7.1 Scope & Purpose
This section outlines Aevum News’s comprehensive framework for the handling, deletion, and archival of user data, editorial content, and system logs. As a digital publishing platform, we balance individual privacy rights with our journalistic duty to preserve historical records and comply with applicable data protection regulations.
Applicability: This policy applies to all registered users, subscribers, commenters, advertisers, and internal staff accessing Aevum News platforms, APIs, and associated services.
7.2 Data Deletion Policy
Aevum News honors lawful data deletion requests in accordance with GDPR Article 17, CCPA, and other regional privacy frameworks. When a deletion request is processed, we implement the following measures:
- Account & Profile Data: Email, username, subscription preferences, and payment tokens are permanently purged from active databases within 30 calendar days.
- Interaction Data: Comments, saved articles, reading history, and personalized content queues are removed from user-facing interfaces and recommendation engines.
- Analytics & Cookies: Tracking identifiers, device fingerprints, and behavioral metrics are anonymized or deleted, ensuring no re-identification is possible.
- Third-Party Sync: We notify integrated service providers (e.g., email providers, analytics partners) to cascade deletion requests where legally required.
Important: Deletion is irreversible. Once processed, data cannot be restored, and account recovery will not be possible. A confirmation email will be sent upon completion.
7.3 Retention Schedule
Data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill operational, legal, or archival purposes. Below is our standardized retention framework:
| Data Category | Retention Period | Disposition |
|---|---|---|
| Account & Authentication | Until deletion + 30 days | Secure erase / Anonymize |
| Subscription & Billing | 7 years (tax compliance) | Cold archive → Secure destroy |
| Comments & UGC | Indefinite (public record) | Preserved with metadata |
| Editorial Drafts & CMS Logs | 5 years post-publication | Encrypted archival storage |
| System & Security Logs | 12 months | Auto-purge / Hash audit |
| Analytics & Usage | 6 months (aggregated) | Statistical rollup → Delete raw |
7.4 Archival Standards
Journalism serves as the memory of society. Aevum News adheres to industry best practices for digital preservation, ensuring that published content remains accessible, authentic, and unaltered over time.
Preservation Methodology
- Format Standards: Articles are archived in WARC, PDF/A, and HTML5 formats to guarantee long-term readability across future systems.
- Metadata Integrity: Each archived piece retains publication timestamps, author attribution, revision history, and cryptographic checksums.
- Storage Architecture: Primary archives reside in geographically redundant, AES-256 encrypted cold storage. Secondary backups are maintained in isolated air-gapped systems.
- Access Controls: Archived content is accessible only to authorized editorial, legal, and compliance personnel. Public-facing archives follow editorial review protocols.
Compliance Note: Our archival practices align with NISO Z39.82 (Standard for Web Archiving) and ISO 14721 (OAIS Reference Model) to ensure institutional-grade preservation.
7.5 Legal & Operational Exceptions
Certain data may be retained beyond standard deletion timelines when required by law, legitimate business interests, or journalistic preservation duties:
- Legal Holds: Data subject to litigation, regulatory investigation, or subpoena is preserved until the hold is formally released.
- Public Interest & Historical Record: Published articles covering significant public events may be retained indefinitely to maintain press integrity.
- Fraud & Security: Accounts flagged for suspicious activity, terms of service violations, or automated bot behavior may be quarantined for forensic review.
- Tax & Financial Obligations: Transaction records are maintained per jurisdictional requirements (typically 5–10 years).
7.6 How to Request Deletion or Archival Access
Users may submit data removal or archival access requests through the following verified channels:
- Log in to your Aevum News account and navigate to Settings → Privacy → Data Management
- Alternatively, email privacy@aevumnews.com with subject line:
DATA DELETION REQUEST - Include your registered email, full name, and a clear description of the data scope
- Our compliance team will verify identity within 48 hours and respond with a processing timeline
For corporate or institutional archival inquiries (e.g., academic research, library partnerships), contact archives@aevumnews.com with your organization’s credentials and use case.
Submit Data Request →7.7 Contact & Support
Questions about this policy, data handling practices, or archival access? Our privacy and editorial compliance teams are available to assist.
- Email: privacy@aevumnews.com / archives@aevumnews.com
- Secure Portal: compliance.aevumnews.com/portal
- Response Time: 2–5 business days for standard inquiries; 24 hours for urgent legal matters
Aevum News reserves the right to update this policy to reflect changes in technology, regulation, or editorial standards. Material changes will be communicated via email and platform notification.