Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
At USN (“we”, “our”, “us”), accessible via the website located at the-usn.com, we are deeply committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting the integrity of your personal data. As a privacy-focused organization, we recognize the importance of transparency, accountability, and compliance with international data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). This Privacy Policy details how your personal information is collected, used, protected, and disclosed when you use our services.
2. Scope of Policy and Data Controller Role
This Privacy Policy applies to all visitors, users, and others who access the-usn.com or engage with our services. USN acts as the data controller under GDPR and as a “business” as defined by the CCPA, determining the purposes and methods of processing your personal data.
Should you have any inquiries regarding data privacy or protection practices, you may contact us at [email protected].
3. Categories of Personal Data Processed
We may collect and process the following categories of data:
a) Usage Data
Information automatically collected when you visit the-usn.com, including browser type and version, IP address, time zone settings, referring URLs, session duration, and page interaction data.
b) Account Data
Details you provide when registering for an account or completing forms, such as your full name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and login credentials.
c) Profile Data
Information related to your interaction with our products or services, including purchasing behavior, feedback, preferences, and browsing history.
d) Communication Data
Records of direct correspondence with us, including support tickets, contact form submissions, live chat transcripts, and email communications.
e) Technical Data
Device-related and systems information, such as operating system, hardware specifications, browser plugins, and network type.
f) Transaction Data
Details about payments and purchases made through the-usn.com, including billing details, order history, delivery addresses, and transaction identifiers. Note that we do not store full payment card details; payment data is handled securely through authorized payment processors.
g) Preference Data
Marketing and communication preferences, such as opted-in newsletters, product interest categories, and consent for promotional messaging.
4. Legal Bases for Processing Your Data
We process your personal data under the following lawful bases pursuant to Article 6 of the GDPR and applicable provisions under the CCPA:
– Consent: Where you have provided clear consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes (e.g., subscribing to newsletters).
– Contractual necessity: When processing is required to perform a contract or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (e.g., product purchases).
– Legal obligation: When we are required to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
– Legitimate interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving website functionality, preventing fraud), unless overridden by your interests and fundamental rights.
Where CCPA applies, we may also collect personal data for “business purposes” including service fulfillment, customer service, auditing, security, and legal compliance.
5. Your Rights
Under GDPR and relevant laws, you are entitled to exercise the following rights in relation to your personal data:
– Right of Access – Obtain confirmation of whether we process your data and request a copy.
– Right to Rectification – Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
– Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”) – Request deletion of your data where legally permissible.
– Right to Restrict Processing – Request limitation of processing in certain circumstances.
– Right to Data Portability – Receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and have the right to transmit it to another controller.
– Right to Object – Object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
– Right Not to Be Subject to Automated Decisions – You have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
CCPA Rights (for California residents) include:
– Right to Know – About the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect.
– Right to Delete – Personal information we have collected, subject to legal exceptions.
– Right to Opt-Out – Of the sale or sharing of personal data.
– Right to Non-Discrimination – For exercising your privacy rights.
To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We may require verification of your identity before responding to your request in accordance with applicable law.
6. Security Measures
We implement robust technical and organizational safeguards to protect your personal information, including but not limited to:
– Encryption protocols (SSL/TLS) for data transmission
– Restricted access controls and authentication mechanisms
– Secure server environments with firewall protections
– Regular data backups and disaster recovery procedures
– Employee training on data privacy and incident response
Although we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage can guarantee absolute security.
7. International Transfers
As part of our global operations, your personal data may be processed or stored in countries outside of your jurisdiction, including those which may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country. When we transfer data internationally — including from the European Economic Area — we ensure such transfers are compliant with relevant laws via appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, or certification under data protection frameworks.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Retention periods vary depending on the type of data:
– Account Data: retained as long as your user account remains active
– Transaction Data: retained for seven (7) years for legal and tax obligations
– Communication Data: retained for two (2) years from final contact
– Technical and Usage Data: retained for analytics purposes for no more than fourteen (14) months
– Preference Data: retained until you withdraw your consent or opt out of communications
Upon expiration of applicable retention periods, data is securely deleted or anonymized.
9. Cookie Policy
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on the-usn.com, including:
– Essential Cookies: Necessary for core site functionality such as account login, shopping cart, and checkout.
– Functional Cookies: Enable personalization features such as language and location settings.
– Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website (e.g., Google Analytics).
– Performance Cookies: Improve site speed and measure key performance metrics.
10. Cookie Management and Compliance
On your first visit to the-usn.com, you will be presented with a cookie banner allowing you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You may also manage your preferences at any time via your browser settings or through our on-site cookie control tool.
We honor “Do Not Track” signals and provide CCPA opt-out mechanisms where applicable. For more information about managing cookies and your rights related to online tracking, please email us at [email protected].
11. Children’s Data – Under 13 Protection
We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, please do not submit any personal data to us. If we become aware that we have unintentionally gathered information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information from our records.
12. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our operations, technologies, legal requirements, or user feedback. Material changes will be communicated via the-usn.com or directly through communication channels when appropriate. We encourage you to periodically review this page to stay informed.
13. Contact
For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your data privacy rights, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://the-usn.com
We are committed to addressing your inquiries in a timely and transparent manner.
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We strive to uphold the highest standards of compliance with the GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable data protection laws. If you have any concerns regarding your privacy or would like to exercise your rights, please reach out to us at [email protected].