Privacy Policy (GDPR)

Last updated: January 2026

1. Introduction

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

This policy is designed to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws.

2. Data Controller

PawVoters acts as the data controller for personal data collected through our Service. For any questions regarding this policy, contact us at [email protected].

3. Information We Collect

Personal Data

We may collect the following types of personal data:

Identity Data: Name, username, profile picture
Contact Data: Email address
Account Data: Login credentials, account preferences
User Content: Photos, comments, and other content you submit
Usage Data: Information about how you use our Service

Automatically Collected Information

When you access the Service, we may automatically collect:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device information
Pages visited and time spent
Referring website addresses

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

Consent: Where you have given clear consent for us to process your personal data
Contract: Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you
Legal Obligation: Where processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation
Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests

5. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

Provide and maintain the Service
Process contest entries and votes
Send you updates and notifications
Respond to your inquiries and support requests
Improve and personalize your experience
Ensure the security and integrity of the Service
Comply with legal obligations

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of processing
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage.

9. International Data Transfers

If we transfer your data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with GDPR requirements.

10. Cookies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. For more information, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

11. Third-Party Services

We may share your data with third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Service. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

12. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this 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 "Last updated" date.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Data Protection Officer: [email protected]