Introduction

At MercuryNews.co.uk, we value the privacy of our visitors and users. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of personal information we collect, how we use and safeguard that information, and your rights concerning your data. Our commitment is to ensure that your privacy is protected and that you feel confident in the security of your personal information when using our website.

Information We Collect

1. Personal Information
We collect personal information when you voluntarily provide it to us, such as when you subscribe to our newsletter, fill out a contact form, or engage in any other activity on our website. The types of personal information we may collect include:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing address
• Other contact details

2. Usage Data
We automatically collect certain information about how you use our website. This data helps us to understand user behavior and improve the user experience. The information collected includes:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited
• Time and date of visit
• Time spent on pages
• Referring website

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your activity on our website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us enhance your browsing experience. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect the functionality of certain features on our site.

How We Use Your Information

1. To Provide and Improve Our Services
We use the information collected to deliver and improve the services offered on MercuryNews.co.uk. This includes:

• Personalizing content and features according to your preferences.
• Responding to your inquiries and providing customer support.
• Analyzing usage patterns to enhance the user experience.
• Sending you updates, newsletters, and promotional materials if you have opted in to receive them.

2. To Comply with Legal Obligations
We may use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes, such as responding to subpoenas or governmental requests.

3. For Marketing and Advertising
With your consent, we may use your personal information to send you marketing communications about our products, services, or events that may be of interest to you. You can opt out of receiving these communications at any time.

4. To Prevent Fraud and Ensure Security
We use your information to detect, prevent, and mitigate fraudulent activities and to ensure the security of our website and users.

Sharing Your Information

1. With Service Providers
We may share your personal information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting, data analysis, payment processing, and email delivery. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was shared.

2. In Business Transactions
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or transfer of assets.

3. For Legal Reasons
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or if we believe that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations.
• Protect and defend our rights and property.
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our services.
• Protect the personal safety of users or the public.

Your Rights and Choices

1. Access and Correction
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if the information is inaccurate or incomplete. To exercise this right, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this policy.

2. Data Portability
You have the right to request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This allows you to move, copy, or transfer your data to another service provider.

3. Right to Erasure
You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information under certain circumstances, such as when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or if you withdraw your consent.

4. Opt-Out of Marketing Communications
You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by following the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly. Please note that even if you opt out of marketing emails, we may still send you non-promotional messages, such as service updates or account information.

5. Cookies Management
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. You have the ability to block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

Children’s Privacy

MercuryNews.co.uk does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete the information as soon as possible.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy and notify you by posting the updated policy on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@mercurynews.co.uk
Address: Mercury News, 123 Media Lane, London, UK