GroundLens ("we," "us," or "our") is a nonprofit independent journalism organization. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit groundlens.org, subscribe to our updates, or make a donation.
Information We Collect
We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including:
- Your name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
- Your name, email address, and payment information when you make a donation (processed securely by Stripe or PayPal — we do not store your payment card details)
- Basic analytics data such as pages visited and general location, used to understand how our site is used
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Send you article notifications and updates you have subscribed to
- Respond to inquiries submitted through our contact form
- Process donations and provide receipts
- Improve our website and reporting based on how it is used
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Payment Processing
Donations made through GroundLens are processed by Stripe and PayPal, both of which maintain their own privacy and security standards. We do not have access to, and do not store, your full payment card details.
Email Communications
If you subscribe to GroundLens updates, you may unsubscribe at any time by contacting us at the email address listed on our Contact page. Every notification email includes instructions for opting out.
Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use basic, privacy-respecting analytics to understand aggregate traffic patterns. We do not use this data to build individual profiles for advertising purposes, and we do not display third-party advertising on our site.
Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect the information you share with us, including serving our website exclusively over a secure HTTPS connection. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children's Privacy
GroundLens is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please reach out through our Contact page.