We only collect information about you if we need to, for instance to provide and improve our services or to communicate with you.
We collect information when you provide that information to us. We also collect some technical data automatically through this website. We can also collect data from outside sources.
If you register for an account on this website, send us an email or write a comment, you’ll provide information about yourself that way. Likewise if you sign up for our newsletter. If you send us a donation, then you’ll provide personal and payment information such as your name, address and credit card details.
We automatically collect information about how you use this website like your IP address (and rough location) and the device you are using, including screen size and so on, and usage data such as what buttons or links you’ve clicked on. We use this information to see how people use the website and in order to improve it. This information is processed by Google Analytics.
This website uses cookies to help identify and track visitor usage of this website. Cookies are pieces of data that are stored on your computer and which your computer provides to our website every time you visit.
This website also uses advertising services provided by Google and Taboola.
We can also use open-access resources (like Google Search) to look up information on particular users if they provide us their name, for instance if an epidemiologist were to write to us with information, we would want to check their bona fides.
The above information is used to provide services on this website like to charge you for a donation or for the comments feature. So, if you provide us information in the form of a comment, it may be published by us. We also use all the above information and any data analysis derived therefrom to improve the website, to keep it working properly and to protect our rights. We also have a newsletter that we send to people who agree to that (which counts as “marketing”), and furthermore if you register for a user account and provide your email address then we’ll send you emails in order to verify your email address and provide you with login credentials. In exceptional circumstances and if we have a reason to do so, we might also write to you personally via email about things related to the website, for instance if you’ve offered information and we want to check it out.
The legal bases for the processing all the above information is: for compliance with a legal obligation; or when such use is necessary in order to protect your vital interests or those of another person; or when there is a legitimate interest in using your information, like updating and improving the website or to protect the website or our intellectual property, as well as to communicate with you; or when you have given your consent.
We don’t sell personal information. Information is shared only: when an employee, contractor or volunteer for us needs to know that information in order to help provide services on the website or to process that information for us; or when a third party vendor needs that information to provide their services used on this website (like payment processors such as Donorbox, who can process your payment information for fraud prevention and so on); or when we use web analytics providers like Google Analytics; or when we need to provide information for legal reasons, such as in response to a subpoena, court order or other lawful government request; or to protect the rights and property of us or of others, for instance in the case of a legal dispute or in the case of an emergency affecting the vital interests of someone; or, when you’ve given your consent or at your direction, we may also share information you provide. Finally, if the information is de-identified or aggregated so you can’t be identified from it, we can also share it then.
We keep information until it’s not needed for any of the above purposes.
You can always opt out of receiving our newsletter, but if you’ve registered on this website then we can still send you information about your account and legal notices unless you ask us to delete your account. You can prevent cookies being set on your browser by changing your browser settings to that effect.
You can contact us at info@real-left.com if you have any questions about this.
Changes to this policy may be made from time to time. You should check this policy regularly if you’re particularly concerned about any possible changes.