Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

ArtistSea ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Username, email address, and password when you register
• Profile Information: Bio, profile picture, and links you choose to add
• Content: Artwork, articles, comments, and other content you post
• Communications: Feedback and support requests you send us
• Payment Information: Billing details for Premium subscriptions (processed securely by our payment provider)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, and interactions with the platform
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• IP Address: Used for security, analytics, and approximate location
• Cookies: See our Cookie Policy for details

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the ArtistSea platform
• Process your account registration and authentication
• Display your content to other users as intended
• Process Premium subscription payments
• Send important account notifications (verification, security alerts)
• Respond to your feedback and support requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service and moderate content, including automated screening of uploaded images for prohibited material
• Improve our platform through analytics
• Protect against fraud and unauthorized access

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with:

• Service Providers: Companies that help us operate (cloud hosting, email delivery, payment processing)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly agree to sharing

4.1 Third-Party Services We Use

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): Cloud hosting, image storage, and automated content safety screening (AWS Rekognition). Uploaded images are analyzed for prohibited content only — no facial recognition or personal identification is performed
• Payment Processor: Secure payment handling for subscriptions
• Google Analytics: Privacy-respecting usage statistics to help us understand how the platform is used and improve usability. We do not use analytics for advertising, profiling, or selling data.

5. Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active
• Content: Retained until you delete it or your account
• Premium Data: Retained for 30 days after subscription ends, then deleted
• Unverified Accounts: Deleted after 7 days if email is not verified
• Backups: May persist in secure backups for up to 30 days

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS)
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security updates
• Access controls for our team

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

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

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update inaccurate information
• Deletion: Delete your account and associated data
• Export: Download your data in a portable format directly from your account settings
• Object: Opt out of certain data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us through the Feedback form or delete your account in Settings.

8. Children's Privacy

ArtistSea is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or platform notification. Continued use of ArtistSea after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through the Feedback form on our platform.