1. Who We Are & Scope
CrownRoute Africa Network ("we," "us," "our") is Africa's foremost digital news platform, with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and editorial bureaus across the continent. This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data collected through our website (www.crownrouteafrica.com), mobile applications, newsletters, and when you interact with our editorial or commercial teams.
As a digital media organization, we process personal data for two primary purposes: (1) for journalistic, editorial, and content personalization (our core service), and (2) for business operations (e.g., marketing, analytics, security).
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly:
- Account & Subscription Data: Name, email address, country, and topic preferences when you create an account, subscribe to a newsletter, or register for an event.
- Engagement Data: Comments, survey responses, feedback, or questions submitted to our journalists or via contact forms.
- Professional Data: If you contribute content, are a source, or partner with us, we may collect professional details like your title, organization, and contact information.
Information Collected Automatically:
- Device & Log Data: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, and network information.
- Usage Data: Articles read, time spent, click patterns, referral URLs, and interaction with features like videos or podcasts. We use cookies and similar technologies for this purpose. You can manage preferences via our Cookie Settings.
- Location Data: Generalized location (e.g., country or city) derived from your IP address to provide relevant regional news.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your data to power and improve our journalism and services:
- To Deliver & Personalize Our Service: To provide news alerts, tailor your news feed and homepage, and recommend stories based on your reading history.
- For Journalistic Activities: To research stories, verify information, and contact sources (respecting journalistic standards and source protection).
- To Communicate: To send you service updates, administrative messages (e.g., about your account), and, with your consent, promotional communications about our work.
- To Analyze & Improve: To understand audience engagement, test new features, and conduct research to improve our content and platform.
- For Security & Integrity: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, security risks, and technical issues.
4. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR/UK GDPR)
For readers in the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), and other regions with similar frameworks, we process your data under the following legal bases:
- Legitimate Interests: This is our primary basis for processing reader data for journalism, personalization, website security, and analytics. We balance our interests against your privacy rights.
- Consent: For sending certain marketing communications or using non-essential cookies. You can withdraw consent at any time.
- Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our commitments when you subscribe to a paid service or create an account.
- Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws, such as tax or regulatory record-keeping.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share it in these limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted partners who provide essential services under strict contracts (e.g., cloud hosting, email distribution, analytics, payment processing).
- For Legal Reasons: If required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of ourselves or others.
- With Your Consent: In specific situations where we ask for and you grant explicit permission.
Public Comments: Information you post in public comment sections is publicly accessible.
6. Data Security & Retention
Security
We implement technical and organizational measures (encryption, access controls, security audits) to protect your data. However, no online transmission is 100% secure.
Retention
We retain data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined. For example:
- Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a period thereafter for legal/audit purposes.
- Usage Data for Analytics: Typically anonymized or deleted after 26 months.
- Journalistic Research Data: May be retained indefinitely in our secure archives for historical reference and source protection, in line with journalistic standards.
7. Your Rights & Choices
Depending on your location, you may have rights to:
- Access or receive a copy of your data.
- Correct inaccurate data.
- Delete your data under certain conditions.
Object to or Restrict processing based on legitimate interests.
- Data Portability for data you provided.
Opt-out of marketing communications (use the "unsubscribe" link in any email).
Manage Cookies via your browser settings or our cookie tool.
To Exercise Your Rights: Please contact us at privacy@crownrouteafrica.com. We will respond within one month. We may need to verify your identity for security. Note that certain rights may be limited, for example, where processing is necessary for our journalistic purposes or freedom of expression.
8. International Operations
As a pan-African network with servers and team members potentially located in various countries, your data may be transferred to and processed in countries with different data protection laws. When we do so, we rely on approved legal mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, to ensure an adequate level of protection.
9. Policy Updates & Contact
Updates
We may update this policy. The "Last Updated" date at the top will change. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a website notice.