Privacy Policy
Last Updated: May 26, 2023
The domain BayAreaTelegraph.com, including its subdomains, together with all of their features and content and related or commonly-owned or operated websites, is made available by Ts Tech Solutions LLC DBA Bay Area Telegraph (“Bay Area Telegraph”).
How This Privacy Policy Applies
Your privacy is very important to Bay Area Telegraph, and in order to best protect your information, Bay Area Telegraph has adopted this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”), which applies to any and all information you submit to Bay Area Telegraph in connection with your access to and/or use of the Bay Area Telegraph Website on SquareSpace (the Website). This Privacy Policy describes the information Bay Area Telegraph collects from you through the Website, how Bay Area Telegraph uses that information, and its legal basis for doing so. It also covers whether and how that information may be shared and your rights and choices regarding the information you provide to Bay Area Telegraph. It also covers whether and how that information may be shared and your rights and choices regarding such information.
By using the Website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy (including new versions of this Privacy Policy when and as they go into effect), and Bay Area Telegraph’s {Terms and Conditions of Use}, which governs this Privacy Policy and contains all disclaimers of warranties and limitation of liabilities, and which constitutes a legally binding agreement between Bay Area Telegraph and each individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other entity or party (a “Person”) that visits or uses the Website (collectively, “Users,” and each, a “User”, “you” or “your”). Capitalized words not defined in this Privacy Policy are defined in the {Terms and Conditions of Use}.
Mediavine Programmatic Advertising (Ver 1.1)
The Website works with Mediavine to manage third-party interest-based advertising appearing on the Website. Mediavine serves content and advertisements when you visit the Website, which may use first and third-party cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is sent to your computer or mobile device (referred to in this policy as a “device”) by the web server so that a website can remember some information about your browsing activity on the Website.
First party cookies are created by the website that you are visiting. A third-party cookie is frequently used in behavioral advertising and analytics and is created by a domain other than the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies, tags, pixels, beacons and other similar technologies (collectively, “Tags”) may be placed on the Website to monitor interaction with advertising content and to target and optimize advertising. Each internet browser has functionality so that you can block both first and third-party cookies and clear your browser’s cache. The “help” feature of the menu bar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to receive notification of new cookies, how to disable existing cookies and how to clear your browser’s cache. For more information about cookies and how to disable them, you can consult the information at All About Cookies.
Without cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the Website content and features. Please note that rejecting cookies does not mean that you will no longer see ads when you visit our Site. In the event you opt-out, you will still see non-personalized advertisements on the Website.
The Website collects the following data using a cookie when serving personalized ads:
- IP Address
- Operating System type
- Operating System version
- Device Type
- Language of the website
- Web browser type
- Email (in hashed form)
Mediavine Partners (companies listed below with whom Mediavine shares data) may also use this data to link to other end user information the partner has independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements. Mediavine Partners may also separately collect data about end users from other sources, such as advertising IDs or pixels, and link that data to data collected from Mediavine publishers in order to provide interest-based advertising across your online experience, including devices, browsers and apps. This data includes usage data, cookie information, device information, information about interactions between users and advertisements and websites, geolocation data, traffic data, and information about a visitor’s referral source to a particular website. Mediavine Partners may also create unique IDs to create audience segments, which are used to provide targeted advertising.
If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices to opt-in or opt-out of this data collection, please visit National Advertising Initiative opt out page. You may also visit Digital Advertising Alliance website and Network Advertising Initiative website to learn more information about interest-based advertising. You may download the AppChoices app at Digital Advertising Alliance’s AppChoices app to opt out in connection with mobile apps, or use the platform controls on your mobile device to opt out.
For specific information about Mediavine Partners, the data each collects and their data collection and privacy policies, please visit Mediavine Partners.
What Information Bay Area Telegraph Collects and Receives
In order for you to use the Website, Bay Area Telegraph needs to collect and process certain information, which depending on how you use the Website, may include:
Information you provide by using the Website, such as by completing forms, such as your name, email address, mailing address, or telephone number. We may ask for this information if you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us;
Details of any requests or transactions you make through the Website. Bay Area Telegraph may from time to time offer memberships, events or products for sale through the Website and partner with MemberSpace and Stripe to facilitate in the transaction, in which case the payment information you submit will be collected and used by the payment processor in accordance with their respective privacy policies;
Information that is not personally identifiable but that relates to your usage of the Website or that is necessary for the proper functioning or improvement of the Website, including: (i) times and dates and the extent of your usage of the Website; (ii) time zone, language, screen resolution, and other usage preferences you select when using the Website; (iii) device keyboard settings; (iv) usage history such as areas and pages within the Website that you access or use and/or which buttons on the Website you click on; (v) the search terms you entered into a search engine that may have led you to the Website; (vi) the Internet service provider (ISP) or mobile platform you use, and (vii) other device and Website access information such as your browser type, operating system, Internet Protocol (IP) address, referring/exit pages, and other unique device identifiers; and
Communications you send to Bay Area Telegraph, such as when you request support, submit comments or questions, or report a problem to Bay Area Telegraph.
You can opt out of being included in Google Analytics at {https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout}. For more information about our use of data analytics to protect and improve our Website, see Cookies and How We Utilize Them below.
Bay Area Telegraph also collects and maintain aggregated, anonymized, or pseudonymized information to protect the safety and security of the Website, improve the Website, or comply with its legal obligations.
You may decline to provide Bay Area Telegraph with some or all of your information. However, this will limit your ability to use the Website.
Types of Cookies Bay Area Telegraph Utilizes
Bay Area Telegraph uses the following types of cookies and other technologies:
Security: Bay Area Telegraph secures the Website with cookies that facilitate security features and allow Bay Area Telegraph to detect activity that might violate the {Terms and Conditions of Use}, such as unauthorized access or activity.
Site Features and Services: Certain cookies provide greater functionality to the Website and help Bay Area Telegraph deliver our products and services.
Performance: Bay Area Telegraph uses performance cookies to help route traffic between servers and understand how the Website is performing so Bay Area Telegraph can provide Users with the best experience possible.
Analytics and Research: Cookies and other technologies also help Bay Area Telegraph SquareSpace Analytics or Google Analytics, which you can opt out of at {https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout}.
Limiting or Blocking Cookies and Our Do Not Track Policy
Your browser may give you the ability to control cookies, which may depend on the type of cookie, and browsers can be set to reject browser cookies. However, blocking or deleting cookies may prevent you from using most of the Website.
Some browsers have “do not track” features that allow you to tell a website not to track you. These features are not all uniform. If you block cookies, certain features on the Website may not work. If you block or reject cookies, not all of the tracking described in this Privacy Policy will necessarily stop.
Note that certain options you select are specific to certain browsers and devices.
How Bay Area Telegraph Uses the Information It Collects
Bay Area Telegraph uses the information it collects for the following purposes:
To protect the Website;
To enable Bay Area Telegraph to provide you and other Users with the Website, and to improve and promote the Website and services;
To address inquiries and respond to customer service requests, questions, and comments;
To contact you with newsletters, offers, promotions, and other product specials or to customize your experience on the Website;
To track and analyze use of the Website and Bay Area Telegraph’s services, such as to identify trends, conduct data analysis, and determine the effectiveness of marketing and promotion efforts, and other service offerings, so that Bay Area Telegraph can improve how its performance and provide Users with the best experience possible;
To maintain security and to enforce the {Terms and Conditions of Use} and comply with applicable law; and
For other purposes that Bay Area Telegraph believes are necessary to protect its rights and the rights of others, or as otherwise described to you at the time of collection.
California Users
Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, California customers are entitled to request information relating to whether a business has disclosed personal information to any third parties for those third parties’ direct marketing purposes. As explained elsewhere in this Privacy Policy, Bay Area Telegraph will not sell or transfer your personal information to any third-party companies for their direct marketing purposes without your consent. California Users who wish to request further information about Bay Area Telegraph’s compliance with this statute or who have questions more generally about the Privacy Policy and Bay Area Telegraph’s privacy commitments to its Users should not hesitate to contact Bay Area Telegraph at tom@gadoimages.com.
European Union Users
European Union data protection law requires a “lawful basis” for collecting and retaining personal information from citizens or residents of the European Economic Area. Bay Area Telegraph’s lawful bases include:
Consent: In certain cases, you have affirmatively provided Bay Area Telegraph with your consent to collect your personal data for a specific purpose, such as providing your name and email address when you sign up for our newsletter or register for an Account.
Contract: Bay Area Telegraph may need your personal data to comply with contractual obligations to deliver the Website, such as fulfilling subscriptions or transactions made through the Website.
Legal Obligations: Sometimes the law requires the collection and use of your data, such as applicable tax laws may require Bay Area Telegraph to retain records of payments made through the Website.
Legitimate Interests: This is a technical term that means Bay Area Telegraph has a good and fair reason to use your data and in ways which do not harm your interests and rights, such as to pursue Bay Area Telegraph’s legitimate interests in a way that might reasonably be expected as part of running its business and that does not materially impact your rights, freedom, or interests. For example, Bay Area Telegraph uses identity, device, and location information to prevent fraud and abuse and to keep the Website secure, may also send you promotional communications about the Website and services subject to your right to opt out, analyze how Users interact with the Website so Bay Area Telegraph can understand better what elements do or do not work well, thereby facilitating improvements and developments in the quality of the online experience for all Users.
How Bay Area Telegraph Shares the Information It Collects
User-Posted Information That is Publicly Accessible
At this time, no user-posted information posted on the Website is publicly accessible or viewable.
Information Bay Area Telegraph Never Shares Publicly
The following personal information is never publicly displayed:
Your name;
The date you register for any services Bay Area Telegraph provides through the Website;
Your email address, IP address, mailing address, or phone number;
Any other identity verification information or documentation;
Any payment information you provide; and
Communications you send to Bay Area Telegraph.
Information Bay Area Telegraph Shares with Trusted Third-Party Service Providers
Bay Area Telegraph may share certain information pertaining to you with certain trusted third-party service providers to help provide, improve, promote, or protect the Website, such as when Bay Area Telegraph partners with payment processors or use services to help manage ads on other websites. When Bay Area Telegraph shares data with third-party services to help deliver the Website and Bay Area Telegraph’s services, Bay Area Telegraph requires those service providers use your information only for the purposes Bay Area Telegraph has authorized and protect your personal information at least to the same standards Bay Area Telegraph does. Bay Area Telegraph may also share information that is aggregated and anonymized in a way that it does not directly identify you.
Information Bay Area Telegraph Shares to Protect Bay Area Telegraph and Comply with the Law
Bay Area Telegraph reserves the right to disclose information Bay Area Telegraph collects from or about you when doing so is reasonably necessary to comply with the law or law enforcement, to prevent fraud or abuse, or to protect Bay Area Telegraph’s legal rights, property, or the safety of Bay Area Telegraph, Users, or others. You hereby authorize Bay Area Telegraph to share or disclose your personal information, including, without limitation, any content, records, or electronic communications of any kind, when Bay Area Telegraph determines, in its sole discretion, that the disclosure of such information is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against you if and to the extent:
You are or may be violating the {Terms of Use} or this Privacy Policy;
You are interfering with the rights or property of Bay Area Telegraph or a third party;
You are violating any applicable law, rule, or regulation;
Necessary or required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation; and/or
Requested by governmental authorities in the event of any investigation, act of terrorism, or instance of local, regional, or national emergency.
In the event that Bay Area Telegraph is acquired by or merged with a third-party entity, or sells all or substantially all of its assets, Bay Area Telegraph reserves the right, in any of these circumstances, to transfer or assign the information and content it has collected from Users as part of such merger, acquisition, sale, or other change of control. In the unlikely event of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the application of laws or equitable principles affecting creditors’ rights generally, Bay Area Telegraph may not be able to control how your personal information is treated, transferred, or used.
Links to Other Websites and Services
The Website may include links to other websites or services whose privacy practices may differ from Bay Area Telegraph’s privacy practices as described in this Privacy Policy. When you click or otherwise use a link to an external website or service, the privacy policy and data processing disclosures for that website or service govern.
Data Retention
Bay Area Telegraph will retain the information collected from or about you as long as necessary to provide you with the Website or Bay Area Telegraph’s services, or as otherwise set forth in this Privacy Policy, and to the extent set out in this Privacy Policy and as necessary to comply with Bay Area Telegraph’s legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and protect Bay Area Telegraph’s legal rights. Additionally, Bay Area Telegraph may retain indefinitely any aggregated, anonymized, or pseudonymized information collected, and may from time to time transfer or merge your information collected off-line to our online databases or store off-line information in an electronic format.
Cross-Border Data Transfers
Bay Area Telegraph is based in the United States so your information will be collected and processed in the United States, which has its own laws governing data protection and access to it, including by the government. If you reside outside of the United States, be advised that the rules that protect your personal information under United States federal, state, and local law may differ from those of your home country.
Children’s Privacy
The privacy of children is of the utmost importance, and Bay Area Telegraph is committed to complying with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Bay Area Telegraph does not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of thirteen (13). If Bay Area Telegraph ever discovers that it has inadvertently collected personal information from a child under the age of thirteen (13) on or through the Website, Bay Area Telegraph will delete it from its records as soon as possible. If you are a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of thirteen (13) and believe that Bay Area Telegraph has collected personal information from your child, please email us at tom@gadoimages.com, and Bay Area Telegraph will take steps to delete such personal information from its records as soon as possible.
Accessing Your Information
Users residing in certain countries, including citizens or residents of the European Economic Area, are afforded certain rights regarding their personal information. Except where an exception or exemption applies, these rights include the ability to access, correct, and request deletion of such User’s personal information. Even after you request Bay Area Telegraph deletes your personal information, Bay Area Telegraph may retain certain information as required by law or as necessary for its legitimate business purposes.
More specifically, these Users have the following rights:
The right to require free of charge (i) confirmation of whether Bay Area Telegraph processes your personal information and (ii) access to a copy of the personal information retained;
The right to request proper rectification, removal or restriction of your personal information;
Where processing of your personal information is either based on your consent or necessary for the performance of a contract with you and processing is carried out by automated means, the right to receive the personal information concerning you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to have your personal information transmitted directly to another company, where technically feasible (data portability);
Where the processing of your personal information is based on your consent, the right to withdraw your consent at any time without impact to data processing activities that have taken place before such withdrawal or to any other existing legal justification of the processing activity in question;
The right not to be subject to any automatic individual decisions which produces legal effects on you or similarly significantly affects you; and
The right to take legal actions in relation to any breach of your rights regarding the processing of the personal information, as well as to lodge complaints before the competent data protection regulators.
As far as Bay Area Telegraph processes your personal information on the basis of its legitimate interests, you can object to processing at any time. You can find a detailed description of Bay Area Telegraph’s processing activities and the legal basis herein. If you object to such processing, Bay Area Telegraph will ask you to state the grounds of your objection to examine the processing of your personal information and decide whether to adjust the processing accordingly.
Email Notifications
Bay Area Telegraph wants to communicate with you only if you want to hear from us. Bay Area Telegraph will send you emails relating to your transactions on or through the Website or via Google mail. You also may elect to receive certain marketing email communications, in accordance with your preferences, and from which you may opt out at any time by adjusting your notification settings. Bay Area Telegraph also will send you service-related announcements when and as necessary. Bay Area Telegraph will try to keep emails to a minimum and give you the ability to opt in to any marketing communications.
Bay Area Telegraph maintains a strict no-spam policy. Bay Area Telegraph will not use false or misleading subjects or email addresses, identify the message as a promotion in a reasonable way, include Bay Area Telegraph’s physical address, monitor third-party email marketing services for compliance, honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly, and allow Users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email. If you are having problems unsubscribing, contact Bay Area Telegraph at tom@gadoimages.com by forwarding the email communication and including the word “Unsubscribe” in the subject line and Bay Area Telegraph will use reasonable efforts to remove you within seven (7) business days. Please note that Bay Area Telegraph will not process any unsubscribe requests submitted as direct replies to any newsletter.
Security
Bay Area Telegraph takes security seriously, and the security of your personal data is important to us. Bay Area Telegraph follows industry-standard practices to protect the data Bay Area Telegraph collects and maintains, including using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt information as it travels over the Internet.
However, the Internet is, by nature, not a secure environment and the nature of security risks is constantly evolving as are the technical and organizational industry standards relating to management of those risks. While Bay Area Telegraph strives to keep current our security technology and will review, refine, and upgrade its security technology as Bay Area Telegraph deems appropriate based on new tools that may become available in the future, the complete security of any information collected, stored or used by Bay Area Telegraph cannot therefore be guaranteed. In the unlikely event that an unauthorized third-party compromises Bay Area Telegraph’s security measures, Bay Area Telegraph will not be responsible for any damages directly or indirectly caused by an unauthorized third party’s ability to view, use, or disseminate such information.
Updates to this Privacy Policy
Bay Area Telegraph may change the terms of this Privacy Policy at any time. Whenever Bay Area Telegraph makes a material change, Bay Area Telegraph will post on the Website or send you an email. The effective date of the most recent version of this Privacy Policy will appear at the top of this page. New versions of this Privacy Policy will never apply retroactively.