FanalMag Privacy Policy

Welcome to FanalMag.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”). We take your privacy seriously—seriously enough to write a comprehensive document about it, but we promise to keep the process as pain-free as possible. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we protect it, and what choices you have. Read on to learn how we handle your data—no legalese required, though we’ll hit all the key points.

1. Who We Are & Why You Should Care

FanalMag.com is your go-to online destination for insightful commentary, lively discussions, and a healthy dose of humour about AI, Everyday AI guidelines, reviews and AI adoption in Africa. We believe in transparency: we hope you can get the most out of our site without worrying about how your information is used. So here it is, spelt out in relatively human-friendly terms.

2. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide Voluntarily

  • Account Registration & Profile Information
    If you create an account—maybe to comment on articles, subscribe to our newsletter, or join our forum—we’ll ask for things like your name (or nickname), email address, and a password. That’s it. If you choose to fill out extra profile details, such as a profile picture or a short bio, we’ll store that too, but only because it makes you look more appealing.
  • User-Generated Content
    Comments you leave on articles, forum posts, and private messages within our community—those belong to you. We store them so you and others can refer back to them. (If you ever regret a comment, please see Section 7 on how to delete or edit it.)
  • Newsletter Subscriptions & Contact Forms
    To sign up for our newsletter or send us a quick “hello” via our contact form, we’ll ask for your email—and maybe a subject line and message if you’re contacting us. We need your email address to deliver newsletters and respond to your inquiries, which is pretty straightforward.

B. Automatically Collected Data

  • Log Files & Site Analytics
    Every visit to FanalMag.com generates server log entries. That includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, the pages you visit, and the timestamps of those visits. This helps us understand what content you like and fix any technical issues. We use third-party analytics tools (like Google Analytics or Matomo) to get aggregate reports. We don’t track you individually by name—just “someone who clicked on that article about viral memes at 2:00 AM.”
  • Cookies & Similar Technologies
    We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and serve you relevant ads if you choose to view them. Cookies also let us track metrics—like how long someone reads our epic think-pieces or whether you bounce after half a second (hey, it happens). You can control and delete cookies in your browser settings; however, some site features may not function properly if you do.

C. Third-Party Data

  • Social Media & Partner Integrations
    When you log in with Facebook, Google, or Twitter (if we offer this option), we receive specific data, such as your name and email, from those providers. They handle the authentication; we get what we need to set up your FanalMag.com account. Check their privacy policies for all the details.
  • Advertising & Ad Networks
    To keep the lights on (and pay our authors), we run ads. Our advertising partners may collect information about your visit to show you advertisements that (hopefully!) interest you. They might know which pages you visited, your approximate location (city or region), browser type, and device information. We don’t control what they collect—please refer to the ad partner’s privacy policy for the full details.

3. How We Use Your Information

  1. To Provide & Improve Our Services
    We use your data to:
    • Let you register an account, comment on articles, and participate in forums;
    • Send you newsletters or respond to your messages;
    • Analyse trends and see which articles are a hit (or a flop);
    • Test new features (A/B testing: “Does blue-button or green-button make people click more?”).
  2. To Communicate With You
    We might send you:
    • Order confirmations (if you ever purchase merchandise or a subscription);
    • A welcome email and periodic newsletters (only if you subscribe);
    • Notifications about replies to your comments or mentions within the community (you can opt out).
  3. For Marketing & Advertising
    If you’ve opted in to hear from us, we’ll let you know about new articles, features, or exclusive promotions. We also allow our advertising partners to show you ads based on your interests (e.g., if you read a lot about retro video games, you might see ads for classic console merchandise).
  4. To Comply with Legal Obligations
    If required by law (e.g., a valid subpoena), we’ll disclose information to comply. We’ll try to notify you about legal requests, unless we’re legally prohibited from doing so.

4. How We Share Your Information

  • Service Providers & Third-Party Vendors
    We use third-party services (hosting providers, email services, analytics platforms, payment processors). They get only the information they need to perform their function. For example:
    • Email Service Provider (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid): They send newsletters on behalf of the client. They see your email address, name (if provided), and the content you click.
    • Payment Processor (e.g., Stripe, PayPal): If you make a purchase, they handle the transaction. We never see your full credit card details—only confirmation that payment was successful.
  • Legal & Safety Reasons
    If we believe a user’s actions violate any law, regulation, or our own Community Guidelines, we reserve the right to share necessary information with law enforcement or legal authorities.
  • Business Transfers
    If FanalMag.com merges with another company or is acquired, your data may transfer to the new entity. If that happens, we’ll do our best to let you know.

5. Your Choices & Control

  • Access & Update Your Information
    You can log in to your account at any time to update your profile, change your password, or adjust your communication preferences. If you need further assistance, contact us at privacy@fanalmag.com (we read our mail—promise).
  • Opting Out of Marketing Emails
    Every promotional email includes an “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom. Click it, and you won’t receive promotional messages again. Please note that you may still receive service-related emails (e.g., password resets, comment notifications).
  • Cookie Preferences
    Most browsers let you control cookies: block them, delete them, or receive a prompt before they’re placed. If you disable cookies, some parts of the site may not function correctly (for example, you may need to log in each time, and personalised features may not work).
  • Do Not Track Signals
    Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” request. Frankly, not many companies respect it, including us, because there’s no industry standard for what “Do Not Track” obligates us to do. However, you can still manage your preferences through cookie controls as described above.

6. Data Retention & Security

A. How Long do We Keep Your Data

  • Account Data
    We keep your data as long as you have an active account. If you delete your account, we generally remove your identifier details (name, email) within 30 days. We might retain certain non-identifiable information—like anonymized usage statistics—for trend analysis.
  • User-Generated Content (Comments, Posts)
    Content you post on FanalMag.com remains until you delete it or until we remove it for policy violations. If you delete your account, we’ll hide your username and attribute content to “Anonymous.” Still, we don’t guarantee complete erasure of every comment (since it may have been quoted or shared on social media).

B. How We Protect Your Data

  • Encryption
    • In transit: We use HTTPS (TLS encryption) to secure data during transfer. If you see a padlock in your browser’s address bar, you know you’re encrypted.
    • At rest: Sensitive information (like hashed passwords) is stored securely. We use industry-standard encryption and hashing algorithms.
  • Access Controls & Internal Policies
    Only authorised team members can access your data, and only to fulfil the tasks they’re assigned (e.g., our support team can look up your account if you have a login issue). Our staff undergoes periodic training on data privacy best practices.
  • Breach Notification
    In the (improbable) event of a data breach, we’ll notify you via email within 72 hours of discovering the breach, providing details about what happened, what data was affected, and steps you can take to protect yourself. We’ll also work with authorities as required.

7. Children & Minors

FanalMag.com is intended for users aged 16 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 16. If you’re under 16, please get a parent or guardian’s permission before using our site. If we learn that we’ve collected data from someone under 16 without proper consent, we’ll delete it immediately. (Parents, if you suspect your child has provided us with data, contact us at privacy@fanalmag.com.)

8. Your Right to Erasure & Data Portability

  • Delete Your Account & Data
    To delete your account, log in, go to Account Settings → “Delete My Account.” We’ll remove your details within 30 days and anonymise or erase most of your user-generated content. If you need help, email us at privacy@fanalmag.com.
  • Request Data Export
    You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you (e.g., profile information, comments). Send an email to privacy@fanalmag.com with the subject line: “Data Export Request.” We’ll provide a portable file (e.g., comma-separated values) within 30 days.

9. Third-Party Links & Embedded Content

Sometimes we embed YouTube videos, tweet streams, or guest posts from other sites. When you click a YouTube video player or load an embedded tweet, the third-party provider may collect information about your visit. We don’t control their policies, so we encourage you to read their privacy notices:

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 31, 2025

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. If we make material changes, such as adding new ways to share data, we’ll post a notice on our homepage or send a notification to your email (if you’re a registered user) at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Otherwise, minor wording tweaks (for clarity or compliance) may go into effect immediately upon posting.

11. How to Contact Us

Do you have questions, concerns, or would you like to discuss this policy further? Reach out:

We’ll do our best to respond within five business days. If you have a complaint, please let us know, and we’ll try to address it promptly. If you’re in the EU or under GDPR jurisdiction, you also have the right to complain with your local data protection authority.

12. A Quick TL;DR

  • We collect: your name, email address (if you register or subscribe), any comments or posts you make, and basic technical data (IP address, browser type, and pages you visit).
  • We use it to make the site work, send you newsletters (only if you sign up), improve our content, and run ads to keep the site running.
  • You can control it: Update or delete your account anytime, unsubscribe from marketing, and manage cookies in your browser.
  • We won’t (deliberately): Sell your data to sketchy third parties or hide how we use it.
  • You’re in charge: If you want your data erased or a copy of it, request it at privacy@fanalmag.com.

Thanks for reading to the end. We know this is a lot of information, but hey, privacy matters. If something isn’t clear, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line. We’re committed to keeping your information safe, your email inbox sane, and your experience on FanalMag.com top-notch. Enjoy exploring, commenting, and being part of our community, knowing we’ve got your back.