Privacy Policy – PNE Online
This website (“PNE Online”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. What Data We Collect
When you register, post, or interact with PNE Online, we may collect the following information:
- Your username and email address
- Your IP address and browser user agent
- Optional profile details you provide (e.g., location, avatar, preferences)
- Post and message content you submit
- Technical data such as cookies and session information
2. How We Use Your Data
We use your data to:
- Maintain and manage your user account
- Enable forum features such as posting, messaging, and notifications
- Moderate content and enforce community guidelines
- Prevent spam, abuse, or misuse of the forum
- Improve site functionality and security
Your data will never be sold or used for direct marketing.
3. Cookies
PNE Online uses cookies to:
- Keep you logged in across sessions
- Remember your forum preferences
- Track unread content and private messages
You can manage cookie settings in your browser. Disabling cookies may affect functionality.
4. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party tools to manage spam, security, and technical performance. This may involve processing your IP address or basic device information. We only work with services that comply with data protection laws.
5. Legal Basis for Processing
Our legal basis for processing your data is:
- Consent: When you register, post, or provide profile information voluntarily
- Legitimate Interest: To ensure the smooth operation, safety, and moderation of the community
- Legal Obligation: Where required to cooperate with law enforcement or comply with applicable UK laws
6. Data Retention
Your account data and posts are stored until you request deletion or the forum is discontinued. Some content (such as posts or messages) may remain after account closure unless removal is specifically requested and deemed appropriate.
7. Your Rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your account and associated personal data
- Withdraw consent (where applicable)
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
To exercise these rights, please contact us.
8. Patron Payments and Donations
Patronage and donations are handled securely via third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe). PNE Online does not store your payment details. Please consult the relevant payment provider’s privacy policy for more information.
9. Community Visibility
Forum content is visible to all users and may be indexed by search engines. You can adjust your privacy settings in your account preferences to control profile visibility and message permissions.