Updated on: 15-9-2023

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Privacy Policy (“Policy”) for Top News (referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Policy outlines our commitment to protecting the privacy of individuals who interact with our website, including but not limited to employees, clients, customers, and visitors (collectively referred to as “you” or “your”). Our website primarily caters to a United States-based audience, and we are dedicated to complying with applicable United States federal and state privacy laws.

By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge and agree to the practices described in this Policy. Please read this Policy carefully to understand how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information.

1.1 Legal Framework

1.1.1 Scope of Application: This Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information collected through our website. It does not apply to any offline activities, interactions, or services provided by us.

1.1.2 Compliance with United States Laws: We are committed to complying with all relevant United States federal and state privacy laws, including but not limited to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and other applicable privacy statutes.

1.1.3 International Users: If you are accessing our website from outside the United States, please be aware that your personal information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using our website, you consent to such transfer and processing.

1.2 Definitions

Throughout this Policy, the following terms are defined for clarity:

• “Personal Information”: Refers to any information that identifies or is reasonably capable of identifying an individual, including but not limited to names, email addresses, and other identifying information.
• “Non-Personal Information”: Refers to information that is not personally identifiable, such as aggregated data, demographic information, and statistical data.
• “Cookies”: Small text files placed on your device’s hard drive by our server to collect non-personal information. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

1.3 Updates to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or technological advancements. Any revisions will be effective immediately upon posting. We encourage you to regularly review this Policy to stay informed about how we protect your privacy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1. Personal Information: We collect the following categories of personal information from individuals who interact with our website:

• Contact Information: This includes your name, email address, postal address, and phone number, which we may collect when you subscribe to newsletters, sign up for notifications, or participate in contests or surveys.
• Account Information: If you create an account on our website, we may collect information such as your username, password, and profile information.
• User-Generated Content: We may collect content you provide when you post comments, feedback, or engage in discussions on our website.
• Payment Information: If you make purchases through our website, we may collect payment details, including credit card information and billing addresses. However, we do not store this information on our servers. It is securely processed by our payment service providers.
• Technical Information: We automatically collect certain technical information when you access our website, including your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and browsing behavior. We may also collect information about your interactions with our website, such as pages visited, referring URL, and time spent on each page.
• Location Information: With your consent, we may collect precise location information from your device to provide location-based services or content.

2.2. Usage Information:

• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect non-personal information about your browsing activities on our website. These technologies help us improve your experience by providing personalized content, analyzing user trends, and measuring the effectiveness of our website. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

2.3. Third-Party Information:

• Social Media: If you choose to connect your social media accounts with our website or interact with us through social media platforms, we may collect information from your social media profiles in accordance with your privacy settings on those platforms.
• Third-Party Analytics: We may use third-party analytics services to gather information about how you interact with our website. These analytics providers may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect data on our behalf.

2.4. Children’s Information:

• Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, please contact us, and we will promptly delete the information.

2.5. Special Categories of Personal Information:

• We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, health information) unless provided voluntarily by individuals for specific purposes, such as content submissions or surveys. If you choose to provide such information, it will be treated with the utmost care and in accordance with applicable laws.

2.6. Information Sources:

• We collect personal information directly from individuals when they interact with our website. We may also receive information from third parties, such as social media platforms or partners, in accordance with your privacy settings and permissions.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1. Personal Information:

We may use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing Services: We use your personal information to deliver the services you have requested, including but not limited to providing news updates, newsletters, and notifications.
• User Accounts: If you create an account on our website, we use your account information to manage and administer your account, authenticate your identity, and facilitate your interactions with our website.
• Communications: We use your contact information to communicate with you, respond to inquiries, and provide customer support. This includes sending you emails, newsletters, and notifications related to our services, as well as administrative and transactional messages.
• User-Generated Content: If you submit user-generated content, such as comments, feedback, or contributions to discussions, we may display your content on our website, along with your username or other identifying information, as permitted by you and applicable laws.
• Payment Processing: When you make purchases through our website, we use your payment information to process payments securely through our payment service providers.
• Personalization: We may use your information to personalize your experience on our website, such as tailoring content and recommendations based on your preferences and browsing behavior.
• Legal Compliance: We may use your personal information to comply with legal obligations, respond to legal requests, and protect our rights and interests, including addressing any breaches of our terms of service.

3.2. Usage Information:

• Analytics: We use usage information, including data collected through cookies and tracking technologies, to analyze website performance, measure the effectiveness of our content, and improve user experiences. This data helps us understand how users interact with our website and make necessary enhancements.
• Advertising: We may use usage information to deliver and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, including personalized and targeted advertisements. However, we do not share your personal information with advertisers.
• Security: We use usage information for security purposes, such as monitoring for suspicious activities, detecting and preventing fraud, and protecting the integrity of our website and user accounts.

3.3. Location Information:

• If you provide consent, we may use precise location information to offer location-based services, such as providing localized news updates or event information relevant to your area.

3.4. Third-Party Services:

• We may integrate third-party services, such as social media plugins, into our website. Your interactions with these third-party services are governed by their respective privacy policies. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of these services.

3.5. Research and Analytics:

• We may conduct research and analysis to gain insights into user preferences, demographics, and trends. Any such research will be conducted using aggregated and anonymized data to protect your privacy.

3.6. Legal Basis for Processing:

• Our legal basis for processing personal information may include the necessity to perform a contract, compliance with legal obligations, your consent, or our legitimate interests in providing and improving our services, ensuring security, and promoting our legitimate business interests.

4. Information Sharing

4.1. Sharing with Affiliates and Service Providers:

We may share your personal information with our affiliates and trusted third-party service providers to facilitate the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: We may engage service providers to assist in delivering our services, including email delivery, content management, and website hosting. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your personal information and may only use it for the specified purposes.
• Analytics and Research: We may share non-personal and aggregated information with analytics providers and research partners to understand user trends, improve our website, and develop valuable insights. This information does not personally identify you.

4.2. Legal Compliance and Protection:

We may disclose your personal information to comply with legal obligations, enforce our terms of service, protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and respond to legal requests from law enforcement, government agencies, or authorized third parties.

4.3. Business Transactions:

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will ensure that any such transfer is subject to appropriate privacy safeguards.

4.4. Consent and Sharing Choices:

With your consent, we may share your personal information for specific purposes, such as sharing your comments or contributions on our website. You have the option to choose whether to disclose this information publicly.

4.5. Third-Party Plugins and Links:

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or plugins for social media platforms. These third-party services have their privacy policies and practices, and we are not responsible for how they collect, use, or share your information. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before interacting with them.

4.6. Advertising and Analytics:

We may share usage information, such as cookie data and browsing behavior, with advertising partners and analytics providers to deliver targeted advertisements and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. However, we do not share your personal information with advertisers.

4.7. Children’s Information:

We do not knowingly share personal information of children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent, as required by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

4.8. Non-Personal and Aggregate Information:

We may share non-personal and aggregated information, such as demographic data or statistical analyses, with third parties for various purposes, including marketing, research, and business development. This information does not identify individual users.

4.9. Data Retention:

We will retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, as required for legal or business purposes, or as mandated by applicable laws. Non-personal and aggregated data may be retained indefinitely.

4.10. Your Sharing Choices:

You may have certain choices regarding the sharing of your personal information. You can manage your sharing preferences by adjusting your account settings or contacting us as described in the “Contact Information” section.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

5.1. Cookies Overview:

Our website utilizes cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and collect information about your interactions with our site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. These files contain data that help us recognize and remember you for various purposes.

5.2. Types of Cookies:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of our website. They enable you to navigate our site, access secure areas, and use essential features like account login and content loading. Without these cookies, our website may not function properly.
• Functional Cookies: Functional cookies enhance your user experience by remembering your preferences and settings, such as language preferences and display settings. They improve the usability of our website and offer a more personalized experience.
• Performance Cookies: We use performance cookies to collect data on how you interact with our website. These cookies help us understand user behavior, analyze the performance of our content, and identify areas for improvement. The information collected is aggregated and anonymous.
• Advertising and Targeting Cookies: Advertising and targeting cookies are used to deliver personalized advertisements and content based on your interests and online behavior. These cookies may also track your interactions with our website for advertising measurement purposes.

5.3. Third-Party Cookies:

• Our website may include content and features from third-party providers, such as social media plugins and embedded videos. These third parties may use cookies and tracking technologies to collect information about your interactions with their content. We do not control the use of these cookies, and their privacy practices are governed by their respective policies.

5.4. Managing Cookies:

• You have the option to manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to control cookies, including accepting, blocking, or deleting them. However, please note that blocking essential cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
• Additionally, we provide cookie consent mechanisms on our website to allow you to customize your cookie settings based on your preferences.

5.5. Do Not Track Signals:

• Our website does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals from browsers. We may continue to collect information in the manner described in this Privacy Policy, regardless of your browser’s “Do Not Track” settings.

5.6. Other Tracking Technologies:

• In addition to cookies, we may use other tracking technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage to collect information about your online activities. These technologies assist us in understanding user engagement and website performance.

5.7. Duration of Cookie Storage:

• The duration for which cookies and tracking data are stored on your device may vary. Some cookies are session cookies and are deleted when you close your browser, while others may persist for a longer period.

5.8. Consent to Cookies:

• By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies and tracking technologies as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not wish to accept cookies, you may adjust your browser settings or refrain from using our website.

6. Third-Party Links

6.1. Links to External Websites:

Our website may contain links to external websites, services, or content provided by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience and reference but do not signify our endorsement or affiliation with these third-party entities. When you click on these links, you may be directed to websites that are beyond our control. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third parties to understand their data collection and processing practices.

6.2. Third-Party Content and Plugins:

• Our website may incorporate third-party content, plugins, or applications to enhance your experience or provide additional features. These third-party elements may include social media plugins, embedded videos, advertising, and interactive features.
• Interactions with third-party content on our website are governed by the privacy policies of the respective third-party providers. We do not have control over the information collected by these third parties and are not responsible for their data practices.

6.3. Third-Party Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

• Third-party websites and services linked from our website may use cookies, tracking technologies, and analytics tools to collect data about your interactions with their content. These technologies enable them to measure the effectiveness of their content and deliver personalized experiences.
• We do not control the use of cookies and tracking technologies by third parties. Please review the privacy policies of these third parties to understand their data collection, usage, and sharing practices.

6.4. User Discretion and Caution:

• Clicking on third-party links or engaging with third-party content is at your discretion and risk. We recommend that you exercise caution when accessing external websites and review their privacy policies to ensure your comfort with their practices.

6.5. No Liability:

• We do not assume responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or security of third-party websites and services. Your use of external websites and interactions with third-party content is subject to the terms and policies of those entities.

6.6. Reporting Concerns:

• If you encounter any issues or concerns related to third-party content or links on our website, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Information” section, and we will make reasonable efforts to address your inquiries.

7. Security

7.1. Data Security Measures:

We are committed to safeguarding your personal information and employ industry-standard security measures to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our security measures include but are not limited to:

• Encryption: We use encryption technologies (e.g., SSL/TLS) to secure data transmission between your browser and our servers.
• Access Controls: Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to access it. We employ user authentication and authorization mechanisms to control access.
• Firewalls: We implement firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect our network infrastructure from unauthorized access and malicious activities.
• Regular Audits: We conduct periodic security audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities and address security issues promptly.

7.2. User Responsibility:

While we take reasonable steps to secure your data, it is essential for you to take responsibility for the security of your personal information. We recommend the following best practices:

• Password Protection: Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and change them regularly. Do not share your passwords with others.
• Account Security: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) when available to add an extra layer of security to your account.
• Device Security: Keep your device’s operating system and software up to date with security patches and updates.
• Email Caution: Be cautious of phishing emails and unsolicited requests for personal information. We will never request sensitive information via email.
• Public Networks: Avoid accessing our website or providing personal information over public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

7.3. Data Breach Response:

In the unlikely event of a data breach or unauthorized access that compromises your personal information, we will promptly notify affected individuals and take appropriate action as required by applicable data protection laws.

7.4. No Guarantees:

While we implement robust security measures, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. Therefore, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of your information. You understand and acknowledge that you share your personal information with us at your own risk.

7.5. Children’s Privacy:

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe that a child has provided us with their personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

7.6. Contacting Us:

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the security of your personal information, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Information” section of this Privacy Policy.

8. Your Choices

8.1. Consent and Control:

We believe in giving you control over your personal information. You have the following choices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information:

• Consent: By using our website, you consent to the collection, processing, and sharing of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, as explained below.
• Cookie Preferences: You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or the cookie consent mechanisms provided on our website. Adjusting your cookie settings may impact your browsing experience, but you have the option to accept or decline cookies.
• Communication Preferences: You can choose to receive or opt out of specific communications from us, such as newsletters, promotional emails, or updates. Follow the instructions provided in our communications to modify your preferences.

8.2. Access and Updates:

• Access: You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. If you wish to obtain a copy of your data or request details about its processing, please contact us using the information in the “Contact Information” section below.
• Correction: If you believe that any personal information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request corrections or updates to your data.

8.3. Data Portability:

• You have the right to request the transfer of your personal information to another organization in a commonly used electronic format. We will facilitate this transfer where technically feasible.

8.4. Withdrawal of Consent:

• You may withdraw your consent to the collection, processing, and sharing of your personal information at any time by contacting us. Please note that withdrawal of consent may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

8.5. Deletion and Retention:

• You can request the deletion of your personal information from our systems. However, please be aware that we may retain certain data for legal or business purposes, as described in the “Use, Disclosure, and Retention” section.

8.6. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals:

• Our website does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals from browsers. While we respect your privacy preferences, please adjust your browser settings or utilize privacy controls to manage tracking.

8.7. California Privacy Rights:

• California residents have specific privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). To exercise these rights, please refer to our “California Privacy Rights” section below.

8.8. Contacting Us:

• If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your choices regarding your personal information, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Information” section of this Privacy Policy.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

9.1. Notification of Updates:

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or website features. When we make updates, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the beginning of this policy and provide notice of significant changes as required by applicable law.

9.2. Material Changes:

• In the event of material changes to this Privacy Policy that substantially affect your rights or the way we process your personal information, we will provide prominent notice through our website or other means, such as email, before the changes become effective. We may also seek your consent for certain changes when required by applicable law.

9.3. Review and Acknowledgment:

• We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. Your continued use of our website after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

9.4. Opt-Out and Withdrawal:

• If you do not agree with the updated Privacy Policy or its terms, you have the right to opt out of certain data processing activities or withdraw your consent, as explained in the “Your Choices” section.

9.5. Contacting Us:

• If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding changes to this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Information” section below.

9.6. Retaining Previous Versions:

• We retain previous versions of this Privacy Policy for your reference. If you would like to review a previous version, please contact us, and we will provide it to you.

10. Contact Us

10.1. Questions and Requests:

• If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or our data practices, please feel free to contact us. You can reach us through the following means:

10.2. Contact Information:

• Email: [email protected]

10.3. Data Protection Officer (DPO):

• Our designated Data Protection Officer is responsible for overseeing data protection matters and ensuring compliance with privacy laws. You may contact our DPO using the contact details provided above.

10.4. California Privacy Rights:

• If you are a California resident and wish to exercise your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please refer to our “California Privacy Rights” section below for specific instructions.

10.5. Response Time:

• We will make reasonable efforts to respond to your inquiries and requests promptly and within the timeframes required by applicable privacy laws.

10.6. Complaints:

• If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated or if you have concerns about our data handling practices, you have the right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority or data protection authority. For residents of California, you may also use the contact information provided in our “California Privacy Rights” section to submit complaints.