This Privacy Policy explains how AfricaInfoBase collects, uses, stores and protects personal information when people visit our website, contact us, submit material, commission research or interact with our content.
1. Who We Are
AfricaInfoBase is an independent, unincorporated digital media and knowledge platform based in London and operated collaboratively by freelancers.
For the purposes of this policy, the AfricaInfoBase editorial team determines how personal information under its control is used. Authorised freelancers may access information only when necessary for assigned editorial, research, technical or administrative work.
Privacy enquiries should be sent to:
AfricaInfoBase
London, United Kingdom
Email: contact@africainfobase.com
2. Information We May Collect
Depending on how you interact with AfricaInfoBase, we may collect:
- your name and email address;
- correspondence and enquiry details;
- contributor biographies and professional information;
- articles, photographs, recordings or documents you submit;
- comments posted through Blogger;
- newsletter preferences, where subscriptions are offered;
- research commission or business-enquiry information;
- advertising and sponsorship correspondence;
- transaction information made available by payment providers;
- IP address, browser, device and referral information; and
- cookie and website-analytics information.
3. How We Collect Information
Information may be collected through:
- direct emails;
- contact or subscription forms;
- contributor submissions;
- research or commercial enquiries;
- Blogger comments;
- website cookies and analytics;
- external payment services;
- social-media interactions; and
- standard technical logs.
4. How We Use Information
We may use personal information to:
- answer enquiries;
- assess and publish contributions;
- conduct research and interviews;
- deliver commissioned work;
- manage licensing, advertising or sponsorship enquiries;
- administer corrections and complaints;
- send requested updates;
- moderate comments;
- analyse website performance;
- maintain security and prevent misuse;
- manage financial records; and
- comply with legal obligations.
AfricaInfoBase does not sell personal information.
5. Lawful Bases
Depending on the circumstances, we may rely on:
- Consent: for optional communications or particular participation.
- Legitimate interests: for responsible editorial work, correspondence, website administration, security and audience analysis.
- Contract: where information is needed to provide commissioned work or fulfil another agreement.
- Legal obligation: where records must be retained or disclosed by law.
- Journalistic and public-interest provisions: where legally applicable to responsible publication and research.
Consent may be withdrawn at any time.
6. Google Blogger
The website is hosted through Google Blogger. Google may process technical information and use cookies when visitors load pages, post comments or interact with Google services.
Some processing is controlled by Google rather than AfricaInfoBase. Visitors should review Google’s privacy information and available cookie controls.
7. Cookies and Analytics
Cookies may be used to:
- operate website functions;
- remember visitor preferences;
- protect website security;
- measure traffic;
- understand how content is used; and
- support embedded third-party services.
Where legally required, non-essential cookies should not be used without appropriate consent. Visitors may manage cookies through their browser and available consent controls.
Google explains that Blogger’s European visitor notice covers certain Google, Blogger, Analytics and AdSense cookies. Read Google’s Blogger cookie guidance.
8. Comments
Blogger comments may be publicly visible with the commenter’s chosen name, profile and comment.
Do not publish confidential information, private contact details or sensitive personal information in a public comment. Google may separately process information connected with a commenter’s account or device.
9. Embedded Content and External Websites
Pages may include videos, social-media posts, maps, news feeds or other external content. Third-party providers may receive technical information or place cookies when their content loads.
External websites operate under their own privacy policies.
10. Research, Business and Sponsorship Enquiries
When you request commissioned research or contact us about licensing, sponsorship or advertising, we may use your professional contact details to:
- understand your requirements;
- prepare a proposal;
- communicate about the work;
- deliver agreed services;
- issue and retain financial records; and
- manage the professional relationship.
We will not add business contacts to unrelated marketing lists without an appropriate lawful basis.
11. Financial Support and Payments
Payments may be processed through an external payment provider. AfricaInfoBase does not normally receive full card or bank information.
We may receive a name, email address, message, payment amount and transaction details where the provider makes them available.
12. Sharing Personal Information
Information may be shared with:
- authorised AfricaInfoBase freelancers;
- Google Blogger;
- email, hosting or cloud-service providers;
- analytics and security providers;
- payment processors;
- professional advisers;
- research partners where necessary and agreed; and
- regulators, courts or public authorities where legally required.
We aim to share only what is reasonably necessary.
13. International Processing
Google and other providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Data-protection standards differ between countries.
Where AfricaInfoBase directly arranges an international transfer, reasonable steps will be taken to use an appropriate safeguard where required.
14. Data Retention
Indicative retention periods include:
- routine enquiries: up to two years after the last meaningful contact;
- unsuccessful submissions: normally up to twelve months;
- published contributor records: while the publication remains available and for a reasonable period afterwards;
- research and contractual records: normally up to six years after completion;
- financial records: normally six years where required;
- correction, complaint and legal records: normally up to six years after closure;
- marketing consent records: while active and for a reasonable audit period; and
- editorial research and archives: while they retain evidential, historical or public-interest value.
Information may be kept longer where a legal dispute, safeguarding concern or other legal requirement applies.
15. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information. However, no email, website or online storage system can guarantee complete security.
Do not send highly sensitive information through ordinary email without considering the risks.
16. Children
AfricaInfoBase does not knowingly provide services intended to collect personal information from children.
A parent or guardian who believes that a child has provided information inappropriately may contact us.
17. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law and exemptions, you may have the right to:
- request access;
- request correction;
- request deletion;
- restrict processing;
- object to particular processing;
- withdraw consent;
- request data portability in certain circumstances; and
- complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
18. Right to Object
You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. You have an absolute right to object to the use of your information for direct marketing.
Send requests to contact@africainfobase.com.
19. Complaints
Please contact AfricaInfoBase first so that we can investigate.
You may also complain to:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk
20. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy when our services, technologies or legal obligations change. The latest version will be published on this page.
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