Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Gossiped, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our universal commenting system and related services.

By using Gossiped, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Account Information: Username, email address, profile picture
• Profile Data: Bio, website links, social media profiles (optional)
• Authentication Data: Encrypted passwords, login tokens

Usage Information

• Comments and Posts: Content you create, including text, images, and links
• Interaction Data: Votes, replies, shares, and other engagement activities
• Website Visits: URLs of websites where you use Gossiped's commenting system
• Browsing Patterns: Time spent on pages, discussion participation frequency

Technical Information

• Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Analytics: Page views, click patterns, feature usage statistics
• Performance Data: Load times, error reports, system performance metrics

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in across sessions
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze site usage and performance
• Provide personalized content recommendations

How We Use Your Information

Service Provision

• Enable commenting and discussion features
• Maintain user accounts and profiles
• Provide customer support and assistance
• Process user-generated content and interactions

Improvement and Analytics

• Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
• Develop new features and functionality
• Monitor system performance and reliability
• Generate aggregated, anonymized statistics

Safety and Security

• Prevent spam, abuse, and fraudulent activity
• Enforce our Terms of Service and community guidelines
• Protect against security threats and vulnerabilities
• Investigate violations and take appropriate action

Communication

• Send important service updates and notifications
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Deliver optional marketing communications (with consent)

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Public Information

The following information is publicly visible by default:

• Username and profile picture
• Comments and posts you create
• Public profile information you choose to share
• Voting and engagement patterns (anonymized)

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Cloud hosting and data storage
• Email delivery and communications
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Customer support services

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes and government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect users and the public from harm

Business Transfers

If Gossiped is acquired or merged with another company, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 1 year after deletion
• Comments and Posts: Retained indefinitely unless you delete them or request removal
• Usage Logs: Retained for up to 2 years for analytics and security purposes
• Support Records: Retained for 3 years for quality assurance

Your Rights and Choices

Account Control

• Access: View and download your personal data
• Update: Modify your profile and account information
• Delete: Remove your account and associated data
• Portability: Export your data in a standard format

Privacy Settings

• Control who can see your profile information
• Manage email notification preferences
• Opt out of optional data collection
• Configure cookie preferences

Communication Preferences

• Unsubscribe from marketing emails
• Customize notification settings
• Control how others can contact you

Security Measures

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:

Technical Safeguards

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Automated threat detection and response systems

Operational Security

• Limited employee access to personal data
• Regular security training for staff
• Incident response and breach notification procedures
• Third-party security certifications and compliance

International Data Transfers

Gossiped operates globally and may transfer your information to countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers through:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by data protection authorities
• Adequacy decisions for countries with sufficient data protection
• Privacy Shield or similar certification programs where applicable

Children's Privacy

Gossiped is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

Users between 13-17 years old may use Gossiped with parental consent and supervision.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes:

• We will post the updated policy on this page
• We will update the "Last Modified" date
• For significant changes, we will provide additional notice
• Your continued use constitutes acceptance of the changes