Privacy Policy for Ghobits.com

Effective Date: April 17, 2024
Last Updated: April 17, 2024

1. Introduction

Welcome to Ghobits.com (“we,” “us,” “our”). We provide a platform for creating and sharing funeral announcements and related information. Protecting the privacy and security of our users (“you”) is paramount, especially given the sensitive nature of our services.

This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information obtained through our website, Ghobits.com (the “Site”), and related services, including interactions involving third-party partners like Google. It also describes your choices regarding use, access, and correction of your personal information.

By accessing or using our Site, you signify your understanding of and agreement with the terms of this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve our services. This includes:

  • Information You Provide Directly:
    • Account Creators (e.g., Family Members, Funeral Homes): Contact details (name, email, optional phone), account credentials, information about the deceased (name, dates, photo, biography, relationships), service details (dates, times, locations, links), optional preferences (donations, flowers), and potentially payment information via secure third-party processors.
    • Site Visitors (e.g., Guests, Mourners): Contact details (if leaving condolences, signing guestbooks, subscribing), condolence messages/tributes, RSVP information.
  • Information Collected Automatically:
    • Log & Usage Data: When you interact with our Site, we automatically collect information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, device information, pages visited, time spent, links clicked, referring URL, and timestamps.
    • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We and our third-party partners (including Google) use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to operate the Site, remember preferences, analyze usage, ensure security, measure effectiveness, and potentially serve advertising (if applicable). This may include collecting information about your online activities over time and across different websites or online services. (See Section 8: Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising).

Important Note on Information about the Deceased: Information about deceased individuals is generally not considered “Personal Information” under most privacy laws. However, we treat it with sensitivity and respect, using it primarily to provide the announcement service as directed by the account creator. Information linking a living individual to the deceased (e.g., “survived by [Name]”) is Personal Information of the living individual.

3. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used for legitimate purposes, including:

  • Providing the Service: Creating/displaying announcements, hosting guestbooks, managing accounts.
  • Communication: Responding to inquiries, sending service notifications, providing support.
  • Improvement & Analysis: Understanding site usage via analytics (like Google Analytics) to improve features and performance. Monitoring aggregate usage and diagnosing technical issues.
  • Personalization: Remembering your settings and preferences.
  • Security & Compliance: Preventing fraud, protecting rights, enforcing terms, complying with legal obligations, and responding to lawful requests.
  • Advertising (If Applicable): If we incorporate advertising (e.g., Google AdSense), information collected via cookies may be used to display relevant ads based on your browsing history or interests.
  • With Consent: For any other purpose disclosed at the time of collection or with your consent.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your Personal Information. Sharing occurs only in specific circumstances:

  • Publicly on the Site: Information intended for public display (announcements, public condolences) as submitted by users.
  • Service Providers: With third-party vendors performing services on our behalf (hosting, data analysis, payment processing, email delivery, security). They are contractually bound to protect data.
  • Third-Party Partners (including Google):
    • Analytics: We share information (like IP address, usage data captured via cookies) with analytics providers, such as Google Analytics, to help us understand Site usage and improve our services. Google’s use of this data is governed by its own Privacy Policy. For more information on how Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps, visit: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
    • Advertising (If Applicable): If using services like Google AdSense, information collected via cookies may be shared with Google and potentially other advertising partners to serve personalized ads based on your interests. Google’s use of this data is governed by its policies. See Section 7 for opt-out information.
    • Other Google Services (If Applicable): If using other Google services like Google Maps for location display or reCAPTCHA for security, data may be shared with Google according to their terms and privacy policies.
  • Funeral Homes (if applicable): If they manage an announcement, they access its contents.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law, subpoena, legal process, or government request, or to protect rights, safety, or investigate fraud.
  • Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or asset sale, information may be transferred (with notice provided).
  • With Consent: When you explicitly agree to sharing.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access or disclosure. However, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain Personal Information as long as needed for the purposes outlined here, to maintain accounts, provide services (announcements may persist unless removed), comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Data processed by third parties like Google is subject to their retention policies. Anonymous/aggregated data may be kept indefinitely.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights regarding your Personal Information:

  • Access, Correction, Deletion: Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your data (subject to exceptions). Account holders can often manage basic info via settings.
  • Objection/Restriction: Object to or request restriction of certain processing.
  • Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing relies on it.
  • Opt-Out Choices:
    • Google Analytics: You can prevent your data from being used by Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
    • Personalized Advertising (If Applicable): You can opt out of personalized advertising from Google by visiting Google’s Ad Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/. You can also opt out of interest-based advertising from many third-party ad networks via the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) http://optout.networkadvertising.org/ or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) http://optout.aboutads.info/.
    • Cookies: You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may impact Site functionality.

To exercise other rights, please contact us using the details in Section 13.

8. Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising

We use cookies (small files stored on your device) and similar technologies (like web beacons or pixels) for various purposes including site operation, preferences, security, understanding user interaction, and potentially advertising.

  • Types: We use session cookies (temporary) and persistent cookies (remain longer). This includes first-party cookies (set by Ghobits.com) and third-party cookies (set by partners like Google).
  • Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and understand user behavior. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect data such as IP address, device/browser details, and website activity. This data helps us improve the Site. Google processes this information according to its Privacy Policy. More details on Google’s data usage can be found here: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. See Section 7 for opt-out options.
  • Google AdSense (If Applicable): If we display advertisements through Google AdSense, Google and its partners may use cookies (including the DoubleClick cookie) to serve ads based on your visits to this Site and other sites on the internet. This allows for personalized advertising. See Section 7 for opt-out options.
  • Your Control: Manage cookies via your browser settings and the opt-out tools listed in Section 7.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to external websites or services (e.g., charities, florists, mapping services potentially powered by Google Maps) not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not cover their practices. Review the privacy policies of any third-party service before providing information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in some jurisdictions like the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children. If using services like Google AdSense, we adhere to Google’s policies regarding advertising on child-directed content. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately for deletion.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries outside your jurisdiction, including where our servers or those of our third-party partners (like Google) are located. Data protection laws may differ. We take appropriate steps to ensure transfers comply with applicable laws and protect your privacy rights. Using our Site and services implies consent to these transfers, including transfers according to Google’s data processing terms where applicable.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Changes will be posted here with an updated “Effective Date” and “Last Updated” date. Significant changes may be notified more prominently. Please review this policy regularly. Your continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices:

Ghobits
Email: ghobits2@gmail.com
Tel:

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