Katelynsam – Author, Graphic Designer, Dreamer

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: September 1, 2024

This privacy notice is for Katelynsam Dixon (“we,” “us,” or “our“), describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share (“process“) your information through WordPress.com and by extension Automattic, when you use our services (“Services“), such as when you:

  • Visit our website at katelynsam.com, or any website of ours that links to this privacy notice (“Site” or “Sites”)
  • Engage with us in other related ways, including but not limited any marketing or promotional events

Because katelynsam.com is powered by WordPress.com, and by extension, Automattic, this Privacy Policy is also governed by Automattic’s Privacy Policy, which you should review here: https://automattic.com/privacy/.

Questions or concerns? Reading this privacy notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WHAT PERSONAL DATA DO WE COLLECT?

2. HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR DATA?

3. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

4. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

5. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

6. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

7. THIRD PARTY LINKS

8. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

9. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

10. HOW WE RESPOND TO DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES

11. DATA SECURITY

12. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

13. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

14. HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?

1. WHAT PERSONAL DO WE COLLECT?

In Short: We may collect personal data directly from you, third parties, and automatically through the use of our Services.

Personal Data We Collect Directly. The personal data we collect depends on how you use our Services or otherwise interact or engage with us, but generally may include:

  • Name, contact information and communications: we may collect personal data when you communicate or correspond with us, such as your name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number and other contact information. We also maintain records and copies of your correspondence and communications and any personal data you choose to e-mail or communicate to us. If you are subscribed to any of our mailing lists, we maintain personal data including your name, contact details, and we may also collect information about your preferences and other demographic information. 
  • Registration or participation information: if you fill out a survey or questionnaire, we collect your responses and any other personal data that you provide to us as part of the survey or questionnaire.  If you sign up for or participate in contests, events and promotions sponsored or offered by us, we collect registration or entry information, such as your name, contact information, state of residence and other information.

Personal Data We Collect Automatically. We may automatically collect personal data about the use of our Services and interactions with us, including information we collect automatically (e.g., using cookies and pixel tags), as well as information we derive about you and your use of the Services. Such information may include:  

  • Device and browsing information: We collect data that web browsers, mobile devices, and servers typically make available about visitors to a Site, such as the IP address, browser type, unique device identifiers, language preference, referring site, the date and time of access, operating system, mobile network information and similar device and usage information. We collect information about a visitor’s interactions with a Site, including the “likes” and “ratings” left by visitors to a Site. Location information: we may collect or derive location information about you, such as through your IP address.  
  • Information from Cookies and Other Technologies: A cookie is a string of information that a Site stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the Site each time the visitor returns. Pixel tags (also called web beacons) are small blocks of code placed on Sites. We use cookies and other technologies like pixel tags to help identify and track visitors and Site usage, and to deliver targeted ads when ads are enabled.

Personal Data We Collect from Third Parties.  We may collect certain personal data from third-party sources, such as business partners, service providers, public records and other third parties. For example, if you post information about us or engage with us on social media or other third-party platforms or log in to any of our Services with a third-party account (e.g., Google), we may collect personal data about you from that third party platform or account. These third-party platforms and services control the information they collect and share about you.  For information about how they may use and disclose your information, including any information you make public, please consult their respective privacy policies.

2. HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR DATA?

While the purposes will vary depending upon the circumstances, in general we may collect, use, disclose and otherwise process personal data for the following purposes:  

  • Providing support and services: to provide, improve and operate the Services, communicate with you about your use of the Services, provide troubleshooting and technical support, respond to your inquiries, fulfill your requests, communicate with you, and for similar service and support purposes. 
  • Analyzing and improving our business: to better understand how users access and use our Services, to evaluate and improve our Services and business operations, and to develop new features, offerings, and services; for quality control and training purposes; and for other research and analytical purposes. 
  • Conducting research and surveys: to conduct surveys and other evaluations, such as customer satisfaction or market research surveys.
  • Marketing and advertising: to send you information about our Services, such as offers, promotions, newsletters and other marketing content, as well as any other information that you sign up to receive; and to manage and improve our marketing and advertising campaigns so that we can better reach people with relevant content.
  • Securing and protecting our business: including to protect and secure our business operations, assets, Services, network and information and technology resources; to investigate, prevent, detect and take action regarding fraud, unauthorized access, situations involving potential threats to the rights or safety of any person or third party, or other unauthorized activities or misconduct. 
  • Defending our legal rights: including to manage and respond to actual and potential legal disputes and claims, and to otherwise establish, defend or protect our rights or interests, including in the context of anticipated or actual litigation with third parties.  
  • Complying with legal obligations: including to comply with the law, our legal obligations and legal process, such warrants, subpoenas, court orders, and regulatory or law enforcement requests.  
  • General business and operational support: including relating to financial, tax and accounting obligations; audits and assessments of our operations, privacy, security and financial controls; compliance with legal obligations; in support of our internal business, accounting, governance, record keeping and legal functions; and to consider or facilitate any actual or potential merger, acquisition, asset sale or transfer, financing, bankruptcy or restructuring of all or part of our business or assets.

We may also use and share data that has been aggregated or reasonably de-identified, so that the information could not reasonably be used to identify any individual. For instance, we may publish aggregate statistics about the use of our services.

3. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

In Short: We only process your personal data when we believe it is necessary and we have a valid legal reason (i.e., legal basis) to do so under applicable law, like with your consent, to comply with laws, to provide you with services to enter into or fulfill our contractual obligations, to protect your rights, or to fulfill our legitimate business interests.

If you are located in the EU or UK, this section applies to you.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR require us to explain the valid legal bases we rely on in order to process your personal data. As such, we may rely on the following legal bases to process your personal data:

  • Consent. We may process your information if you have given us permission (i.e., consent) to use your personal data for a specific purpose. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Legitimate Interests. We may process your information when we believe it is reasonably necessary to achieve our legitimate business interests and those interests do not outweigh your interests and fundamental rights and freedoms. For example, we may process your personal data for some of the purposes described in order to: Send users information about special offers and discounts on our products and services
  • Legal Obligations. We may process your information where we believe it is necessary for compliance with our legal obligations, such as to cooperate with a law enforcement body or regulatory agency, exercise or defend our legal rights, or disclose your information as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.
  • Vital Interests. We may process your information where we believe it is necessary to protect your vital interests or the vital interests of a third party, such as situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person.

4. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

We may disclose the personal data we collect to third parties, as reasonably necessary for the purposes described above and as otherwise directed or consented to by you, including:

  • Vendors and providers: to our service providers, processors and others who perform functions on our behalf. These may include, for example, IT and hosting providers, payment processors, analytics providers, consultants, auditors and legal counsel. 
  • Related to business transactions: as part of any actual or contemplated merger, sale, and transfer of ours or WordPress.Com’s and by extension, Automattic’s, assets, acquisition, financing or restructuring of all or part of our business, bankruptcy or similar event, including where necessary prior to the completion of such a transfer, such as to lenders, auditors, and third-party advisors, including attorneys and consultants, as part of due diligence or to plan for the transfer.
  • To protect our legal rights: where we believe it necessary to respond to claims asserted against us; to enforce or administer our agreements and terms; to detect and respond to fraud and harmful conduct; and to protect the rights, property, or safety of us and others, including related to litigation and other legal claims or proceedings in which we are involved.
  • Legal Requests: to regulators, government entities, and law enforcement as required by law or legal process; to others where otherwise required pursuant to a court order or other legal process; and where we are otherwise required to do so, for example where we are required to publicly disclose the names of sweepstakes and contest winners.

5.  DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

Cookies and Pixels

Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by our Site (known as “first party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on our Site (“third party cookies”). 

Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. Pixels are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies. Unlike cookies, which are stored on your computer’s hard drive, pixels are embedded invisibly on web and app pages. Pixels and web beacons are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted. 

How We Use Cookies

We and WordPress.com, and by extension, Automattic, use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalized experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action (clicking the “like” or “follow” button on a post, for example).

Many of the cookies Automattic uses are only set if you are a registered WordPress.com user (so you don’t have to log in every time, for example), while others are set whenever you visit our Site, irrespective of whether you have an account.

Automattic’s Internal Analytics Tool

WordPress.com, and by extension, Automattic, monitors certain user activities that take place within its products, including page views and clicks on any links used when managing a site via WordPress.com’s dashboards. 

Automattic calls each one of these actions an “event.” Analytics events are attached to the Site account and are handled via a first party system that Automattic owns and maintains. In general, Automattic records the following data for each event: IP address, WordPress.com user ID and username, WordPress.com-connected site ID (for sites not hosted on WordPress.com), user agent, referring URL, timestamp of event, browser language, and country code.

Please see our Site’s Cookie Policy here: katelynsam.com/cookie-policy/. Additionally, because katelynsam.com is powered by WordPress.com, and by extension, Automattic, our use of cookies is also governed by Automattic’s Cookie Policy, which you should review here: https://automattic.com/cookies/.

6. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

If not legally required to keep it, WordPress.com and by extension, Automattic, generally discards information about Site visitors when no longer needed for the purposes for which to collect and use it on behalf of it users. However, we retain the personal data we collect only as reasonably necessary for the purposes described above or otherwise disclosed to you at the time of collection, including for as long as necessary to comply with our tax, accounting and recordkeeping obligations, administer applicable returns and warranty programs, and for research, development and safety purposes, as well as an additional period of time as necessary to protect, defend or establish our rights, defend against potential claims, and comply with legal obligations.

7. THIRD PARTY LINKS

Our Site and Services may contain links to unaffiliated websites. Any access to and use of such linked websites is not governed by this Policy, but instead is governed by the privacy policies of those websites. We are not responsible for the information practices of such websites.

8. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect, solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age, nor do we knowingly sell such personal data. By using the Services, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the Services. If we learn that personal data from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will take reasonable measures to promptly delete such data from our records. If you become aware of any data we may have collected from children under age 18, please contact us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

9. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

In Short: Depending on your state of residence in the US or in some regions, such as the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, and Canada, you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal data. You may review, change, or terminate your account at any time, depending on your country, province, or state of residence.

In some regions (like the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Canada), you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws. These may include the right (i) to request access and obtain a copy of your personal data, (ii) to request rectification or erasure; (iii) to restrict the processing of your personal data; (iv)if applicable, to data portability; and (v) not to be subject to automated decision-making. In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to object to the processing of your personal data. You can make such a request by contacting us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com. We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

If you are located in the EEA or UK and you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal data, you also have the right to complain to your Member State data protection authority or UK data protection authority.

If you are located in Switzerland, you may contact the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Withdrawing your consent: If we are relying on your consent to process your personal data, which may be express and/or implied consent depending on the applicable law, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

However, please note that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal nor, when applicable law allows, will it affect the processing of your personal data conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.

Opting out of marketing and promotional communications: You can unsubscribe from our marketing and promotional communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send, or by contacting us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com. You will then be removed from the marketing lists.

Cookies and similar technologies: Most Web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our Services.

If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

Review and Correction: You may email us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com if you would like to request to review or modify personal data that you have submitted to us.

Additional Rights: Residents of certain U.S. states (including Virginia, Colorado and Connecticut) may have additional rights under applicable privacy laws, subject to certain limitations. These rights may include:

  • Correction: to correct inaccuracies in their personal data, taking into account the nature and purposes of the processing of the personal data. 
  • Deletion: to delete their personal data provided to or obtained by us. 
  • Access: to confirm whether we are processing their personal data and to obtain a copy of their personal data in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format. 
  • Opt-Out: to opt out of certain types of processing, including:
    To opt out of the “sale” of their personal data.
    To opt out of targeted advertising by us.
    To opt out of any processing of personal data for purposes of making decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

You may submit a request to exercise your privacy rights by emailing us at katelynsamauthor@gmai.com We will respond to your request as required under the applicable privacy law(s).  If we deny your request, you may submit a request to appeal by katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

10. HOW WE RESPOND TO DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES

Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a Do-Not-Track (“DNT”) feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. Except as required by law, we do not respond to preference signals.

11. DATA SECURITY

We and WordPress.com, and by extension, Automattic, have implemented safeguards that are intended to protect the personal data we collect from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, please be aware that despite our efforts, no data security measures can guarantee security.

12. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

This Policy is current as of the Effective Date set forth above. We may change this Policy from time to time, so please be sure to check back periodically. We will post any changes to this Policy on our Site.

13. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

If you have questions about the privacy aspects of our Site or Services or would like to make a complaint, please contact us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.

14. HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?

Based on the applicable laws of your country or state of residence in the US, you may have the right to request access to the personal data we collect from you, details about how we have processed it, correct inaccuracies, or delete your personal data. You may also have the right to withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal data. These rights may be limited in some circumstances by applicable law. To request to review, update, or delete your personal data, please contact us at katelynsamauthor@gmail.com.