and maintain a secure platform. We distinguish between directly provided data and automatically collected technical information.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Registration: Name, email address, password, and optional profile preferences.
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address and content preference selections.
• Communications: Messages sent to our editorial team, support desk, or feedback forms.
• Purchases & Subscriptions: Billing details, payment information (processed securely by PCI-compliant third parties), and subscription tier preferences.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, articles read, time spent on site, click patterns, and referral sources.
• Device & Browser Info: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and language settings.
• Location Data: General geographic location derived from IP address (city/region level) to tailor regional news coverage.

3. How We Use Your Data

All data collection serves a specific, lawful purpose. We use your information to:

• Deliver, maintain, and improve our news platform and digital services.
• Provide personalized content recommendations based on your reading history and preferences.
• Process subscriptions, payments, and account management.
• Send editorial newsletters, breaking news alerts, and service announcements (only with explicit consent).
• Detect fraud, prevent security incidents, and ensure platform integrity.
• Generate anonymized, aggregated analytics to understand audience trends and improve editorial strategy.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our platform functions correctly and to enhance your experience. You control how these technologies are used through your browser settings and our on-site consent manager.

4.1 Cookie Categories

• Essential: Required for core functionality (login, security, load balancing). Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site (e.g., Google Analytics, anonymized).
• Preferences: Remember your reading settings, theme preferences, and language choices.
• Advertising: Used to measure campaign effectiveness and deliver relevant, non-intrusive content promotions (first-party only).

5. Data Sharing & Third Parties

Aevum News does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share data only under the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted partners who assist with hosting, payment processing, email delivery, and analytics. They are contractually bound to use data only for specified services and must comply with strict data protection standards.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority to protect rights, property, or safety.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, user data may be transferred as a business asset, with continued commitment to privacy obligations.
• With Your Consent: Explicitly authorized sharing for specific purposes.

6. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or rectify inaccurate information.
• Deletion: Request removal of your data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.
• Restriction/Objection: Limit processing or object to certain data uses.

To exercise these rights, contact our Data Protection Officer via the details in Section 10. We will respond within 30 days, or as required by applicable law.

7. Data Security & Retention

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:

• End-to-end TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit.
• AES-256 encryption for sensitive data at rest.
• Regular security audits, penetration testing, and employee training.
• Strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for internal systems.

Data Retention: We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Subscription and account data is retained for the duration of your active status plus 12 months for fraud prevention and support purposes. After retention periods expire, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Children's Privacy

Aevum News is not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a child under 16, we will take immediate steps to delete it. Parents or guardians who believe this has occurred should contact us immediately at privacy@aevumnews.com.

9. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy & Data Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or industry standards. Material changes will be communicated via email to registered users and prominently displayed on our platform with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our services following updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact & Support

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this policy or our data practices, please reach out to our dedicated privacy team:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in your jurisdiction if you believe your data rights have been violated.