Date Updated: 8/25/2024
1. Who We Are
Our website address is: https://www.discoveringpeace.com. Privacy information is controlled by: Vickie Barnes, who can be reached at 1330 SE Maynard Rd Ste 102, Cary, NC 27511.
2. Personal Data We Collect
Comments: When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form and the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
Media: If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Contact Forms: Information submitted through contact forms, such as name and email address, is collected to respond to inquiries. This data is retained for one year.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies: We use cookies to improve your experience on our site, including to remember login details and screen display preferences. Third-party services embedded on our site, such as YouTube or Google Analytics, may also use cookies.
- Login Cookies: These last for two days, while screen options cookies last for a year. Selecting “Remember Me” will extend the login cookies’ duration to two weeks. Login cookies are removed when you log out.
- Third-Party Cookies: We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous data about your interaction with our site. Google Analytics uses cookies to help us understand how visitors use our site and improve your experience. You can disable these cookies by adjusting your browser settings or by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Managing Cookies: You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain parts of our website.
4. How We Use Your Data
We use your data to:
- Respond to your inquiries and comments.
- Improve our website and user experience.
- Send you newsletters if you have subscribed.
- Ensure security and prevent fraud.
- Comply with legal obligations.
Legal Basis for Processing: We process your data based on your consent (e.g., for newsletters), to fulfill a contract (e.g., providing requested services), and for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving our website).
5. Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell, rent, or lease your Personal Data to third parties. However, we may share your data with:
- Service providers who assist us with site hosting, maintenance, data analysis, and other business operations.
- Third parties as required by law or to protect our legal rights.
- Advertising networks to offer you interest-based advertising (you can opt out via https://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or https://www.youronlinechoices.com).
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law.
- Comments: Retained indefinitely or until you delete the comments or ask us to remove your information.
- User Profiles: Retained until the user requests deletion.
- Analytics Data: Retained indefinitely for performance monitoring and improvement.
7. Your Rights Under GDPR
If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data.
- Restriction: You can request us to limit the processing of your data.
- Objection: You can object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interests.
- Portability: You can request your data in a structured, commonly used format.
- Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw consent at any time where we are relying on consent to process your data.
To exercise these rights, please contact us at the details provided above.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed to, and we do not knowingly collect Personal Data from, children under the age of 13. If you become aware that your child has provided us with Personal Data without your consent, please contact us, and we will take steps to remove such data.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no internet transmission is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. International Data Transfers
If we transfer your data outside the EEA, we ensure it is protected with appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.
11. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this privacy policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any significant changes by updating the date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, through email notifications.
12. Contact Information
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or your personal data, please contact Vickie Barnes at the address provided above or via email at [email protected].