521 Discern Media
Effective Date: April 1, 2026
Last Updated: April 1, 2026
At 521 Discern Media, we are committed to truth-seeking, discernment, and empowering our audience with integrity. We take your privacy seriously and collect only the data necessary to deliver high-quality independent journalism, commentary, newsletters, and community engagement on discernmedia.org. We do not sell, share, or disclose your personal information for advertising, behavioral targeting, or any other purpose beyond essential service providers who help us operate the site.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) / California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and other applicable laws.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following categories of personal information from visitors and users of discernmedia.org:
- Identifiers: Name, email address, IP address, and other online identifiers.
- Contact Information: Mailing address or phone number if voluntarily provided via contact forms.
- Commercial Information: Payment or billing details (e.g., for subscriptions, donations, or purchases) processed securely by third-party providers.
- Internet or Electronic Network Activity: Browsing behavior, device information, cookies or similar technologies for site functionality and analytics.
- User-Generated Content: Comments, messages, or other content you post on articles or forms.
- Sensitive Personal Information (if applicable): We minimize collection of sensitive data and only process it as strictly necessary.
We collect this information directly from you (when you sign up for newsletters, comment, make payments, or contact us) and automatically through cookies/analytics tools.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information solely for the following business purposes:
- Providing and improving our services (newsletters, article delivery, comment sections, payments).
- Communicating with you (responses to inquiries, newsletter delivery, important updates).
- Site analytics and security (understanding traffic patterns while respecting privacy).
- Complying with legal obligations and preventing fraud.
We do not use your data for targeted advertising or any incompatible purposes.
3. How We Share or Disclose Information
We do not sell or share your personal information as defined under CCPA/CPRA (no disclosure for monetary or other valuable consideration, including for cross-context behavioral advertising).
We may disclose personal information only to trusted service providers and contractors who assist us with operations. These include (but are not limited to):
- Newsletter/email platforms (Mailchimp, Substack, ConvertKit, Beehiiv)
- Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal)
- Comment systems (WordPress native comments or Disqus)
- Analytics tools (Google Analytics with privacy safeguards enabled, or privacy-focused options such as Plausible or Fathom)
- Hosting and content management (WordPress, Cloudflare)
- Contact form and other operational tools
All service providers are contractually obligated to use your data only for the purposes we specify, maintain confidentiality, and delete or return it when no longer needed. We do not allow them to sell or further share your information.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use essential cookies for site functionality (e.g., remembering preferences or login sessions). Analytics tools help us improve the user experience without compromising privacy. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where applicable.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. For example, newsletter email lists are retained while you remain subscribed.
6. Your California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
As a California resident, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right to Know: Request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
- Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to certain exceptions).
- Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
- Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell or share your data, so no opt-out is needed for this purpose.
- Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: We do not use sensitive data beyond necessary purposes.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your rights.
To exercise these rights, submit a verifiable request by emailing us at [email protected]. We will respond within the required timeframe (typically 45 days, extendable if needed). You may also designate an authorized agent.
We do not use automated decision-making technology (ADMT) in a way that produces significant legal or similarly significant effects.
7. Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our site is not directed to children under 13 (or 16 in certain contexts). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the revised version with a new “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:
521 Discern Media
Email: [email protected]
This policy is provided in a printable format for your convenience.