Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 29, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to our paranormal investigation platform ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Account Information: Username, email address, password, profile information (bio, location, social media links)
Investigation Data: Cases you create, reports you submit, evidence you upload (photos, videos, audio)
Community Participation: Forum posts, comments, messages, and ratings
Contact Information: When you contact us via our contact form
Location Data: Haunted location submissions, investigation sites (coordinates and addresses)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on site, interaction patterns
Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
Cookies: Session cookies, authentication tokens, preference settings

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

To provide, maintain, and improve our services
To create and manage your account
To process and display your investigation reports and contributions
To enable community features (forums, comments, ratings)
To send important notices about your account or the service
To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
To prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
To analyze usage patterns and improve user experience
To comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible to all users:

Your username and profile information (if you choose to make it public)
Investigation cases marked as "public"
Approved haunted location submissions
Forum posts and comments
Public ratings and reviews

4.2 We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4.3 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

Hosting and maintaining our servers
Sending emails (notifications, password resets)
Analytics and site performance monitoring
Payment processing (if applicable)

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
Secure password storage (hashed and salted)
Regular security updates and patches
Access controls and authentication
Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

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

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your account information at any time through your profile settings.

6.2 Data Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your account and associated data. Note that:

Some information may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes
Public contributions (forum posts, approved reports) may be anonymized but retained
Backup copies may persist for a limited time

6.3 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of promotional emails by using the unsubscribe link in any email we send.

6.4 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may limit functionality.

7. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

8. International Users

Our servers may be located in different countries. By using our service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as:

Your account is active
Needed to provide services to you
Required for legal, tax, or accounting purposes
Necessary to resolve disputes or enforce our agreements

11. GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under GDPR:

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to Restriction: Limit how we use your data
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

Posting the new policy on this page
Updating the "Last Updated" date
Sending an email notification (for material changes)

Your continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Email: privacy@caseconnect.co
Contact Form: Contact Us Page

Your Privacy Matters: We are committed to transparency and protecting your rights. If you have any concerns about how we handle your data, please don't hesitate to reach out.