1. Introduction

whipserlust.net ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors and users ("you") of our website (the "Site") and any associated services (collectively, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your personal data when you interact with our Services, in compliance with global data protection regulations including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), as well as other applicable laws. By accessing or using our Services, you agree that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use the Services.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

• "Personal Data": Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, such as your name, email address, IP address, and other information that can be used to identify you.
• "Processing": Any operation or set of operations performed on Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, including collection, storage, use, disclosure, and deletion.
• "Controller": The entity that determines the purposes and means of Processing Personal Data.
• "User" / "Visitor": Any person who accesses or uses the Services.
• "Account": A user profile created to access personalized aspects of the Services.
• "Consent": A clear and affirmative act signifying your agreement to the Processing of your Personal Data.

3. How We Collect and Use Your Personal Data

We collect Personal Data from you in various ways when you use our Services. The purposes for processing your Personal Data include, but are not limited to: A. Account Registration and Management

• Data Collected: Email address, password, username, full name, phone number (optional), and registration date.
• Purpose: To create and manage your account and ensure secure access to our Services.
• Legal Basis: Consent and necessity for the performance of a contract. B. Service Operation and Customization
• Data Collected: Interaction data (e.g., chat logs, usage preferences), device and browser information, IP address, and cookies.
• Purpose: To provide and improve the Services, personalize your experience, and troubleshoot issues.
• Legal Basis: Necessity for service performance and our legitimate interests. C. Payment Processing
• Data Collected: Billing details, transaction information, and payment authentication data.
• Purpose: To process payments and manage subscriptions or other transactions.
• Legal Basis: Necessity for the performance of a contract. D. Marketing and Communications
• Data Collected: Email address and contact preferences.
• Purpose: To send you updates, newsletters, and promotional material related to our Services.
• Legal Basis: Consent (for marketing communications) or our legitimate interests. E. Analytics and Research
• Data Collected: Usage data, aggregated statistics, and survey responses.
• Purpose: To analyze user behavior, improve our Services, and conduct market research.
• Legal Basis: Consent or our legitimate interests. F. Legal Compliance and Safety
• Data Collected: Records of communications and interactions.
• Purpose: To comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
• Legal Basis: Compliance with legal obligations or our legitimate interests.

4. Marketing and Third-Party Communications

We may use your Personal Data to send you marketing messages about our products and services. You can opt out of receiving these communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in our emails or by contacting us directly. Additionally, if we share your data with third-party partners for marketing purposes, we will do so only after obtaining your explicit consent. You retain the right to object to such sharing or withdraw your consent at any time.

5. Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share your Personal Data with:

• Service Providers: Third parties who help us deliver and enhance our Services, such as hosting, payment processing, email distribution, and customer support.
• Professional Advisors: Legal, accounting, and IT professionals who assist us in operating our business.
• Legal Authorities: Government or regulatory bodies, when required by law or necessary to protect our legal rights.
• Business Transactions: In connection with any merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your data may be transferred to the relevant parties while continuing to be protected by this Privacy Policy. We will never sell or trade your Personal Data to third parties without your consent, except as described herein.

6. Data Retention

We retain your Personal Data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Generally:

• Account-related Data: Kept for 3-5 years after your last activity.
• Financial Data: Retained for up to 7 years following the relevant transaction.
• Marketing Data: Stored until you withdraw your consent or for a maximum of 2 years after your last interaction. Once your data is no longer needed, we will securely dispose of it in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

7. Protection of Minors

Our Services are intended for individuals who are at least 18 years of age (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect or process Personal Data from minors. If it is brought to our attention that we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, we will promptly delete it.

8. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content

Our Services may include links to external websites or embedded content that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to such third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any websites you visit.

9. Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Data

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access: The right to request a copy of your Personal Data.
• Rectification: The right to request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure: The right to request deletion of your Personal Data, subject to legal exceptions.
• Restriction: The right to request that we limit the Processing of your data.
• Portability: The right to receive your data in a structured, commonly used format, and to have it transferred to another service provider.
• Objection: The right to object to the Processing of your data, particularly for direct marketing purposes.
• Withdrawal of Consent: The right to withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of Processing based on your previous consent. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 11.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard your Personal Data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. While we strive to protect your data, no security system is infallible and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

whipserlust.net may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms. Your continued use of the Platform after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of updates.