Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Topical. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our Service.

2. Data We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

  • Account Information: Email address, username, password (hashed)
  • Profile Information: Optional bio, website, location, avatar
  • Content: Posts, comments, votes, and other contributions you make
  • Payment Information: For paid accounts (processed by third-party payment providers)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

  • Usage Data: Pages viewed, topics browsed, time spent on platform
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
  • Cookies: Session cookies for authentication and preferences

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your information to:

  • Provide and maintain the Service
  • Authenticate your account and prevent fraud
  • Enable you to create and participate in discussions
  • Send you important service updates and notifications
  • Improve our Service and develop new features
  • Moderate content and enforce our Terms of Service
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Data Ownership & Control

You own all content you create on Topical.

  • Export Your Data: You can download all your data at any time from account settings
  • Delete Your Data: You can permanently delete your account and all associated data
  • Edit Your Content: You can edit or delete individual posts and comments
  • Control Visibility: Manage privacy settings for your profile and content

5. Data Sharing

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

5.1 Public Content

Posts, comments, and other contributions you make are publicly visible on Topical and may be cross-posted to external social media platforms with your username.

5.2 Service Providers

  • Cloudflare: Hosting and infrastructure
  • Payment Processors: For paid account subscriptions
  • Email Service: For transactional emails

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Topical, our users, or others.

5.4 CSAM Reporting

We are legally required to report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.

6. Data Security

We implement security measures to protect your data:

  • Passwords are hashed and salted using industry-standard algorithms
  • All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
  • Data stored on Cloudflare's secure infrastructure
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Access controls and authentication requirements for internal systems

7. Data Retention

  • Active Accounts: Data retained for as long as your account is active
  • Deleted Accounts: Most data permanently deleted within 30 days
  • Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer to comply with legal requirements
  • Backups: Data in backups may persist for up to 90 days after deletion

8. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies for:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and basic functionality
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
  • Analytics: Basic usage statistics (aggregated and anonymized)

We do not use third-party advertising cookies or trackers.

9. Children's Privacy

Topical 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.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this privacy policy.

11. Your Rights

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

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your data
  • Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
  • Object: Object to certain types of processing
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where we rely on it

To exercise these rights, visit your account settings or contact us at privacy@topical.app

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through the Service. Please review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or concerns, contact us at:

Email: privacy@topical.app

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