Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 20, 2025
Last Updated: August 20, 2025

Associates Times, Inc. ("we," "us," "our," or "Associates Times") operates as a digital news and media publication. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and other relevant privacy regulations.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with Associates Times. By accessing or using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Controller Information and Contact Details
Information We Collect
How We Collect Information
Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)
How We Use Your Information
Sharing and Disclosure of Information
International Data Transfers
Data Retention
Your Privacy Rights
California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
Children's Privacy
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Data Security
Third-Party Links and Services
Data Breach Notification
Changes to This Privacy Policy
Contact Information

1. Controller Information and Contact Details

Data Controller:
Associates Times, Inc.
Address: 19790 W Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33180, United States
Email: contact@associatestimes.com

For users in the European Union and United Kingdom, Associates Times, Inc. serves as the data controller for the personal information processed under this Privacy Policy. We may appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) or EU representative as required by applicable law, and their contact information will be updated here when appointed.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various categories of personal information to provide our services, improve user experience, and fulfil our legitimate business interests. The information we collect falls into the following categories:

2.1 Personal Identifiers

Full name, email address, postal address
Phone number, username, display name
IP address, device identifiers, browser fingerprints
Account credentials and authentication information
Unique identifiers assigned to your account

2.2 Internet or Electronic Network Activity

Browsing history on our website
Search history within our platform
Pages viewed, articles read, time spent on each page
Click patterns, scroll behavior, and navigation paths
Information regarding interaction with our website, advertisements, or emails
Referring and exit pages, search terms used to find our site

2.3 Geolocation Data

Approximate location derived from IP address
Precise location data (only with explicit consent)
Country, state, city, and postal code information

2.4 Commercial Information

Subscription history and preferences
Payment information (processed through secure third-party providers)
Records of products or services purchased or considered
Transaction history and billing information

2.5 Audio, Electronic, Visual, or Similar Information

Profile photos or images voluntarily uploaded
Audio recordings of customer service calls (with consent)
Video recordings during live events or webinars (with consent)

2.6 Professional or Employment Information

Job title, company name, industry
Professional interests and expertise areas
Information provided for professional networking or media inquiries

2.7 Inferences and Profiles

Preferences and interests derived from your activity
Demographic information and behavioral patterns
Content recommendations and personalization data
Analytics profiles for advertising and content optimization

2.8 Sensitive Personal Information

We limit collection of sensitive personal information. When collected, it may include:

Precise geolocation data (with explicit consent)
Racial or ethnic origin (in specific demographic surveys with consent)
Political opinions (in opinion polls or surveys with consent)
Health information (only in health-related content engagement analysis)

3. How We Collect Information

3.1 Direct Collection

Information you voluntarily provide when you:

Create an account or subscribe to our services
Subscribe to newsletters or email alerts
Submit comments, feedback, or contact forms
Participate in surveys, polls, contests, or promotions
Register for events, webinars, or special content
Apply for employment or internship opportunities
Contact our customer service or editorial teams

3.2 Automatic Collection

Information automatically collected through:

Cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies
Log files and server analytics
Mobile device analytics and app usage statistics
Social media plugins and widgets
Email tracking pixels and engagement metrics

3.3 Third-Party Sources

Information obtained from:

Social media platforms (when you connect your accounts)
Analytics and advertising partners
Data brokers and marketing partners (in compliance with applicable laws)
Public databases and directories
Professional networking platforms
News sources and press releases (for professional profiles)

4. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Union and United Kingdom, we process personal data based on the following lawful bases under the GDPR:

4.1 Consent (Article 6(1)(a))

Newsletter subscriptions and marketing communications
Optional cookies and tracking technologies
Participation in surveys, polls, and promotional activities
Processing of special categories of personal data

4.2 Contractual Necessity (Article 6(1)(b))

Account creation and management
Subscription services and payment processing
Delivery of requested content and services
Customer service and technical support

4.3 Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f))

Website analytics and performance optimization
Security monitoring and fraud prevention
Editorial and journalistic activities
Business development and strategic planning
Direct marketing to existing customers (with opt-out rights)

4.4 Legal Obligation (Article 6(1)(c))

Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Tax reporting and financial record keeping
Response to legal processes and government requests
Anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements

4.5 Vital Interests (Article 6(1)(d))

Emergency situations threatening life or physical safety
Public health emergencies or safety concerns

4.6 Public Task (Article 6(1)(e))

Journalistic activities serving the public interest
Freedom of expression and information dissemination

5. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

5.1 Service Provision and Management

Providing access to articles, newsletters, and digital content
Creating and managing user accounts and subscriptions
Processing payments and managing billing
Delivering personalized content recommendations
Providing customer service and technical support
Sending service-related communications and updates

5.2 Communication and Marketing

Sending newsletters, breaking news alerts, and promotional content
Communicating about new features, services, or editorial content
Conducting market research and gathering feedback
Personalizing marketing messages and offers
Managing email preferences and subscription settings

5.3 Analytics and Optimization

Analyzing website traffic, user behavior, and content performance
Conducting A/B testing for website and service improvements
Measuring advertising effectiveness and campaign performance
Generating usage statistics and audience insights
Optimizing content delivery and user experience

5.4 Security and Compliance

Monitoring for security threats, fraud, and abuse
Investigating and preventing violations of our terms of service
Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
Maintaining data security and system integrity
Conducting internal audits and risk assessments

5.5 Editorial and Journalistic Purposes

Conducting investigative journalism and news reporting
Verifying sources and fact-checking information
Building and maintaining media contact databases
Analyzing public opinion and social trends
Supporting freedom of expression and press activities

5.6 Business Operations

Strategic planning and business development
Mergers, acquisitions, and corporate transactions
Financial reporting and accounting
Quality assurance and training
Legal compliance and risk management

6. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:

6.1 Service Providers and Business Partners

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

Website hosting and content delivery networks
Email marketing and communication platforms
Payment processing and subscription management
Analytics and advertising services
Customer service and technical support
Cloud storage and data backup services

All service providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

6.2 Advertising and Marketing Partners

Advertising networks and demand-side platforms for targeted advertising
Social media platforms for custom audience creation and lookalike modeling
Marketing automation and customer relationship management platforms
Attribution and measurement partners for campaign analysis

6.3 Legal and Regulatory Compliance

We may disclose information when required by law or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
Enforce our terms of service and protect our rights and property
Investigate and prevent fraud, security breaches, or illegal activities
Protect the safety and rights of our users and the public
Respond to emergency situations involving imminent danger

6.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will provide notice and may require the new entity to honor this Privacy Policy.

6.5 Journalistic Purposes

We may share information as part of our journalistic activities, including:

Publishing quotes, comments, or user-generated content (with appropriate consent)
Conducting investigative reporting and news gathering
Collaborating with other media organizations on joint projects
Participating in press freedom and public interest initiatives

6.6 With Your Consent

We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent or at your direction.

7. International Data Transfers

As a global news organization, we may transfer your personal information to countries outside your residence, including the United States. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:

7.1 Adequacy Decisions

We may transfer data to countries recognized by relevant authorities as providing adequate protection, including countries with adequacy decisions from the European Commission.

7.2 Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

For transfers to countries without adequacy decisions, we use Standard Contractual Clauses approved by relevant data protection authorities to ensure appropriate safeguards.

7.3 Binding Corporate Rules

Where applicable, we may rely on binding corporate rules for intra-group transfers of personal data.

7.4 Certification Mechanisms

We may use approved certification mechanisms and codes of conduct to demonstrate adequate safeguards for international transfers.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

8.1 General Retention Periods

Website analytics: Aggregated data retained for 5 years, personal identifiers for 2 years
Payment information: As required by financial regulations (typically 7 years)
Customer service records: 3 years after last interaction

8.2 Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Certain information may be retained longer to comply with:

Tax and financial reporting obligations
Anti-money laundering regulations
Journalism ethics and source protection requirements
Litigation hold and legal discovery requirements

8.3 Automated Deletion

We implement automated systems to delete personal information when retention periods expire, unless ongoing legal obligations require continued storage.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

9.1 Access Rights

Request access to personal information we hold about you
Obtain a copy of your personal data in a commonly used format
Receive information about how your data is processed

9.2 Correction and Update Rights

Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
Update your account information and preferences
Modify your communication and marketing preferences

9.3 Deletion Rights (Right to be Forgotten)

Request deletion of your personal information when no longer necessary
Remove consent for processing where consent was the legal basis
Object to processing for direct marketing purposes

9.4 Restriction and Objection Rights

Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
Object to processing based on legitimate interests
Opt out of automated decision-making and profiling

9.5 Data Portability

Receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format
Transfer your data to another service provider where technically feasible

9.6 Withdrawal of Consent

Withdraw consent for processing at any time (where consent is the legal basis)
Note that withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal

9.7 Supervisory Authority Complaints

Lodge complaints with relevant data protection authorities
Seek judicial remedies for privacy rights violations

To exercise your rights, contact us at contact@associatestimes.com. We may require identity verification before processing requests and will respond within applicable timeframes (typically 30 days).

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

10.1 Right to Know

Request disclosure of:

Categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
Categories of sources from which personal information is collected
Business or commercial purposes for collecting personal information
Categories of third parties with whom we share personal information

10.2 Right to Delete

Request deletion of personal information we have collected about you, subject to certain exceptions for legal compliance, security, and legitimate business purposes.

10.3 Right to Correct

Request correction of inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.

10.4 Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing

Request that we stop selling or sharing your personal information with third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising.

10.5 Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information

Request that we limit our use and disclosure of sensitive personal information to specific purposes authorized by law.

10.6 Right to Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights by:

Denying goods or services
Charging different prices or rates
Providing different levels of quality
Suggesting you may receive different treatment

10.7 Authorized Agents

You may designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf. We may require verification of the agent's authority and your identity.

10.8 Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We provide a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link where California residents can opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information.

10.9 Financial Incentives

We may offer financial incentives for the collection, sale, or deletion of personal information. Any such programs will be described in separate terms that explain the material aspects and how to opt out.

11. Children's Privacy

Associates Times takes children's privacy seriously and complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar international regulations.

11.1 Age Restrictions

Our services are not directed to children under 13 years of age (or 16 in the EU/UK). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children below these age thresholds without appropriate parental consent.

11.2 Parental Consent

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without proper consent, we will take steps to:

Notify parents or guardians immediately
Obtain verifiable parental consent
Delete the information if consent cannot be obtained

11.3 Special Protections for Children

When we do collect information from children with appropriate consent, we:

Limit collection to information necessary for the specified purpose
Obtain ongoing parental consent for continued use
Provide parents with access to their child's information
Allow parents to request deletion of their child's information
Implement additional security measures for children's data

11.4 Educational Content

For educational content specifically designed for children, we may collect limited information with appropriate safeguards and parental controls.

12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze usage patterns, and deliver relevant advertising.

12.1 Types of Cookies

Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality and security
Performance Cookies: Help us analyze website usage and improve performance
Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and personalize your experience
Advertising Cookies: Deliver relevant advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness

12.2 Third-Party Cookies

We partner with third-party advertising networks and analytics providers who may place cookies on your device. These include:

Google Analytics and Google Ads
Facebook Pixel and other social media tracking
Advertising networks and demand-side platforms
Content delivery networks and performance optimization tools

12.3 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through:

Browser settings to block or delete cookies
Our cookie consent management platform
Third-party opt-out mechanisms (such as Google Ads Settings)
Industry opt-out tools (such as the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page)

12.4 Do Not Track Signals

Currently, there is no industry consensus on how to handle Do Not Track signals. We do not respond to Do Not Track signals at this time, but we provide other methods to control tracking and advertising.

12.5 Mobile Device Identifiers

On mobile devices, we may collect device-specific identifiers (such as Apple IDFA or Google Advertising ID) for analytics and advertising purposes. You can limit ad tracking through your device settings.

13. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.

13.1 Technical Safeguards

SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
Encryption of sensitive data at rest
Multi-factor authentication for administrative access
Regular security monitoring and intrusion detection
Automated backup and disaster recovery systems
Secure software development practices

13.2 Administrative Safeguards

Role-based access controls and principle of least privilege
Regular security training for employees and contractors
Background checks for personnel with access to personal information
Incident response and breach notification procedures
Regular security audits and penetration testing
Data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing

13.3 Physical Safeguards

Secure data centers with restricted access
Environmental controls and monitoring
Secure disposal of storage media
Visitor access controls and logging
Security cameras and alarm systems

13.4 Third-Party Security

We require service providers to implement appropriate security measures and conduct regular security assessments of critical vendors.

13.5 Limitations

While we implement robust security measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security and encourage users to protect their own devices and credentials.

14. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, and other services that are not operated by Associates Times.

14.1 Third-Party Privacy Policies

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

14.2 Social Media Integration

Our website may include social media features and widgets. These features may collect information about your visits and interaction with our content. Social media companies may have access to information about your use of these features.

14.3 Embedded Content

We may embed content from third parties (such as videos, maps, or social media posts). These embedded elements may collect information about your interaction with the content.

14.4 Third-Party Analytics

We use third-party analytics services to understand how our website is used. These services may collect information about your visits to our website and other websites.

15. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will:

15.1 Internal Response

Immediately investigate and contain the breach
Assess the scope and potential impact
Implement remedial measures to prevent further unauthorized access
Document the incident and response actions

15.2 Regulatory Notification

Notify relevant data protection authorities within 72 hours (where required by law)
Provide detailed information about the breach and remedial actions
Cooperate with regulatory investigations and requirements

15.3 Individual Notification

If the breach poses a high risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify affected individuals:

Without undue delay after discovering the breach
In clear, plain language explaining the nature and impact of the breach
Including recommendations for protective measures you can take
Providing contact information for questions and assistance

15.4 Public Communication

We may issue public statements about significant data breaches affecting a large number of individuals, in coordination with law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or business operations.

16.1 Notification of Changes

We will post the updated Privacy Policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
For material changes, we will provide additional notice through email or prominent website notices
We may require renewed consent for significant changes that expand our use of personal information

16.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of our services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

16.3 Previous Versions

We maintain archived versions of our Privacy Policy for reference and transparency.

17. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Associates Times, Inc.
Privacy Office
19790 W Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33180
United States

Email: privacy@associatestimes.com

For EU/UK Residents:

If you are located in the European Union or United Kingdom and have concerns about our data processing practices, you may also contact your local data protection authority:

EU Data Protection Authorities: https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en
UK Information Commissioner's Office: https://ico.org.uk/

For California Residents:

You may submit CCPA-related requests using our online form at [website]/privacy-requests or by emailing privacy@associatestimes.com with the subject line "California Privacy Rights Request."

Data Protection Officer:

If we appoint a Data Protection Officer, their contact information will be updated here.

This Privacy Policy represents our commitment to transparency and privacy protection. We encourage you to review this policy regularly and contact us with any questions or concerns.

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