Privacy Policy

JARanks and JARanks Pulse ("we," "our," or "us") are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our websites, mobile applications, and services (collectively, our "Services"), including our news aggregation and social commentary platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account Information

• Name, username, email address, and password
• Profile information (bio, location, website, profile image)
• Account preferences and settings
• Search visibility preferences

Content You Create

• Lists, rankings, and reviews (JARanks)
• Comments and discussions (Pulse)
• Reactions, likes, and bookmarks
• Articles and posts (for authorized contributors)
• Images and media you upload
• Reports and feedback

Communications

• Newsletter subscriptions and preferences
• Support requests and correspondence
• Survey responses and feedback

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Usage Data

• Pages visited and features used
• Articles read and time spent
• Click patterns and interaction data
• Search queries and filters used
• Following relationships and social interactions
• Content preferences and reading history

Device & Technical Information

• IP address and approximate location
• Browser type and version
• Operating system and device type
• Screen resolution and preferences
• Language and time zone settings
• Referral URLs and exit pages

Cookies & Similar Technologies

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic functionality
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand usage patterns
• Marketing Cookies: Used for relevant advertising (with consent)
• Session Storage: Temporary data for your browsing session
• Local Storage: Persistent preferences and offline functionality

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• Social Login Providers: When you sign in with Google, Twitter/X, or other providers
• RSS Feed Sources: Public content from news publishers
• Public APIs: Trending topics and public social media data
• Business Partners: For verified accounts and partnerships

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 To Provide Our Services

• Create and manage your account
• Display personalized content feeds
• Process your interactions (comments, likes, follows)
• Deliver newsletter subscriptions
• Enable social features and connections
• Provide customer support

2.2 To Personalize Your Experience

• Recommend relevant articles and content
• Suggest users and sources to follow
• Customize your news feed based on interests
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Provide location-relevant content (Jamaica vs. global)

2.3 To Improve Our Platform

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Test new features and improvements
• Monitor platform performance and errors
• Conduct research and analytics
• Develop new products and services

2.4 For Safety & Security

• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect users and the platform
• Comply with legal obligations
• Investigate and resolve disputes

2.5 For Communications

• Send service announcements and updates
• Deliver requested newsletters and digests
• Notify you of relevant activities (with your permission)
• Respond to inquiries and support requests
• Send marketing communications (with consent)

3. How We Share Information

3.1 Public Information

The following information is public by default unless you change your privacy settings:

• Your username, name, and profile picture
• Your bio and public profile information
• Content you post (lists, comments, reactions)
• Your followers and who you follow
• Your public activity on the platform

3.2 With Your Consent

• When you explicitly agree to share
• For features that require sharing (e.g., social sharing)
• With third-party services you connect

3.3 Service Providers

We share information with trusted service providers who help us operate our platform:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure (data storage)
• Email delivery services (newsletters)
• Analytics providers (usage analysis)
• Payment processors (for premium features)
• Content delivery networks (performance)
• Customer support tools

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations or court orders
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect users or the public from harm
• Investigate fraud or security issues

3.5 Business Transfers

If we're involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We'll notify you of any such change.

3.6 Aggregated Information

We may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information publicly or with partners for business purposes, research, or analysis.

4. Your Privacy Controls

4.1 Account Settings

• Profile Privacy: Control who can see your profile information
• Search Visibility: Choose whether to appear in search results and search engines
• Activity Privacy: Manage visibility of your activities
• Communication Preferences: Control email notifications and newsletters

4.2 Content Controls

• Edit or delete your comments and posts
• Remove reactions and bookmarks
• Manage your following relationships
• Control list visibility (public/private)

4.3 Data Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities
• Restriction: Request limited processing of your data

5. Data Retention

5.1 Active Accounts

We retain your information as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. You can delete specific content or your entire account at any time.

5.2 After Account Deletion

• Most personal data is deleted within 30 days
• Some data may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes
• Anonymized or aggregated data may be retained indefinitely
• Backup systems may retain data for up to 90 days

5.3 Content Removal

When you delete content, it's removed from public view immediately but may remain in our systems for a limited time for recovery purposes.

6. Data Security

6.1 Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS) and at rest
• Secure authentication and session management
• Regular security audits and assessments
• Access controls and employee training
• Incident response procedures
• Regular backups and disaster recovery

6.2 Your Responsibilities

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Keep your login credentials confidential
• Log out when using shared devices
• Report suspicious activities immediately
• Keep your contact information updated

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including standard contractual clauses and data protection agreements.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we've collected such information, we'll delete it promptly. Parents who believe we have information about their child should contact us.

9. Third-Party Services

9.1 Social Login

When you sign in using Google, Twitter/X, or other providers, we receive limited information as authorized. Review their privacy policies to understand their practices.

9.2 External Links

Our platform contains links to external websites, especially news sources. We're not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing information.

9.3 Embedded Content

Some content may be embedded from third parties (videos, social media posts). These embeds may collect data about your interaction.

10. Analytics & Advertising

10.1 Analytics

We use analytics tools to understand how our Services are used. This helps us improve functionality and user experience. You can opt out of certain analytics through browser settings or privacy tools.

10.2 Advertising

We may display ads on our platform. Advertisers don't have access to your personal information unless you interact with their ads. We may use aggregated data for ad targeting.

11. Regional Privacy Rights

11.1 European Users (GDPR)

If you're in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to data portability, objection to processing, and lodging complaints with supervisory authorities.

11.2 California Users (CCPA)

California residents have specific rights under CCPA, including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (which we don't do).

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We'll notify you of material changes via email or platform notification. Your continued use after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us