Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

1. Introduction

Welcome to CinderCivs (the “Site”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy. This document explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose information we obtain from visitors, including those in the European Union (EU) under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and individuals in California under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). By visiting or using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. Data Controller and Contact

Data Controller: CinderCivs
Contact Email: cindercivilisations (at) gmail (dot) com

If you have questions regarding this policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at the email above.

3. Information We Collect

1. Personal Data
   Voluntary Submissions: You may provide personal information (e.g., your email address or username) when contacting us, signing up for a newsletter, or participating in community forums.
   Communications: We may collect the content of messages or postings you submit to the Site.
2. Non-Personal Data
   Log Files: We may collect details such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and date/time stamps to analyze trends, administer the Site, and gather aggregate demographic data.
   Cookies and Similar Technologies: The Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze usage, and serve personalized ads (see Section 5).

4. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

Under the GDPR, we rely on different legal bases to process your personal data, including:

• Consent - When you explicitly provide consent (e.g., opting in to cookies or newsletters).
• Legitimate Interests - Where our interests in running and improving the Site are not overridden by your fundamental rights.
• Contract - When processing is necessary to provide a service you requested.
• Legal Obligation - When we must comply with a legal or regulatory requirement.

5. Cookies & Google AdSense

1. Cookies
   We use both session cookies (expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (remain on your device until manually deleted). Cookies help us remember preferences, analyze traffic, and deliver personalized content.
2. Google AdSense
   We partner with Google AdSense to display advertisements on our Site. Google may use cookies or web beacons to collect non-personally identifiable information about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide ads tailored to your interests (“personalized advertising”). To learn more about how Google uses data or to opt out of personalized ads, visit Google's Privacy & Terms: (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) or the Ad Settings: (https://adssettings.google.com/).
3. Cookie Consent (EU Visitors)
   If you are in the EU, you will see a cookie consent banner or pop-up when first visiting our Site, allowing you to accept or decline non-essential cookies, including personalized ad cookies.

6. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for:

• Site Operation: Displaying content, managing user accounts, and providing requested services.
• Analytics: Understanding how visitors use our Site (e.g., tracking page views, referring sites).
• Advertising: Displaying relevant ads via Google AdSense, subject to your consent where required by law.
• Communication: Responding to inquiries or feedback.
• Legal Compliance: Enforcing our Terms of Service, complying with legal obligations, or preventing fraud.

7. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. However, we may share certain data:

• Service Providers - Third-party vendors who help us operate or analyze our Site, including advertising partners, analytics providers, or email service platforms.
• Legal Requirements - We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside your country of residence, including the United States. We take steps to ensure adequate safeguards (e.g., EU Standard Contractual Clauses) if data is transferred outside the European Economic Area, in compliance with GDPR requirements.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or for the duration required by law. Non-personal data may be retained indefinitely.

10. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the EU, you have certain rights under the GDPR, including:

• Access - Request a copy of personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification - Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”) - Request deletion of personal data, subject to legal exemptions.
• Restriction - Request restrictions on data processing.
• Object - Object to processing, including direct marketing.
• Data Portability - Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used format.
• Withdraw Consent - Where we rely on consent to process your data, you can withdraw it at any time.

To exercise these rights, contact us at cindercivilisations (at) gmail (dot) com. We may request additional information to verify your identity.

11. CCPA - California Consumer Privacy Act

If you are a California resident, the CCPA grants you certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Know - You may request information about what personal information we collect, use, disclose, or sell.
• Right to Delete - You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal exemptions.
• Right to Opt Out of Sale - We do not sell personal information. If in the future we do, you will have the right to opt out.
• Right to Non-Discrimination - We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To submit a request under CCPA, contact us at cindercivilisations (at) gmail (dot) com. We may verify your identity before fulfilling any request.

12. Security

We implement reasonable measures to protect information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, such as encryption, secure hosting, and restricted access. However, no transmission or storage system can be guaranteed 100% secure.

13. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us so we can delete it.

14. Third-Party Links

We may link to external websites or services not operated by us. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policies of any external site you visit.

15. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our operations or in legal requirements. If we make significant changes, we will post the updated policy on this page with a new “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after such changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
Email: cindercivilisations (at) gmail (dot) com