Privacy & Data Protection
Libya Herald respects the privacy of its customers and readers. Libya Herald (“we”, “us” or “our”) is an online news and media service. This Privacy & Data Protection Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect personal data when you visit our website, create an account, subscribe, take part in interactive features (such as comments), or contact us.
In this policy, “personal data” means information that identifies you (directly or indirectly). “Aggregate data” is combined information about site usage that does not identify you as an individual.
1. Personal data we may collect
Account and subscription details: name, email address, login credentials, subscription status, and preferences.
Enquiries and correspondence: information you provide when you contact us (for example via a contact form), including message content and any attachments you send.
Interactive features: information you provide when you comment, post, respond to surveys, or otherwise participate in community features.
Corporate licences: information required to administer organisational access and to report usage to the licence holder in line with the licence terms.
Technical and usage data: IP address, device identifiers, operating system, browser type, referral source, pages viewed, and time spent on the site.
2. How we use your personal data
Provide the website and its features, including registrations, subscriptions and account administration.
Respond to enquiries and provide customer support.
Enable participation in interactive features (for example comments) where you choose to use them.
Send service messages (for example account or subscription notices) and, where you have opted in, marketing communications about our products and services.
Monitor and enforce compliance with our Terms and Conditions and Copyright Policy, and help keep our services safe and secure.
Prepare usage reporting for corporate licence holders, where applicable.
3. Cookies, analytics and aggregate information
We use cookies and similar technologies and collect technical and usage information to operate the site, understand how it is used, improve performance and content, and measure the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing. Where we use information in aggregate form, it is combined so that individual users are not identified.
Collect technical details such as IP address, operating system and browser type for system administration, troubleshooting and security.
Analyse how visitors use the site (for example pages visited and time spent) to improve our website, journalism and user experience.
Measure and report audience reach and engagement to advertisers using aggregated statistics.
Support business planning and strategic development using aggregated and anonymised insights.
Audit and monitor usage of the site, including under corporate licences.
4. Lawful bases for processing
We process personal data only where we have a lawful basis. Depending on the context, this may include: (a) contract (to provide subscriptions, accounts or services you request), (b) consent (for example for certain marketing), (c) legitimate interests (to run and improve our news service, keep it secure, and understand how it is used), and (d) legal obligation (to comply with applicable laws and lawful requests).
5. Who we share personal data with
We do not disclose personal data to third parties except as described below:
Service providers (processors) we use to operate the site and deliver services (for example hosting, analytics, customer support systems, email delivery, payment processing). They process personal data on our instructions and only as needed to provide their services.
Advertisers and measurement partners (where applicable) who may receive aggregated reporting, and may receive limited technical identifiers through cookies or similar technologies to measure performance.
Corporate licence holders where your access is provided through an organisation, in which case we may share usage information as required by the corporate licence agreement.
Legal and regulatory disclosures where required by law, court order, or where necessary to protect our rights, users, or the public.
Business transfers: if we sell or reorganise our business, personal data may be shared with prospective or actual buyers and their advisers, subject to appropriate safeguards.
6. International transfers
Your personal data may be processed in countries other than where you live. Where we transfer personal data internationally, we take steps to ensure it is protected, for example by using reputable professional data service providers.
7. Data retention
We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to provide the service, meet legal or accounting obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. When data is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymise it.
8. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction. No online service can be completely secure, but we work to maintain safeguards appropriate to the nature of the data and the risks involved.
9. Your choices
If you wish to correct inaccurate data and/or request deletion, please use our Contact Us form. You can also opt out of marketing at any time by using an unsubscribe option in emails or newsletters (where provided) or Contact Us form. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
10. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we handle personal data, please Contact us so we can try to resolve the issue.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices, technology or legal requirements. The “Last updated” date at the top of this policy shows when it was most recently revised.
12. Contact us
If you have questions about this policy or our data practices, please contact us using the Contact Us form on our website.