Privacy Policy

1. Introduction
Welcome to AskNews, a dynamic news platform brought to you by Emergent Methods. AskNews is committed to delivering timely and engaging news content through our website and mobile application, providing an interactive and informative experience to our users.

This Privacy Policy aims to inform you about how we collect, use, and protect the personal information you provide to us while using the AskNews app. It applies to all information collected through your use of the app, as well as any related services, sales, marketing, or events.

By accessing or using AskNews, you signify your understanding and acceptance of the terms provided in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use AskNews. Your continued use of AskNews following the posting of any changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy. This policy describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you use the AskNews app and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.

2. Information Collection and Use

Personal Data: While using our app, AskNews, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. This information may include, but is not limited to:
•Email address
•First and last name
•Phone number
•Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
•Cookies and Usage Data

Usage Data: We also collect information on how the AskNews app is accessed and used. This Usage Data may include details such as your computer's Internet Protocol address, the type of device, the operating system, the browser type, and the screen size of your device. We also collect information on when you access AskNews, how often and how long you access AskNews, which pages you have accessed, and the sequence of pages that you have visited. We collect the information to improve the quality of our service, which includes the use of the search bar, favorite articles, and the chat conversation. Further, we may use Microsoft Clarity for tracking user behavior while on AskNews. We may request the collection of Data collected via cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies to remember user preferences, track ad performance, and aggregate analytical data.

3. Compliance with GDPR

At AskNews, a service provided by Emergent Methods, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner. In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we adhere to strict standards for data collection, processing, and storage.

Principles of Data Processing:
Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: We process personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently. Our data collection methods are clear, and we ensure that personal data is not used in a way that is unduly detrimental, unexpected, or misleading to the individuals concerned.

Purpose Limitation: We collect data for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes. Your data is not processed in a manner incompatible with these purposes.

Data Minimization: We ensure that the personal data we process is adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary in relation to the processing purposes.

Accuracy: We take reasonable steps to ensure that personal data is accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date.

Storage Limitation: We retain personal data in a form that permits identification of data subjects for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which the personal data is processed.

Integrity and Confidentiality: Personal data is processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage using appropriate technical or organizational measures.

Your Rights Under GDPR: As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR:
Right of Access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed, and, where that is the case, access to the personal data.
•Right to Rectification: You have the right to rectify inaccurate personal data concerning you.
•Right to Erasure ('Right to be Forgotten'): You have the right to have personal data concerning you erased under certain conditions.
•Right to Restriction of Processing: You have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances.
•Right to Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.
•Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.

Exercising Your Rights: If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@asknews.app. We will respond to your request in accordance with GDPR requirements.
AskNews is committed to upholding the highest standards of data privacy and will continue to stay at the forefront of any legislative changes in the field.

4. Data Collection Technologies

Description of Cookies and Tracking Technologies:
At AskNews, we use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our app and hold certain information. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your device's storage through your web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information.

Types of cookies we use include:
•Session Cookies: To operate our service.
•Preference Cookies: To remember your preferences and various settings.
•Security Cookies: For security purposes.
•Analytics Cookies: To track the usage of our service.


Other tracking technologies used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information as well as to improve and analyze our service.

Managing Your Preferences:
You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of AskNews services or websites you visit.

To manage your cookie preferences:
Browser Settings: Check your web browser's help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
Third-Party Tools: Various third-party tools are available to help you manage your cookies.
Direct Requests: Contact us at contact@asknews.app for specific requests regarding cookies.

Please note that disabling cookies might affect the availability and functionality of our services and some parts of AskNews may not function properly.

5. Use of Data

Emergent Methods, through its AskNews app, uses the collected data for various purposes, ensuring an enhanced user experience and the smooth functioning of our services. The primary uses of data include:
•To Provide and Maintain Our Service: Using the collected data helps us to operate the AskNews app effectively and to maintain the reliability and functionality of our services. This includes using data to monitor the usage of our service and to detect, prevent, and address technical issues.
•To Notify You About Changes to Our Service: We may use your information to inform you about updates or changes to our services, including any changes to our Privacy Policy or other terms and conditions.
•To Allow User Participation in Interactive Features: When users choose to use interactive aspects of our service, such as commenting or sharing features, we use their information to facilitate these activities.
•To Provide Customer Support: We use data to respond to customer service requests and provide needed support.
•For Analysis and Improvement: Data is crucial for us to understand how our service is used. This understanding drives improvements in our app, ensuring a better user experience.
•To Monitor the Usage of Our Service: We analyze user data to evaluate and understand how our service is used, which aids in optimizing the app's functionality and content.
•For Marketing and Promotions: Where users have opted in, we may use data to provide information about promotions, new features, or other content we believe will be of interest to our users.
To Ensure Security: We use data as part of our efforts to keep AskNews safe and secure, which includes fraud prevention and enforcing our terms and policies.

It's important to note that Emergent Methods will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

At Emergent Methods, the privacy of our AskNews users is of utmost importance. We are committed to safeguarding your personal information and only share or disclose data in specific circumstances:

Circumstances Under Which Data May Be Disclosed:
Compliance with Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information where required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency).
Protect and Defend Rights: If we believe disclosure is necessary to protect and defend the rights, property, or personal safety of Emergent Methods, AskNews, our customers, or others, we may disclose your information.
Prevent Wrongdoing: In the event of an investigation into fraud, security breaches, or other similar issues, your information may be shared to prevent or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of our Terms of Service, or as otherwise required by law.
Business Transactions: If Emergent Methods is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Third-Party Service Providers and Their Roles:
Service Providers: We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service (\"Service Providers\"), perform Service-related services, or assist us in analyzing how our Service is used. These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
Analytics and Marketing: We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service or to contact you.
External Processing: We provide personal information to our affiliates or other trusted businesses or persons to process it for us, based on our instructions and in compliance with our Privacy Policy and any other appropriate confidentiality and security measures.

7. Data Security

Measures for Data Security: At Emergent Methods, we take the security of your data very seriously. To prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or other malicious activities, we implement a variety of security measures including:
Use of encryption technology to secure data transmitted and stored within the AskNews app.
Regular security assessments and updates to our technological infrastructure.
Restricted access to personal data, limited only to employees and contractors who need the information to perform a specific job (such as billing or customer service).

Statement About Transmission and Storage Security
Commitment to Data Security: At Emergent Methods, protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data is a top priority. We are committed to implementing robust security measures to ensure the highest level of data protection in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

7. Data Retention

Duration and Criteria for Data Retention: At Emergent Methods, we retain your personal data collected through the AskNews app only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Usage Data and Account Information: We retain usage data and account information for a period necessary to analyze and improve the functionality of AskNews.

Legal Obligations: In certain cases, we may be legally required to retain your information for a set period as dictated by relevant laws and regulations.

Purpose of Data Collection: The retention period may also depend on the purpose for which the data was collected and how it is used.

After the expiration of the retention period, your data will be deleted or anonymized, rendering it unusable for identification purposes.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

At Emergent Methods, we respect your right to privacy and control over your personal information. You have certain rights regarding the personal data we hold about you:

•You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.
•Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data we hold about you.
•Deletion: You can request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain exceptions.
•Restriction: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
•Data Portability: You have the right to request the transfer of your data to another organization or directly to you, under certain conditions.
•Exercising Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@asknews.app. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and provide information about how these requests are handled.

Please note that some requests may require identity verification to ensure the security of personal data. We may also retain certain information as required by law or as necessary for legitimate business purposes.


9. Children's Privacy

Protection of Children's Information: Emergent Methods is committed to protecting the privacy of children. The AskNews app is not intended for children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children under this age. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Removal of Children's Information: If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us at contact@asknews.app. If we verify that we have collected personal data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information from our servers.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Policy Updates: We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top.

User's Acknowledgment: We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. Your continued use of the AskNews app after such changes will constitute your acknowledgment and agreement to the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

Inquiries and Feedback: If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Emergent Methods
contact@asknews.app
Your privacy concerns are important to us, and we strive to respond to your inquiries promptly and efficiently.

    We use cookies

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Some of these cookies are provided by third parties. You are free to decide which categories you would like to permit and can withdraw this consent at any time (via cookie preferences link on the footer).

    You can either accept all cookies, reject all but the necessary cookies or click the "Preferences" button to decide which cookie categories you would like to enable or disable.
    Learn more on our privacy policy page.