Privacy Policy
Clearthoughtline is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors and users of our educational resources. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and secure it, the choices available to users, and how to contact us with requests or concerns. This document focuses on educational inquiries, editorial corrections, website usage, and data handled in support interactions. This policy is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Where legal compliance is required by local law, we will act in accordance with applicable regulations. We encourage readers to review this policy and contact us if they need clarifications. For certain requests involving personal data access or deletion, we may need to verify identity to protect privacy. Our verified contact information is provided in the Contact section of the site. Clearthoughtline provides general information only; no guarantees or professional advice are offered through this policy.
Information we collect and why
We collect information to operate the site, respond to inquiries, and improve educational content. Categories of data we collect include: contact information (name, email, phone) when you submit the contact form; message content and attachments you provide to help us respond to editorial or accessibility requests; technical usage data such as IP address, browser type, device model, and page interactions captured by lightweight analytics; and cookies or similar technologies to remember preferences and support non-essential analytics. We do not collect sensitive categories of personal data for editorial interactions. We collect the minimum information necessary to respond to requests, process messages, and maintain the site. We may aggregate or pseudonymize usage data for research and quality improvement. When providing contact details, you consent to our using them to reply and to manage records related to your inquiry. If additional data is required for a particular request (for example, to verify identity in a data subject access request), we will request it explicitly and explain why it is necessary before processing.
How we use information and legal bases
We use personal information to provide services and fulfill user requests. Uses include responding to messages, processing editorial corrections, handling accessibility or verification requests, and improving site usability. For contact form submissions, our legal basis is the user’s consent to receive a response and our legitimate interest in administering educational content. For analytics, our basis is legitimate interest in maintaining and improving site performance; non-essential analytics can be refused through the cookie banner. We may use anonymized or aggregated usage data for internal research to inform editorial priorities or user experience improvements. We do not sell personal data. If we must process data for legal compliance or to respond to law enforcement requests, we will act only as required by law and notify users where permitted. When we rely on consent, users can revoke consent by contacting us or using cookie preferences; revoking consent will not affect processing that occurred before withdrawal where a different legal basis applied.
Sharing, retention, and security practices
We do not share personal data with third parties for their independent marketing purposes. We may share data with service providers who operate site hosting, email delivery, analytics, or form-handling services on our behalf; such providers are contractually restricted to process data only as we instruct and to maintain appropriate safeguards. For legal obligations, we may disclose data to comply with legal processes or protect safety, but we limit disclosures to what is necessary and document legal requests where permitted. We retain personal contact messages and related metadata for as long as necessary to respond to inquiries and for legitimate archival or compliance needs; typical retention for contact messages is up to three years unless a longer period is required by law. Technical logs and anonymized analytics are retained in aggregated form for product improvement. We implement technical and organizational measures to protect data, including TLS for data in transit, access controls, and secure hosting with routine security reviews. However, no internet transmission is completely secure; if a breach occurs, we will follow applicable notification requirements and take steps to mitigate impact.
Your rights and choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights related to your personal data, including access, correction, deletion, restriction of processing, portability, and objection. To exercise these rights, contact us using the verified channels listed below and provide sufficient information to locate your data. For identity-sensitive requests, we will ask for reasonable proof of identity to protect privacy. You can control cookie preferences through the cookie banner and browser settings; rejecting non-essential cookies will not block access to educational content but may limit some features and analytics. Where we process data based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time for future processing. If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority in your jurisdiction. We will cooperate with supervisory authorities and take reasonable measures to address concerns promptly.
Third-party links and embedded content
Our site may contain links or embedded content from reputable stock image providers used for illustrative purposes. Clicking external links may direct you to third-party sites with their own privacy practices. We encourage users to review third-party privacy notices before submitting personal information. When we embed content (for example illustrative images), those providers may collect limited technical data; we only embed content that aligns with the educational mission of the site and reputable providers that meet basic privacy expectations. We do not control third-party practices and are not responsible for their compliance; our role is to provide neutral educational context and to link to primary sources where relevant to enhance transparency. If you have concerns about any third-party content, contact us and we will review the reference or consider alternatives.
Contact, verification, and updates
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or need to report a privacy concern, please contact: Clearthoughtline Foundation, 12 Beacon Street, Suite 301, Boston, MA 02108, United States; Phone: +1 617-555-0143; Email: [email protected]. For requests that require identity verification, we will provide instructions and only request the minimum verification information necessary. We may update this policy periodically to reflect operational changes or legal requirements. When material changes occur, we will post a prominent notice on the site and update the effective date. Viewing the Privacy Policy periodically is recommended to stay informed. This policy is educational and general in nature and does not create contractual rights beyond any specific terms we publish elsewhere on the site.