Privacy Policy

Summary of Key Points

• What we collect: We collect personal information you provide directly, technical information from your devices, and usage data when you interact with our website.
• How we use it: We use your information to provide our services, communicate with you, analyze website usage, and improve our content across our five main areas: Business & Finance, Technology & Science, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Sports, and Arts & Culture.
• Legal basis: We process your data based on consent, contractual necessity, legal obligations, and legitimate interests.
• Sharing: We share information with service providers who help operate our website as outlined in this policy.
• Your rights: Depending on your location, you have rights to access, correct, delete, and port your data.
• Security: We implement technical and organizational measures to protect your information.
• Children: Our services are not intended for users under 16 years of age.
• Updates: We will notify you of any material changes to this policy.

Introduction

Welcome to AQ Media ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at aq-media.info (the "Website"), including any other media form, media channel, mobile website, or mobile application related or connected thereto.

Our website provides expert analysis and insightful content across Business & Finance, Technology & Science, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Sports, and Arts & Culture. We bring together diverse perspectives from specialized contributors to deliver content that goes beyond surface reporting.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Website.

Important Information and Who We Are

Data Controller

We are the data controller responsible for your personal data. Our operations are based in Madrid, Spain and subject to Spanish and European Union data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Spanish Organic Law on Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights (LOPDGDD). If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through our Contact Form.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Last updated" date of this Privacy Policy. Any changes or modifications will be effective immediately upon posting the updated Privacy Policy on the Website. You are encouraged to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed of updates.

The Data We Collect

We collect several different types of information from and about users of our Website:

Personal Data

When you use our Website, depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

• Identity Data: First name, last name
• Contact Data: Email address and any additional information you provide through our Contact Form
• Technical Data: Internet protocol (IP) address, browser type, browser version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, device information
• Usage Data: How you use our Website, including time spent on pages, page views, navigation paths, scroll depth, click patterns, and interaction with affiliate links
• Transaction Data: Details about payments to and from you (if applicable) and subscription status
• Marketing and Communications Data: Your preferences in receiving marketing from us and our third parties and your communication preferences
• Authentication Data: Password (encrypted) for registered users
• Comment Data: For registered users who comment on our Website, we collect and store comments, display name, and timestamp

Additional Data Collection

• Contact Form Data: When you use our Contact Form, we collect your name, email address, subject line, and message content
• Subscription Data: For newsletter subscribers and/or paid subscribers (if applicable), we collect necessary information to provide the service

Social Login Data

If you choose to register or log in using a third-party social media account (such as Google), we will receive certain profile information from your social media provider. The information we receive varies by provider but typically includes your name, email address, and profile picture.

We will use this information only for the purposes described in this privacy policy. Please note that the third-party social media provider may collect additional information about your use of their services according to their own privacy policies.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to monitor Website activity and maintain certain Website functionality. Please refer to our Cookie Policy for detailed information about the types of cookies we use, their purposes, and your choices regarding cookies.

How We Use Your Data

Legitimate Purposes

We use your personal data for the following legitimate purposes:

For Registered Users and Subscribers

• Creating and managing your account
• Processing your subscription (if applicable)
• Providing access to subscription features (if applicable)
• Managing your comment privileges
• Sending essential service notifications

For All Website Users

• Maintaining Website functionality
• Analyzing Website usage and performance
• Improving our services and content quality
• Responding to Contact Form submissions
• Sending newsletters (with consent)
• Displaying relevant content across our five main areas
• Preventing fraud and abuse

Legal Basis for Processing

If you are located in the EU or UK, we rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:

• Consent: When you have given clear consent for us to process your personal information for a specific purpose.
• Contractual Necessity: When processing is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you.
• Legal Obligation: When processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
• Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party, provided those interests do not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.

Examples of our legitimate interests include:

• Improving and personalizing our services
• Ensuring the security of our website and services
• Analyzing how users interact with our content
• Marketing our services to existing users
• Preventing fraud and abuse

You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us through our Contact Form.

Data Sharing and Third-Party Processors

We share your data with the following categories of third-party service providers:

Service Providers

• Website Hosting: For server infrastructure and website delivery
• Content Management System: Powers our website content
• Email Communications: For newsletters and notifications
• Analytics Services: For website usage analysis
• Domain Registration: For website domain management
• Form Processing: For contact and data subject access requests
• Data Storage and Backups: For system backups and data storage
• Email Processing: For communications

Data Processing Locations

Our service providers may process your data in various locations, including within and outside the European Economic Area (EEA). All third-party processors are contractually bound to protect your data and comply with applicable data protection laws.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. These measures include:

• Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption to protect data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest
• Access Controls: We implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Regular Security Assessments: We conduct periodic security assessments and vulnerability scans
• Staff Training: Our team receives regular training on data protection and security practices
• Data Minimization: We collect only the data necessary for our stated purposes
• Incident Response Plan: We maintain a comprehensive incident response plan for potential data breaches

While we take all reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your information to the best of our ability.

In the event of a personal data breach that is likely to result in a high risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the relevant supervisory authority in accordance with applicable law.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Specific retention periods:

• Account data: Duration of active account plus 2 years
• Transaction records: 7 years (tax requirements)
• Communication records: 2 years from last interaction
• Technical logs: 1 year
• Marketing preferences: Until you opt-out or request deletion

When your information is no longer required, we will securely delete or anonymize it so it can no longer be associated with you.

Your Data Protection Rights

Rights Under Data Protection Laws

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

European Union (GDPR) Rights

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Rights regarding automated decision-making

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights:

• Submit your request through our Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) Form
• Provide necessary identification information
• Clearly state which right(s) you're exercising
• Allow up to 30 days for our response

We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. For general inquiries about data protection, you can also contact us via our Contact Form.

International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries outside your home jurisdiction. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through:

• EU-US Data Privacy Framework
• Standard Contractual Clauses
• Data Processing Agreements
• Privacy Shield certification (where applicable)

Children's Privacy

AQ Media is not directed at persons under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from anyone under the age of 16 or knowingly allow such persons to register for our services. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under the age of 16 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.

If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 16, please contact us immediately through our Contact Form.

Parents and guardians should supervise their children's online activities and consider using parental control tools available from online services and software manufacturers to help provide a child-friendly online environment.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Please refer to our separate Cookie Policy for detailed information about our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies.

Third-Party Services and Data Processors

Our Website uses various third-party services and data processors. Each of these services has their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review. We carefully select our service providers and require them to respect your privacy and comply with applicable data protection laws.

Comment System

User comments are stored in our database. When you submit a comment as a registered user, we collect and store:

• Your display name
• Email address
• Comment content
• Timestamp
• IP address (for spam prevention)

Affiliate Partners and Editorial Independence

We may work with various affiliate partners who may collect data through cookies and tracking technologies. While we may receive compensation through affiliate partnerships, we maintain strict editorial independence and only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. Our content and recommendations are based on objective analysis and genuine user value, regardless of any affiliate relationships.

Contact Us

We welcome your questions, comments, and requests regarding this Privacy Policy and our data practices.

• Email Contact Form
• Data Subject Access Requests

If you have unresolved concerns, you have the right to complain to your local data protection authority. In Spain, the supervisory authority is the Spanish Data Protection Agency (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos or AEPD), which you can contact at https://www.aepd.es/.

Response Time: We aim to respond to all legitimate inquiries within 30 days.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable laws. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you of material changes by email (if you've provided your email address) or through a notice on our website
• Keep previous versions of the policy available for review upon request

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

Jurisdiction-Specific Privacy Rights

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide you with specific rights:

• Right to know what personal information we collect and disclose
• Right to delete your personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights
• Right to limit use of sensitive personal information

To exercise these rights, please submit a request via our DSAR Form.

Virginia Privacy Rights

Under the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA), Virginia residents have the right to:

• Confirm whether we are processing your personal data
• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccuracies in your personal data
• Delete personal data provided by or obtained about you
• Obtain a copy of your personal data in a portable format
• Opt out of targeted advertising, sale of personal data, and profiling for certain decisions

To exercise these rights, please submit a request via our DSAR Form.

FAQs