Data & Content Retention Policy

1. Purpose & Scope

Aevum News is committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible data management. This policy outlines how we retain, archive, manage, and dispose of published content, user data, system logs, and third-party information across all digital properties, including websites, applications, and archival systems.

This policy applies to all data processed by Aevum News and its affiliated entities, ensuring compliance with international data protection regulations, journalistic standards, and legal obligations.

2. Published Content & Archival Retention

As a digital news publisher, preserving journalistic record is central to our mission. Content retention follows these guidelines:

• Articles & Multimedia: All published articles, photographs, videos, and infographics are retained indefinitely unless subject to a valid legal order or court-mandated removal.
• Corrections & Updates: When factual corrections are made, the original publication remains archived with a timestamped revision log. Updated content replaces the live version while preserving historical accuracy.
• Deprecated/Retired Content: Content no longer actively promoted may be moved to our digital archive. Archived items remain accessible to subscribers and researchers unless legally restricted.
• Metadata & Syndication Data: Associated metadata, distribution logs, and syndication rights records are retained for a minimum of 7 years for copyright and licensing compliance.

3. User Account & Personal Data Retention

We collect and process personal information only as necessary to provide our services. Retention periods are strictly enforced:

• Active Accounts: Personal data is retained for the duration of the account and 12 months after voluntary closure or administrative suspension.
• Subscription & Payment Data: Transaction records are kept for 5 years to comply with financial and tax regulations. Processed payment tokens are securely purged upon deletion.
• Comments & User-Generated Content: Public comments are retained unless deleted by the author or removed for violating community guidelines. Inactive accounts have comments anonymized after 24 months.
• Marketing & Newsletter Data: Subscriber preferences are retained until opt-out or 18 months of inactivity, whichever comes first.

4. System Logs, Analytics & Infrastructure

Technical data is managed to balance security, performance, and privacy:

• Server & Access Logs: Retained for 90 days for security monitoring, threat detection, and system troubleshooting. After expiration, logs are cryptographically shredded.
• Analytics Data: Aggregated, anonymized analytics are retained for 24 months. IP addresses are masked within 30 days; no personally identifiable information is stored in analytics pipelines.
• Backup Systems: Incremental backups are maintained for 30 days. Full system backups are retained for 12 months before secure deletion.

5. Legal Holds & Exceptions

Standard retention schedules are automatically suspended when data is subject to a legal hold. This occurs during:

• Ongoing litigation, arbitration, or regulatory investigations
• Valid subpoenas, court orders, or government requests
• Internal compliance audits or whistleblower reviews
• Criminal or civil proceedings involving Aevum News or its personnel

Data under legal hold is isolated in secure, access-controlled storage. Holds are reviewed quarterly and released only upon formal clearance by Legal Counsel.

6. Data Deletion & Disposal Protocols

When retention periods expire, data is permanently disposed of using industry-standard methods:

• Digital Records: Secure deletion via cryptographic wiping (AES-256 overwrite) or certified data destruction services.
• Cloud & Third-Party Providers: Contracts mandate automatic purging upon expiry. Compliance certificates are retained for audit purposes.
• Physical Media: Archived drives or printed records are shredded or degaussed in accordance with NIST 800-88 guidelines.

7. Governance & Policy Review

This retention policy is reviewed annually by Aevum News' Data Protection Officer (DPO) and Legal Compliance Committee. Updates are published on this page with version tracking.

We reserve the right to modify retention periods to reflect changes in law, technology, or operational requirements. Users will be notified of material changes via email or platform notice.