Gutturals.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website https://gutturals.com/ (the “Site”), which serves as a community hub, informational resource, and merchandise platform for fans and practitioners of the guttural music/vocal style. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights concerning that data. By using our Site, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information necessary to operate the community, process orders, and track site activity.
1.1 Personal Data You Provide Directly
We collect this data only when you choose to submit it to us:
- Account Registration: Your chosen username, email address, and a password (stored as a secure hash) when you register for forum access or a user account.
- Forum/Comment Activity: The content of your posts, comments, reviews, private messages sent through the system, and any profile information you choose to make public (e.g., location, favorite bands).
- Order and Transaction Data (If Applicable): Your name, billing address, shipping address, and email address when you purchase merchandise or digital music. Note: We do not store full payment card details. These are processed securely by our third-party payment partners (e.g., [Insert Payment Processor, e.g., Shopify, PayPal]).
- Newsletter Subscription: Your email address when you sign up for site updates or band news.
1.2 Data Collected Automatically (Usage Data)
When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain technical information:
- Log Data: Your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, device type, the pages you view, the time and date of your visit, and any referring site addresses.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We and our service providers use cookies to manage your login session, remember site preferences, track shopping carts, and analyze user engagement (e.g., via Google Analytics).
2. How We Use Your Information
We process your Personal Data based on legal grounds for the following purposes:
- To Provide Core Services: To manage your forum account, publish your comments, and facilitate interaction within the community (Necessary for Contract Fulfillment and Legitimate Interest in running a community).
- To Process Transactions: To fulfill and ship orders for merchandise or digital products.
- To Personalize Content: To recommend threads, content, or merchandise based on your site activity and stated preferences.
- To Communicate: To send you service alerts, password resets, and, with your consent, newsletters and promotional materials.
- For Security and Moderation: To enforce our Terms of Service, prevent spam, and moderate community forums.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not sell your Personal Data. We share your information only with trusted third parties necessary to operate our community and e-commerce functions.
3.1 Publicly Visible Information
Any information you post in the forums, comments, or your public user profile is publicly accessible and searchable by third parties and search engines. Please exercise caution when sharing any personal or sensitive information in these areas.
3.2 Service Providers and Vendors
We use third-party companies and individuals to perform services on our behalf. These include:
- Hosting: [[Insert Hosting Provider]
- E-commerce/Payment Processing: [[Insert E-commerce Platform and Payment Processor]
- Analytics: Google Analytics
- Email Marketing: [[Insert Email Service Provider]
These providers are contractually bound to keep your information confidential and are prohibited from using it for any purpose other than providing services to us.
4. Children’s Privacy
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13. While we do not restrict access based on age, we do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. If a parent or guardian believes their child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us immediately so we can remove it.
5. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your Personal Data:
- Right to Access: The right to request copies of the Personal Data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: The right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): The right to request that we delete your Personal Data and user account, subject to necessary retention obligations (e.g., financial records).
- Right to Withdraw Consent: The right to withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.
6. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]