The Universal Chronicle Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy is drafted to comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000, as amended, and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011.
1. Collection of Information
We may collect two main types of information from you:
Personal Information: This includes information that can be used to identify you personally, such as your name, email address, registration account details, physical address, and other relevant personal details. Sensitive Personal Data or Information, as part of Personal Information, may include your password, financial information (e.g., bank account, credit card, or other payment details).
Non-Personal Information: This refers to information that does not identify you or any other individual. It includes session data, web beacons, usage data, log data, and aggregate information. We use this information to deliver web pages, tailor our Application/website to user interests, measure traffic, and improve our services. Cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies may be used to collect and track this information. Cookies do not contain personal information unless you provide it voluntarily. Advertisers may also use their own cookies.
By using our Services, you consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies. You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the information you provide, and you have all necessary rights and permissions to do so.
2. Use of Information
We may use your Personal Information for the following purposes:
- Service Provision: To process orders, provide services, test or improve services, recommend products or services, and handle customer requests.
- Communication: To notify you about offers, changes in policies, and important information. We may also send you surveys and marketing communications.
- Personalization: To enhance your experience by personalizing content, ads, and offers based on your usage.
- Improvement: To analyze and improve our Services, including conducting internal reviews and data analysis.
- Security: To protect our Services and comply with legal requirements.
Non-Personal Information may be used to understand trends, administer the Services, and gather demographic information. This information may be used for marketing and analytics purposes.
3. Disclosure of Information
We do not sell or rent Personal Information. However, we may disclose your Personal Information under the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: To affiliates, vendors, and contractors who provide services such as customer support, payment processing, and data analysis.
- Marketing Partners: To partners and advertisers for marketing or advertising purposes, with an option for you to opt out.
- Legal Requirements: To comply with legal processes, respond to authorities, and protect our rights or the rights of others.
- Third-Party Services: Certain Personal Information may be shared with third-party services for personalization and behavioral analytics.
4. Information Security and Storage
We employ reasonable security measures to protect your Personal Information, including those mandated by the Information Technology Act, 2000, and related rules. Despite these measures, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account password and notifying us of any unauthorized use.
Your information may be stored electronically or physically, and may be processed in other countries in compliance with applicable laws. We may use third-party services to store data, requiring them to adhere to reasonable security standards.
Network18 is not responsible for any loss or misuse of Personal Information due to factors beyond our control, such as natural disasters or security breaches.
5. Third-Party Websites, Applications, and Services
Our Services may contain links to other websites or applications. These are governed by their own privacy policies. If you visit these sites, their privacy practices will apply, and we recommend reviewing their policies.
6. Access, Correction, and Deletion
You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your Personal Information. To do so, contact us. Note that some data may be retained as required by law or for legal purposes.
7. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed at individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from this age group. If we discover such information, we will delete it and notify the parent.
8. Global Data Transfer and Storage
We operate internationally and may transfer your data globally. We take steps to protect your data, including using standard contractual clauses for EU data transfers.
9. Security Measures
We implement security measures like firewalls and encryption to protect your data. If you suspect your account credentials have been compromised, contact us immediately.
10. Policy Changes
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will take effect immediately and we will notify you if they significantly affect your rights. By continuing to use our services after changes, you agree to the updated terms.
Privacy Policy for UK, EU, and California residents
Our Commitment. At The Universal Chronicle (“TUC,” “we,” “us,” “our”), we are dedicated to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal and financial information. This Privacy Policy outlines our commitment to safeguarding your data and describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. We encourage you to review this policy to understand our practices and your rights. This policy applies to information collected through TUC’s website and applications.
This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our platforms where this policy is posted. We comply with applicable data protection laws in the regions where we operate. Additional privacy notices specific to certain services or regions may apply and should be read in conjunction with this policy.
Please note that if you interact with us through third-party sites or platforms (such as social media logins), those interactions are subject to the privacy policies of the third parties. Privacy choices made on those platforms may not apply to our use of information collected directly through our services. Our websites and applications may also link to other sites not controlled by us, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
All capitalized terms not specifically defined in this policy have the meanings provided in our Terms of Use. This Privacy Policy should be read in conjunction with the Terms of Use applicable to the service (website, application, or other service) you are using.
User Consent. By using TUC’s services (such as registering for an account, purchasing a service, participating in promotions, or communicating with us), you consent to our collection, use, and sharing of your personal information as described in this policy. In jurisdictions with strict data protection regulations, we may seek explicit consent before processing your personal data.
If you are traveling or residing in different countries, we will consider the country of registration as your primary location, and the privacy terms applicable at the time of registration will apply.
Accessing Our Services through VPN. You should not access or use TUC’s services using technologies that obscure your actual geo-location (e.g., VPNs). We are not liable for any data collection, storage, or processing if you use such technologies to access our services.
Collection and Use of Personal Information. ‘Personal Information’ or ‘PII’ refers to any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual, such as your name, postal address, email address, and mobile number. When anonymous information is linked with personal information, it is also considered personal information.
We collect only the necessary personally identifiable information required to provide our services and improve user experience. We do not collect personal information unless you voluntarily provide it. We and our service partners use your information to operate our services and to inform you of new features, services, and products.
Information We Collect
Registration Data. To use certain features or services on our website or application (such as event registrations, surveys, quizzes, or polls), we may collect basic contact information, including:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Email Address
Mobile Device Permissions. When using our mobile applications, we may request access to the following features:
- Accounts: For managing user accounts and login purposes.
- Contacts: To facilitate sharing content through the app.
- Phone: To enable notifications and read phone state. IMEI is collected for unique user identification.
- Camera: To allow users to upload images and profile pictures.
- Microphone: To enable voice commands.
- Storage: To access files and folders.
- SMS: To send and receive verification messages.
These permissions are essential for the proper functioning of the application and can be managed through your device settings.
Access and Management of Your Information. You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal information. To make such requests, please contact us. Note that some data may be retained as required by law or for legal purposes.
Voluntary Information You Provide. When you communicate with us through emails, letters, or other means, or when third parties send us information about your activities on our site, we may collect and store this data. Additionally, we may gather extra details when you give feedback, update your content or email preferences, participate in surveys, or otherwise engage with us. This may include your name, email address, phone number, and location.
Automatically Collected Information. We gather information about how you use our services, interact with us and our advertisers, and details about the devices you use to access our services. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Website Activities: Information on the pages you visit, time spent on pages, search queries, etc.
- Interaction Data: How you engage with our emails, customer support, and messaging systems.
- Geo-Location Data: Your IP address and associated location information.
- Device Information: Identifiers such as device ID, device model, and other unique markers.
- Advertising Identifiers: Unique IDs on mobile devices, such as Apple’s IDFA and Google’s GAID.
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies to assign a unique User ID to track user interests. Cookies can’t access data on your hard drive, and advertisers may use their own cookies to track browsing. For more information, refer to our Cookie Policy.
Inferred Information from Usage and Logs. We track certain behaviors on our website to conduct research on user demographics, devices, interests, and behavior. This helps us enhance our services. The information is analyzed in aggregate and may be used for:
- Understanding your interests in news, services, and advertisements.
- Performing analytics and customer research.
- Identifying popular content and analyzing traffic patterns.
Interactive Features. Our site features various tools that let users share personal information and communicate with others. Using these features and sharing details like email addresses or names is your choice and risk. We aren’t responsible for privacy issues arising from these interactions. If you feel your privacy has been compromised, contact us at.
User Experience and Support. We use your IP address to troubleshoot server issues and manage our website. It helps us identify you and gather broad demographic information to personalize your experience. Occasionally, we may ask you to complete optional surveys to refine your experience and offer relevant content. Participation is voluntary.
Information from Third Parties. Social Media Logins: When you use social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Google, Twitter) to engage with our services, we may collect the following from these platforms:
- Facebook: Public information, name, email address, and friend list.
- Google: First name, last name, and email address.
- Twitter: User ID and public information.
- WhatsApp: Mobile number.
Transactional or Billing Data. For purchases or subscriptions, our payment gateway partner may collect credit/debit card details and billing addresses. This data is stored by the payment gateway provider. We receive transaction details (e.g., transaction IDs) for resolving issues and reconciling transactions, as permitted by law.
Auto-Renewal Subscriptions. Subscriptions may renew automatically unless canceled. If you do not wish to continue auto-renewal, you must cancel before the subscription term ends. We do not store personal payment details.
Information from Other Sources. We may receive and integrate information from other sources, including account and order details from our partners or platform providers. We might also use updated contact details to correct records and enhance communication. We may use demographic data from other sources to offer targeted promotions and communications based on your consents.
Special Categories of Personal Data. Special categories of personal data include information about racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, and health data. This information is processed only with your explicit consent and for the specific purposes outlined.
Purposes and Legal Grounds for Processing. We collect and use your personal data only when we have a lawful basis for doing so. This may include:
- Explicit Consent: When you have given us clear consent to process your personal data for specific purposes.
- Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as providing customer support or delivering premium services (e.g., processing payments through our payment partners).
Here’s how we use your information:
- Service Provision and Management: To verify your identity, provide our services, and manage them effectively.
- Communication: To send updates about our services, including news, new features, special offers, contests, surveys, and support requests like password resets.
- Marketing and Research: To tailor our marketing efforts and perform market research. This includes sending newsletters and promotional information (with your consent) and optimizing our services based on your interests.
- Personalization: To offer personalized content and recommendations based on your interests.
- Security: To detect and prevent illegal activities, including fraud.
- Audience Analysis: To understand user behavior, improve our services, and enhance content recommendations.
- Service Updates: To inform you of changes to our terms of service and assist with customer support requests.
- Interactive Features: To facilitate participation in events, competitions, and games on our platforms.
- Obligations and Enforcement: To fulfill contractual obligations and manage billing, chargebacks, and collections.
Personalization is achieved by using data from cookies, IP addresses, and similar technologies. By consenting to data collection, you allow us to provide content and advertising that aligns with your interests. You can manage your cookie preferences through your account settings or by contacting us.
Information Use. The data you provide helps us enhance our services and offer a more user-friendly experience. We may need your contact details for certain services. Your information helps us:
- Maintain and improve our services, including advertising.
- Send commercial or marketing communications with your consent.
- Use email addresses for non-marketing purposes like important updates and customer support.
Publicly Available Information. Information freely available in the public domain, such as social media posts, is not considered sensitive under this Privacy Policy. If you choose not to provide certain information, some services may be unavailable to you. We are not responsible for service limitations due to missing information.
Disclosure to Third Parties
We may share your information with:
- Strategic Partners: Companies that assist us in providing and marketing our services.
- Extended Services: Companies providing additional services related to our site. You can opt out of such services if desired.
- Third-Party Partners: Includes Web18 members, related companies, advertisers, credit agencies, legal advisors, and regulatory authorities.
- Advertising Partners: We provide aggregated data to advertisers and use third-party ad services that may collect information for targeting ads.
Service Providers. We may share data with third-party service providers for managing our services. External sites linked from our platform have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their practices.
Promotional Offers. With your consent, we may share your information for promotional purposes. You can opt out of marketing communications by following the instructions provided in the messages.
Business Transfers. In the event of a business transition such as a merger or acquisition, we may share your data with the new entity. This includes any restructuring of the Web18 Group.
Legal Requirements. We may disclose your data if required by law or to protect our rights and the safety of others. This includes compliance with legal processes and responding to legal requests.
Your Rights and Choices
Access and Correction: You can request access to and correction of your personal data. We will strive to fulfill these requests, though there may be exceptions for legal or practical reasons.
Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format or ask us to transfer it to another provider.
Data Retention and Erasure: We keep your data as long as necessary for legal and business purposes. You can request the deletion of your data, but some information may be retained for legal or safety reasons.
Withdrawing Consent: You can withdraw consent for data processing by contacting us, and we will cease processing your data accordingly.
Objection to Processing: For direct marketing, you can request us to stop processing your data for these purposes at any time.
Failure to Provide Consent: If you do not consent to data processing, we may not be able to provide certain services.
Opting Out of Data Sales: You can opt out of having your data sold to third parties by using the opt-out option on our website or contacting us.
Authorized Agents: You may appoint an Authorized Agent to make requests on your behalf if they have your consent.
Non-Discrimination: You will not face discrimination for exercising your privacy rights under the CCPA.
Children’s Privacy. Our services are not directed at individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from this age group. If we discover such information, we will delete it and notify the parent.
Global Data Transfer and Storage. We operate internationally and may transfer your data globally. We take steps to protect your data, including using standard contractual clauses for EU data transfers.
Security Measures. We implement security measures like firewalls and encryption to protect your data. If you suspect your account credentials have been compromised, contact us immediately.
Policy Changes. We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will take effect immediately and we will notify you if they significantly affect your rights. By continuing to use our services after changes, you agree to the updated terms.