Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

The Island Today ("we", "our", "us") operates theislandtoday.com, a Staten Island local media and newsletter platform. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you give us and information we gather automatically as you use the Service.

Information you provide:

• Account details: first name, last name, display name, email address, password, date of birth, profile picture.
• Preferences: preferred Staten Island region, newsletter subscription status, notification preferences.
• Content you submit: business listings, job posts, event submissions, comments, messages you send us.
• Newsletter signup: email address and the source where you signed up.

Information we collect automatically:

• Log data: IP address, device and browser type, operating system, pages viewed, referring pages, timestamps.
• Cookies and similar technologies used to keep you signed in, remember preferences, and measure aggregate traffic.
• Analytics events tied to your interactions with the Service.

3. How We Use Information

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Service and its features.
• Create and secure your account and authenticate sign-ins.
• Personalize what you see, including filtering stories by the region you prefer.
• Send the newsletter, transactional emails, security alerts, and service announcements.
• Send optional interest-based emails you have opted into (e.g., job alerts, deals).
• Respond to your requests and provide customer support.
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms.
• Comply with applicable law and enforce our agreements.

4. Legal Bases (EEA / UK Readers)

Where applicable, we rely on the following legal bases to process personal data: performance of a contract (to provide the Service), your consent (for optional marketing communications and certain cookies), our legitimate interests (to secure and improve the Service), and compliance with legal obligations.

5. Newsletter & Marketing

When you create an account you are automatically subscribed to The Island Today newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time from your account settings or by using the unsubscribe link in any email. Unsubscribing stops marketing emails but does not stop transactional messages required to operate your account (for example, password resets or security alerts).

6. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as described below:

• Service providers who host our infrastructure, send email, store files, and provide analytics — all bound by contract to protect your data and use it only on our instructions.
• Business partners when you explicitly interact with them (for example, clicking an "Apply Now" link takes you to the employer's site subject to their policies).
• Legal & safety: to comply with law, respond to lawful requests, enforce our Terms, or protect the rights, property, or safety of The Island Today, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to the acquirer honoring this Policy.

7. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your region preference, understand how the Service is used, and improve it. You can control cookies through your browser settings; blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the Service from working.

8. Data Retention

We keep personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and for legitimate business or legal purposes. When you delete your account we delete or de-identify your personal data, except where we must keep records (for example, financial, security, or legal-hold purposes).

9. Security

We use industry-standard technical and organizational measures — including encryption in transit, secure hosting, access controls, and row-level security in our database — to protect your information. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access, correct, or delete your personal information.
• Export a copy of your data.
• Object to or restrict certain processing.
• Withdraw consent for optional processing (like marketing emails).
• Lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

To exercise these rights, update your details in your account settings or contact us via the contact page. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

11. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

12. International Users

The Island Today is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. and other countries where our service providers operate.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through the Service.

14. Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy or your data? Reach us through the contact page.