Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through the Platform, including through account registration, logins, newsletters, contact forms, downloads, analytics tools, cookies and similar technologies, advertising-related features, and AI-enabled features.

2. Information Collected

WatchGold may collect the following categories of information:

3. How Information Is Used

WatchGold may use information to:

• operate, host, maintain, and secure the Platform;
• create and administer accounts and memberships;
• send newsletters, alerts, updates, and requested communications;
• respond to questions, requests, and support inquiries;
• analyze Platform usage and performance;
• improve content, site features, navigation, and user experience;
• detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, security incidents, and technical problems;
• comply with law, enforce policies, and protect rights, safety, and the Platform;
• support sponsorship measurement, placement administration, and related business operations;
• develop, test, monitor, and improve site tools and AI-enabled features.

4. Analytics and Similar Tools

WatchGold currently uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to measure website usage and engagement. Google states that GA4 does not log or store full IP addresses and uses privacy-focused features, but GA4 may still involve processing of personal data or cross-border transfers depending on configuration and applicable law.

WatchGold uses GA4 for aggregate site measurement and does not intentionally send personally identifiable subscriber information to GA4 through ordinary site analytics configuration. GA4 and related Google services may use cookies or similar technologies to collect and process usage information.

If WatchGold changes its analytics or advertising stack, this Privacy Policy may be updated accordingly.

5. Newsletter and Communications Vendors

WatchGold currently uses Mailchimp for subscriber and newsletter management. Information provided for newsletters or communications may be processed by Mailchimp on WatchGold’s behalf in order to administer subscriptions, distribute emails, measure engagement, and manage mailing preferences.

Users may unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter communications using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in the message, subject to retention of records needed for legal compliance, suppression lists, and operational purposes.

6. Hosting, Infrastructure, and Security

WatchGold currently uses Google Cloud Platform, including Cloud Run, for hosting and infrastructure services. Service providers may process technical information, logs, and related data as necessary to host, secure, deliver, and maintain the Platform.

7. AI Service Providers and Internal Use Controls

WatchGold may use third-party AI providers, including Anthropic and Gemini, for editorial, coding, development, and workflow-assistance purposes. WatchGold’s current practice is not to send subscriber personally identifiable information or licensed partner data to those AI APIs in identifiable form, and not to use partner-licensed data to train third-party models.

Where public-facing AI features are deployed, additional prompts, inputs, outputs, and related context may be processed under the applicable feature design and controls. Users should not submit sensitive personal data, confidential data, or unauthorized third-party data into AI features unless the Platform expressly permits that use case.

8. Advertising, Sponsorships, and Outbound Sponsor Links

WatchGold may display advertisements, sponsored content, native advertising, partner placements, or sponsored labels on the Platform. WatchGold may receive payment for sponsorship placement on the Platform, but except for sponsorship placement arrangements, WatchGold does not receive compensation based on user clicks, visits, or user-sponsor transactions resulting from sponsor links.

Outbound sponsor links may be provided as a convenience feature to help users navigate to sponsor or advertiser platforms. If WatchGold later implements additional ad-tech, retargeting, or measurement tools, this Privacy Policy and related user-facing disclosures may be updated to reflect those practices.

This Privacy Policy does not state that WatchGold does or does not "sell," "share," or use information for "targeted advertising" as those terms may be defined under specific privacy laws, unless and until WatchGold confirms those characterizations against its actual technical configuration and legal analysis.

9. Disclosure of Information

WatchGold may disclose information:

• to hosting, infrastructure, analytics, email, security, authentication, and other service providers;
• to AI providers and workflow vendors used to support authorized Platform functions;
• to professional advisers, auditors, insurers, and transaction counterparties;
• in connection with a merger, financing, acquisition, corporate transaction, or asset sale;
• to government authorities, regulators, law enforcement, courts, or other parties when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, property, users, or the Platform.

10. Legal Bases for Processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, WatchGold may rely on one or more of the following: consent, performance of a requested service, legitimate interests, legal obligation, or protection of rights and security.

11. Data Retention

WatchGold may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to maintain accounts, provide requested services, support security and abuse prevention, preserve backups, comply with law, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and improve operations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the context of collection, user settings, legal obligations, and operational needs.

12. International Processing and Transfers

WatchGold operates in the United States and may use service providers that process information in the United States and other jurisdictions. If a user accesses the Platform from outside the United States, information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in jurisdictions with data-protection laws that differ from those in the user’s jurisdiction.

Where required, WatchGold will rely on an available transfer mechanism or other lawful basis recognized under applicable law.

13. Additional Information for U.S. State Residents

Residents of certain U.S. states may have rights, subject to exceptions and verification, to request:

• access to personal information;
• correction of inaccurate personal information;
• deletion of personal information;
• portability of certain personal information; and
• opt-out of certain forms of processing where applicable law provides such rights.

WatchGold may also be required under certain state laws to provide additional notices regarding categories of information collected, purposes of use, categories of recipients, retention practices, and rights to appeal certain request determinations. WatchGold may supplement this Privacy Policy with state-specific notices if appropriate.

14. Additional Information for EEA and UK Users

For users in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, WatchGold acts as the controller for personal data processed in connection with the Platform, unless otherwise stated.

Subject to applicable law, EEA and UK users may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, object to processing, withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, request portability, and lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

15. Cookies and User Choices

Depending on the user’s location and WatchGold’s active technical configuration, users may be offered cookie notices, preference tools, consent options, unsubscribe tools, browser-based controls, or other mechanisms to manage certain data practices.

Browser settings may allow users to manage or block some cookies, although doing so may affect Platform functionality.

16. Children

The Platform is not intended for children under 13 and is not directed to minors under 16. If WatchGold becomes aware that personal information has been collected from a child in violation of applicable law, it may delete that information.

17. Third-Party Sites

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, sponsor sites, data sources, and external services. WatchGold is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or terms of those third parties.

18. Changes to this Privacy Policy

WatchGold may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version becomes effective when posted unless a later date is stated.