Privacy Policy for FernandinaConnect.com

Last Updated: May 5, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to FernandinaConnect.com ("FernandinaConnect," "we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users ("you"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, FernandinaConnect.com (the "Site" or "Service"). This includes information you provide directly, data collected automatically, and data obtained from public sources to populate our listings.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. By using the Site, you agree to the terms of this privacy policy. If you do not agree with the terms, please do not access the Site.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways:

Information You Provide:
- Personal Data: Your name and email address when you register for an account, submit content, or contact us.
- Account Information: Username, email, hashed password, saved preferences/favorites associated with your account (via Laravel Jetstream).
- Content Submissions: Details provided in event/business listings, comments, etc.
- Communications: Information in your correspondence with us.
Information Collected Automatically:
- Derivative Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, access times, referring URLs collected via server logs.
- Cookie Data: Information collected via cookies and similar technologies (See Section 5).
Information from Third Parties:
- Payment Data: Processed by Stripe when you use Paid Services. We store minimal payment data; Stripe handles the full transaction. (See Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy)
Information from Public Sources:
- Much of the event, business, and activity information displayed on the Site is aggregated from publicly available websites and sources. This is generally not personal information about you unless you are the contact person listed publicly.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

Create and manage your account.
Operate, maintain, personalize, and improve the Site and Service.
Aggregate and display local information (much of which originates from public sources).
Process payments via Stripe for Paid Services.
Communicate with you (support, admin messages, optional marketing with opt-out).
Monitor and analyze usage trends using aggregated or anonymized data [!!! Mention Specific Analytics tool if used !!!].
Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse.
Comply with legal obligations.
Utilize AI tools (like Google Cloud/Vertex AI) for content generation/summarization or image creation related to listings (Inputs generally exclude personal account data unless for specific personalization features).
Compile anonymous statistical data.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share information:

By Law or to Protect Rights: As required by law or to protect rights and safety.
Third-Party Service Providers: With vendors performing services on our behalf (e.g., Stripe for payments, Google Cloud/Vertex AI for AI processing, hosting providers, email delivery services [!!! List your Transactional Email Service e.g., Mailgun, SES !!!], [!!! List Analytics Provider e.g., Google Analytics !!!]). They access only necessary data and are bound by confidentiality.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset sale.
With Your Consent: For other purposes disclosed to you with your consent.
Publicly Posted Content: Content you submit for public display is visible to others.

We do not sell your personal information.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies [!!! CRITICAL SECTION TO CUSTOMIZE !!!]

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve the Site.

Essential Cookies: We use cookies necessary for the Site's basic functionality, such as session cookies that allow you to stay logged into your account (provided by Laravel/Jetstream). These are typically required to use secured areas of the Site.
Performance and Analytics Cookies: [IF USING ANALYTICS: We use tools like Google Analytics to collect information about how users interact with our Site (e.g., pages visited, time spent). This helps us understand usage patterns and improve the Service. This data is often aggregated and/or anonymized. You can learn more about Google Analytics' practices and opt-out here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.] [REMOVE IF NOT USING ANALYTICS]
Advertising Cookies/Pixels: [IF USING ADVERTISING PIXELS: We may use cookies or pixels from third parties like Facebook or Google to help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns or deliver targeted advertising later (retargeting). You can typically manage ad preferences through your Facebook/Google settings or via industry opt-out pages like the Digital Advertising Alliance (http://optout.aboutads.info/) or Network Advertising Initiative (http://optout.networkadvertising.org/).] [REMOVE IF NOT USING AD PIXELS]

You can usually set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. Please note that if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Service (especially login).

6. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures (like hashed passwords, secure hosting environments) to protect your personal information. However, no system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce agreements. Account information is generally kept until account deletion is requested. Aggregated or public data may be retained longer.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict processing of, or request portability of your personal information. You can often manage account information via your settings. For other requests, please contact us. We will respond in accordance with applicable law after verifying your identity.

9. International Transfers

Your information is processed and stored primarily in the United States. If you are accessing the site from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S.

10. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe we have, please contact us.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our Site contains links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy. Changes are effective when posted here with an updated "Last Updated" date. We may provide additional notice for significant changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

By email: [email protected]

Summary of Necessary Actions & Continuing Concerns:

Customize Section 5 (Cookies): This is essential. Specify exactly which analytics tools (Google Analytics?) and advertising pixels (Facebook Pixel?) you are using or will use at launch. Remove the placeholder sections if you aren't using them.
Identify Transactional Email Provider: Mention your service (Mailgun, SES, SendGrid, etc.) in Section 4 as a Third-Party Service Provider.
(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Legal Review: Get this reviewed by an attorney familiar with privacy law before launch. They can address specific state requirements (CCPA, etc.) and ensure full compliance.
(BUSINESS CONSIDERATION) Email Address: Plan to transition away from the Gmail address for official contact to enhance professionalism.
Technical Fixes: Remember that this policy describes your practices. Your actual practices need to match. Therefore, fixing the critical technical issues previously identified (especially migrate:fresh, database choice, .env config, data handling in scraping) remains paramount to ensuring you can adhere to this policy regarding data retention and security.```markdown