1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how BestLocalReviews.org (the "Company", "we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects information about you when you use the BestLocalReviews.org website, mobile site, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

We operate a platform that allows users to discover and review local businesses. This Policy explains how we handle information in connection with that Service.

Your use of the Service is also subject to our Terms of Service. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Privacy Policy have the meanings given to them in the Terms of Service.

2. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect:

• on or through the BestLocalReviews.org website and Service;
• when you create or manage an account with us;
• when you post reviews, ratings, photos, or other user-generated content;
• when you communicate with us, such as by email or support requests.

This Policy does not apply to third-party websites, services, or applications that may be linked to or integrated with the Service. Those services are governed by their own privacy policies.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you provide to us directly, such as when you create an account, leave a review, claim or manage a business listing, or contact us. This may include:

• Account information: name, username, email address, password (stored in hashed form), and profile details.
• User Content: reviews, ratings, photos, comments, bookmarks, favorites, messages to us, and any other content you submit. As described in our Terms of Service, all such content and reviews become the exclusive property of BestLocalReviews.org, but may still contain personal information about you or others.
• Business-related information: if you are a business owner or representative, we may collect information about your business, including contact details, role, and any information you provide to manage your listing.
• Communication information: information contained in emails, support requests, or other communications you send to us.

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you access or use the Service, we automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, such as:

• Log and usage data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, pages viewed, links clicked, referring/exit pages, and the dates and times of your visits.
• Device identifiers: unique device identifiers, advertising identifiers, and similar identifiers.
• Location information: approximate location inferred from your IP address, and, if you consent, more precise location information from your device (for example, to show nearby businesses).
• Cookies and similar technologies: information collected via cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies. See Section 8 below for more details.

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, such as:

• Social login providers: if you create or log into your account through a third-party service (e.g., a social network), we may receive information such as your name, email, and profile picture, in accordance with their privacy settings and policies.
• Business owners and partners: if you interact with a business listed on the Service, that business may provide us with information about that interaction.
• Analytics and advertising partners: we may receive aggregated or de-identified information to help us understand usage and improve our Service.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for a variety of legitimate business purposes, including to:

• provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Service;
• create and manage your account and user profile;
• enable you to post reviews, ratings, photos, and other User Content;
• display your reviews and related content to other users and visitors;
• moderate and enforce our Terms of Service, including preventing fraud, abuse, and spam;
• respond to your comments, questions, and support requests;
• send you service-related notices, such as updates, security alerts, and administrative messages;
• personalize the Service, including suggesting businesses or content you may find useful;
• analyze usage and trends to better understand how the Service is used;
• protect the security and integrity of our systems and users;
• comply with legal obligations and enforce our rights.

We may also combine information from different sources for the purposes described in this Policy.

5. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area ("EEA"), the United Kingdom, or a jurisdiction with similar data protection laws, we process your personal information only where we have a valid legal basis, including:

• Performance of a contract: to provide the Service you request.
• Legitimate interests: to operate and improve our Service, secure our systems, and prevent abuse, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Consent: where we rely on your consent, such as for certain cookies or marketing communications. You can withdraw consent at any time.
• Legal obligations: to comply with laws, regulations, and legal processes.

6. How We Share Information

We may share information about you as described in this Policy, including:

• Publicly, via the Service: When you post reviews, ratings, photos, or other User Content, this content is public and may be seen by other users and visitors. Depending on your settings, your profile name, username, and/or profile image may also be displayed.
• With service providers: We share information with vendors and service providers that perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, email delivery, and customer support. These providers are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us.
• With business owners: We may share information contained in your reviews or messages with the businesses you review or contact through the Service. Remember that the content of your reviews is public.
• For legal reasons: We may disclose information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests; to enforce our Terms of Service; to protect the security or integrity of our Service; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BestLocalReviews.org, our users, or others.
• Business transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar transaction, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to any applicable legal requirements.
• With your consent: We may share information with your consent or at your direction.

We may share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you, for any lawful purpose.

7. Public Reviews & User-Generated Content

The Service is designed to share information publicly. When you submit reviews, ratings, photos, or other User Content, that content is intended to be public and may be:

• viewed, copied, quoted, or shared by other users and visitors;
• displayed on business pages, search results, emails, or promotional materials;
• indexed by search engines and accessible via third-party websites and services.

As stated in our Terms of Service, all content and reviews you upload become the exclusive property of BestLocalReviews.org. This ownership relates to the content itself (such as the text and images of your review) and does not override any rights you may have under applicable data protection laws regarding personal information about you.

You should not include information in your reviews or other public content that you do not want to be publicly disclosed or permanently accessible.

8. Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Service. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We may use:

• Essential cookies: necessary to provide core features, such as logging in and keeping your session secure.
• Performance and analytics cookies: to understand how users interact with the Service and help us improve it.
• Functional cookies: to remember your preferences and settings.
• Advertising or marketing cookies (if used): to help deliver relevant advertising and measure its effectiveness.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where required by law, through our cookie banner or preference tools. If you disable cookies, some features of the Service may not function properly.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the Service, fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, and comply with legal obligations.

In particular, we may retain:

• account information for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter;
• reviews, ratings, and other User Content that you have posted publicly, which may remain visible on the Service even after you close your account, as they form part of the historical content of the website and are owned by BestLocalReviews.org under the Terms of Service;
• logs and records necessary for security, legal compliance, and dispute resolution for as long as permitted or required by law.

When we no longer need personal information, we will delete or anonymize it, or, if this is not possible (for example, because it is stored in backup archives), we will securely store it and isolate it from further use until deletion is possible.

10. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect the information we collect and store from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot and do not guarantee absolute security of your information.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account.

11. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights in relation to your personal information. These may include the right to:

• access the personal information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions;
• object to or request restriction of processing in certain circumstances;
• request a copy of your information in a portable format;
• withdraw consent where we rely on your consent for processing.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 16. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request and may deny requests where we are permitted or required to do so under applicable law (for example, where retention is needed for legal compliance or to maintain the integrity of the Service).

You can also control certain information directly:

• update your account information in your account settings (where available);
• unsubscribe from marketing emails by following the instructions in those emails;
• manage cookies through your browser or device settings.

12. International Data Transfers

The Service may be operated from and your information may be processed in countries other than the country where you reside, including the state of California and other locations where BestLocalReviews.org or our service providers maintain facilities.

By using the Service, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to countries that may have data protection laws different from those in your country and, in some cases, may not be as protective. Where required by law, we will implement appropriate safeguards to protect such transfers.

13. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to and may not be used by children under the age of 13 (or such higher age as may apply in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child in violation of this Policy, we will take steps to delete such information as soon as reasonably practicable. If you believe we may have collected information from a child, please contact us using the details below.

14. Third-Party Websites & Services

The Service may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not controlled by BestLocalReviews.org. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you visit or use.

15. “Do Not Track” Signals

Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” (DNT) setting that can signal websites that you do not want to be tracked. Because there is no common understanding of how to interpret DNT signals, our Service may not respond to DNT signals at this time. You can still manage cookies and other tracking technologies as described in Section 8.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we may provide additional notice, such as posting a prominent notice on the Service or sending you a notification, where required by law.

The "Last updated" date at the top of this Policy indicates when it was last revised. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, you can contact us at:

BestLocalReviews.org
Email: support@bestlocalreviews.org
Postal address: 2121 W 11th St #700 Los Angeles, CA 90006