Canada Cartel — Privacy Policy

Federally registered not‑for‑profit media organization; publisher of ABSOLUTE — the Canada Cartel magazine

Effective date: October 13, 2025
Contact for privacy: privacy@CanadaCartel.ca
Mailing address: 5 Nevets Road, Suite 88, Brampton, Ontario, L6T 5T2, Canada

Canada Cartel is a photojournalism‑led, citizen‑first Canadian media organization. We operate on the principles Truth Will Out • No Politics • No Religion • No Drama and adhere to Canadian Press (CP) style and professional newsroom ethics. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information in Canada.

Scope. This Policy applies to our websites, forms, newsletters, submissions (including CARTEL Freelancers), donor/support pages, and other services we control. When we publish journalism, we do so in the public interest and apply additional newsroom standards described on our Editorial Standards page.

1) The information we collect

Information you provide

Contact details (name, email, phone, mailing address)
Professional details (bio, role, organization, portfolio links, social handles)
Submissions (story tips, pitches, articles, images, video, captions, transcripts, releases)
Newsletter preferences and consent
Donation/support information (amount, frequency, preferences) – processed by third‑party payment providers

Information collected automatically

Technical data (IP address, device/browser, pages visited, timestamps, referring URLs)
Cookies and similar technologies for site performance, analytics, and preferences
Media metadata you upload (e.g., EXIF data) where present

Information from third parties

Public sources (e.g., organizational websites, social profiles)
Service providers (analytics, email delivery, form tools, payment processors)

2) How we use personal information

Editorial operations: receiving tips and pitches; communicating with sources and contributors; verifying facts; arranging interviews; managing assignments and publication.
Publishing & credit: editing and publishing contributed content with bylines/credits and contextual information (e.g., location, date).
Community & services: operating our newsletters, contact forms, events, CARTEL Freelancers program, and Media Studio services.
Support & fundraising: managing donor records and grant communications (via secure third‑party processors).
Safety & compliance: detecting abuse, enforcing terms, responding to legal requests, and meeting regulatory obligations.
Analytics & improvement: understanding readership and improving content, accessibility, and site performance.

3) Legal bases / purposes

We process personal information for consent‑based communication (e.g., newsletters under CASL), legitimate organizational purposes consistent with a not‑for‑profit newsroom (e.g., editorial operations, security), and legal obligations (e.g., records, takedowns, compliance). Where required, we obtain express consent and provide clear opt‑out options.

4) Cookies, analytics, and preferences

We use cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences, measure site usage, and improve performance. You can adjust browser settings to refuse cookies; some features may not function. We may use privacy‑respecting analytics tools and/or mainstream analytics providers configured to minimize data collection where possible.

5) When we disclose information

Service providers who perform services on our behalf (hosting, email delivery, analytics, forms, payment processing) under contractual safeguards.
Editorial publication: names/bios/bylines, captions, locations, and other contextual details necessary to publish journalism and credits.
Legal & safety: where required or permitted by law (e.g., subpoenas, to protect rights, safety, and security).
With your consent or at your request.

We do not sell personal information.

6) International transfers

Our service providers may store or process information outside your province or outside Canada. We use contractual and technical safeguards and select reputable providers; however, foreign laws may allow access by courts, law enforcement, or regulators.

7) Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of information (e.g., encryption in transit, access controls, least‑privilege accounts). No method is 100% secure; please use discretion when submitting sensitive information online.

8) Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Policy or as required by law. Editorial records and published materials may be retained as part of the permanent historical record. Routine contact form records are typically retained up to 24 months; contributor and donor records may be retained longer for operational and compliance reasons.

9) Your choices & rights

Email consent: You can withdraw consent using the unsubscribe link or by contacting privacy@CanadaCartel.ca.
Access & correction: Request access to or correction of your personal information by emailing privacy@CanadaCartel.ca. We will respond within a reasonable time, subject to legal exceptions.
Do not track: We honour clear, platform‑level opt‑out settings where feasible.
Media metadata: Remove sensitive EXIF/location data before uploading if desired.

10) Children & minors

We do not knowingly solicit personal information from children. For identifiable minors featured in editorial work, we apply heightened standards and, where appropriate, guardian consent in accordance with our Editorial Standards.

11) Third‑party links

Our sites may link to third‑party websites or services we do not control. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

12) Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect operational or legal changes. The Effective date at the top indicates when it last changed. Significant changes will be highlighted on the site.

13) Contact

Questions or requests about privacy: privacy@CanadaCartel.ca
General inquiries: hello@CanadaCartel.ca
Newsroom: newsroom@CanadaCartel.ca