Privacy Policy for The Oval Update

Effective Date: September 5, 2025

At The Oval Update, accessible from https://www.theovalupdate.com, the privacy of our visitors is a top priority. This Privacy Policy outlines the information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under data protection laws, including the GDPR.

1. Information We Collect

When you visit The Oval Update, we may collect:

Log Data: IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, timestamps.
Cookies and Web Beacons: Information about your preferences and pages accessed.
Device Information: Screen resolution, operating system, device type.
User Interactions: Time spent on the site, links clicked, navigation behavior.

We do not collect personally identifiable information unless voluntarily provided (e.g., through a contact form, newsletter sign-up, or contest entry).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the data we collect to:

Improve website content and user experience.
Understand and analyze user behavior.
Personalize your experience.
Serve targeted advertising through third-party services (e.g., Google AdSense).

2a. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Article 6)

We process personal data under the following legal bases:

Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) – For non-essential cookies (analytics, advertising) and newsletters. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Contractual necessity (Art. 6(1)(b)) – For contest participation or contact form submissions.
Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)) – Limited processing (IP/log data) for site security, fraud prevention, and performance optimization. You may object to this processing.

3. Cookies and Web Beacons

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience.

Categories of Cookies:

Essential: Required for basic site functions (always active).
Analytics: Help us understand visitor interactions and improve performance.
Advertising/Targeting: Used by third-party partners to serve personalized ads.

Consent: Non-essential cookies are only placed after your active consent via our cookie banner. You can accept, reject, or customize preferences at any time.

Managing Cookies: You can also manage cookies through your browser settings, though disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.

Third-Party Cookies: Third-party services may set cookies on our site. Their use is subject to their own privacy policies.

For more information, please visit our [Cookie Policy page].

4. Children’s Privacy

The Oval Update does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age required by local law (13 in Estonia, 16 in most EU countries). Parental consent is required for younger users. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us to remove it.

5. Third-Party Links

Our site may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these sites.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for its purpose:

Contest entries: Until contest completion and prize delivery, then deleted within 90 days.
Newsletter subscriptions: Until unsubscribed or consent withdrawn.
Log/device data: Up to 12 months for security and performance monitoring.
Cookies: Stored according to type and purpose (see Section 3).

After these periods, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Data Controller and Contact

Dachshund Media Network
Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Ahtri tn 12, 15551
Email: admin@theovalupdate.com

You may also contact us via our website contact form.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are an EU resident, you have the following rights:

Access, correct, or delete your personal data.
Restrict or object to certain processing.
Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing).
Data portability, where applicable.
Lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. In Estonia: Andmekaitse Inspektsioon.

9. International Data Transfers

Some service providers (e.g., Google for advertising/analytics) may process your data outside the EEA, including in countries without equivalent data protection. We ensure safeguards such as:

Transfers to countries with EU adequacy decisions.
Use of European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

You can request more information about these safeguards by contacting us.

10. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes are posted with a new “Effective Date.” Review this policy regularly to stay informed.