Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Frostbeacon ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our community discovery platform.

By using Frostbeacon, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address - Required for account creation and verification
• Username - Your chosen display name on the platform
• Password - Stored as a secure, hashed value (we never store plain-text passwords)

2.2 Submitted Content

When you submit community groups, we collect:

• Group title and description
• Platform type (WhatsApp, Signal, Discord, Telegram)
• Invite links to third-party communities
• Language and category tags
• Timestamps of submission and updates

2.3 Usage Data

We automatically collect certain information when you use the Service:

• Session cookies for authentication
• IP address and browser information
• Pages visited and features used
• Search queries and filter preferences

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for:

• Platform Operation: To provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Account Management: To create and manage your user account
• Content Moderation: To review and approve community submissions
• Communication: To send account-related emails (verification, password resets)
• Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Analytics: To understand how users interact with the platform

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

5.1 Public Information

Community group submissions are publicly visible on Frostbeacon. This includes:

• Group titles, descriptions, and tags
• Platform types and languages
• Invite links to third-party communities

Your username may be associated with submitted groups, but your email address is never publicly displayed.

5.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We may share limited data with trusted third-party services that help us operate the platform:

• Email delivery services (for account verification and notifications)
• Hosting and infrastructure providers
• Analytics services (anonymized usage data)

These providers are contractually bound to protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, legal process, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

6. Cookies and Tracking

Frostbeacon uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain user sessions and improve the Service.

6.1 Essential Cookies

We use session cookies that are necessary for the Service to function, including:

• Authentication tokens to keep you logged in
• Session identifiers for security purposes

These cookies are essential and cannot be disabled without affecting your ability to use the Service.

6.2 Analytics

We may use analytics tools to understand usage patterns and improve the platform. This data is anonymized and does not identify individual users.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information:

• Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms
• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure session management
• Regular security audits and updates

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service.

Upon account deletion, we permanently remove your personal information within 30 days. Some anonymized usage data may be retained for analytics purposes.

9. Your Rights (GDPR & Privacy Laws)

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability: Request transfer of your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal data
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing

To exercise these rights, visit our Contact Page or email us directly.

10. Children's Privacy

Frostbeacon is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to this page.

Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.