Privacy

Last Updated: Jan 1, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Austin Startup Meetup website and blog (the "Website"). We, the Austin Startup Meetup community, are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you access and use our Website. By using the Website, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information You Directly Provide:
- Account Information: When you register for an account, we collect your name, email address, and any other information you voluntarily provide in your profile.
- Content Submissions: If you comment on blog posts, participate in forum discussions (if applicable), or submit content to the Website, we will collect and store this information.
- Newsletter Sign-up: When you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address and potentially your name.
- Event Registrations (if applicable): If we host events and use the website for registration, we will collect relevant information such as name, email, company, etc.
Automatically Collected Information:
- Log Data: When you access the Website, our servers automatically record information ("log data") such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, the pages you view, the referring page, and your access times.
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior and preferences. This includes cookies for session management, remembering your settings, and site analytics (see "Use of Cookies" below for more details).
- Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access the Website, including the device type, operating system version, and unique device identifiers.

3. How We Use the Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

Account Management: To create and manage your account, verify your identity, and provide you with access to the Website's features.
Communication: To send you updates, newsletters, announcements, and notifications about new posts, events, and other community-related activities.
Personalization: To personalize your experience on the Website, such as showing you content that is relevant to your interests.
Website Improvement: To analyze website usage, identify trends, monitor site performance, and improve the functionality and user experience of the Website.
Community Engagement: To enable you to comment on posts, participate in discussions, and engage with other members of the community.
Security: To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

4. Disclosure of Information

We may share your personal information with the following third parties:

Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with our operations, such as hosting, email delivery, analytics, and security. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
Community Members: Certain information (like your username, profile picture and comments) may be visible to other users when you interact on the Website. Please be mindful of the information you choose to share in your profile or while commenting.
Legal Authorities: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or other legal process, or if we believe that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, property, or safety, or those of others.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such transfer and the choices you may have.

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Essential Cookies: Enable core website functionality, such as user authentication, session management, and website navigation.
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences, such as language and display preferences, for a personalized user experience.
Analytics Cookies: Track website usage, understand user behavior, and gather data to improve the performance and functionality of the Website. We use tools like Google Analytics, which may collect data subject to their own privacy policies.
Third-party Cookies: Some third-party services integrated with the Website may also use cookies and tracking technologies. We do not have control over these third-party cookies, and you should consult their privacy policies.

You can control your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, or set preferences for when and how cookies are used. However, please be aware that disabling cookies may impact the functionality of the Website and some features may not work as intended.

6. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for your convenience and information. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these websites before providing any personal information.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes the use of:
* SSL encryption: To protect data during transmission.
* Secure Storage: Employing secure servers and databases.
* Access Controls: Limiting access to your information to only those with legitimate business needs.
* Regular Security Updates: Keeping our systems up to date with security patches.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance

Our Website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from individuals under 13. If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take immediate steps to delete that information. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with their personal information without your consent, please contact us so we can remove it.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, such as the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal information. If you would like to exercise your rights, please contact us using the details in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request in a reasonable timeframe.

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised 'last updated' date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal information. Your continued use of the Website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact us at:

organizers@austinstartupmeetup.com

Thank you for being a part of the Austin Startup Meetup!