Privacy Policy

We collect information you provide directly to us, including:

• Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
• Usage data — pages visited, time spent, features used, and interactions with our content
• Device information — browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
• Communication data — when you contact us through our website or email

We use the information we collect to:

• Deliver and improve our daily discovery content
• Send our newsletter and relevant updates
• Personalize your experience on Surfaced
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our platform
• Communicate with you about your subscription or inquiries
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect usage data, remember preferences, support advertising, and improve our services. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies — required for basic site functionality
• Analytics cookies — help us understand how visitors interact with our site
• Preference cookies — remember your settings and preferences
• Advertising cookies — help Google and other advertising partners deliver, measure, limit, and improve ads

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features.

We may share limited information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, including:

• Email delivery services (for newsletter distribution)
• Analytics providers (for usage insights)
• Hosting and infrastructure providers
• Affiliate network partners
• Advertising partners, including Google AdSense

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and may only use it for the specific purposes we direct. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Surfaced uses Google AdSense to support the site with advertising. As part of ad serving, Google and its partners may use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses, device identifiers, and similar technologies to deliver, measure, and improve ads.

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to Surfaced and/or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on visits to Surfaced and other sites on the internet.

Third parties may place or read cookies on your browser, or use web beacons and IP addresses to collect information, when ads are served on Surfaced. Google explains how it uses information from partner sites here: How Google uses data from partner sites.

You can manage ad personalization through Google Ad Settings, your browser cookie settings, and applicable consent controls where required by law. You can also learn about opting out of some third-party vendors' personalized advertising at aboutads.info.

For visitors in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and U.S. states with applicable privacy laws, Surfaced uses Google's Privacy & Messaging tools to show consent or privacy choices when required.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to or restrict certain processing activities
• Request a portable copy of your data
• Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at surfaced-x@protonmail.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

• Right to be informed — you have the right to know how your data is collected and used
• Right to erasure — you can request that we delete your personal data
• Right to data portability — you can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to lodge a complaint — you may file a complaint with your local data protection authority

Our legal basis for processing your data includes your consent, our legitimate interests in operating and improving Surfaced, contractual necessity for services you request, and compliance with legal obligations. Some service providers may process data outside your country, subject to their own safeguards and applicable legal requirements.

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with additional rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to know — you can request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected
• Right to delete — you can request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt out — you can opt out of the sale of your personal information
• Right to non-discrimination — we will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

We do not sell your personal information. To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at surfaced-x@protonmail.com.