At The Digital Arena, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data when you visit our website (thedigitalarena.com), interact with our services, or engage with us through forms, memberships, or events. By using our website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information when you interact with The Digital Arena:

• Personal Information: This includes information you provide directly, such as:

  • Name, email address, phone number, and organization name when you fill out forms (e.g., sponsorship and partnership inquiries, contact forms).

  • Details provided during membership or subscription sign-ups, such as payment information (processed securely via third-party payment providers).

  • Information you share when contacting us via email or other communication channels.

• Non-Personal Information: This includes data collected automatically as you use our website, such as:

  • IP address, browser type, device information, and operating system.

  • Website usage data, including pages visited, time spent on the site, and referral sources (collected via cookies and similar technologies).

• Event and Workshop Data: If you participate in our events, tournaments, or STEM workshops, we may collect additional information, such as your registration details or feedback.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To Provide and Improve Our Services:

  • Respond to inquiries submitted through forms (e.g., sponsorship, partnership, or contact forms).

  • Process membership or subscription requests and manage your account.

  • Organize and manage events, tournaments, and STEM workshops.

• To Communicate With You:

  • Send updates, newsletters, and promotional materials about The Digital Arena, including upcoming events, tournaments, and opportunities (you can opt out at any time).

  • Notify you about changes to our services, policies, or terms.

• To Enhance User Experience:

  • Analyze website usage to improve our site’s functionality, content, and user experience.

  • Personalize your experience on our website (e.g., showing relevant content based on your interests).

• To Comply With Legal Obligations:

  • Fulfill legal requirements under applicable laws, such as the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

  • Respond to lawful requests from authorities, if necessary.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your data in the following circumstances:

• With Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and delivering our services. Examples include:

  • Wix.com, our website hosting platform, which processes data on our behalf.

  • Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) for membership or subscription payments.

  • Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp) for sending newsletters. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as to comply with a court order, legal process, or government request.

• With Your Consent: We may share your information with partners, sponsors, or other third parties if you explicitly consent to such sharing (e.g., sharing your contact details with a sponsor as part of a partnership agreement).

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixels) to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings.

• Analyze website traffic and user behavior.

• Deliver personalized content and advertisements.

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly (e.g., maintaining your session).

• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our site (e.g., Google Analytics).

• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant ads and track the effectiveness of our campaigns.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our site.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement reasonable measures to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Using secure servers and encryption (e.g., SSL) to protect data transmitted through our website.

• Limiting access to your personal information to authorized personnel only.

• Regularly reviewing our security practices to ensure compliance with industry standards.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Right to Rectification: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.

• Right to Erasure: Request the deletion of your personal data (subject to legal obligations).

• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit the use of your data.

• Right to Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format.

• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data for marketing or other purposes.

• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time if we rely on consent to process your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [insert email address, e.g., privacy@thedigitalarena.com]. We will respond to your request within 30 days, as required by law.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. For example:

• Form submissions (e.g., sponsorship inquiries) are retained for up to 2 years to follow up on potential partnerships.

• Website usage data (e.g., analytics) is retained for up to 26 months, in line with Google Analytics’ default settings.

• Membership data is retained for the duration of your membership and up to 1 year after cancellation, unless otherwise requested.

Once the retention period expires, your data will be securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as our sponsors, partners, or social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

9. Children’s Privacy

The Digital Arena’s services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such data, we will take steps to delete it. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

The Digital Arena is based in the United Kingdom, and your data is primarily stored within the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA). However, some of our service providers (e.g., Wix, Google Analytics) may process data outside the UK/EEA. When this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), to comply with UK GDPR requirements.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. If we make significant changes, we may notify you via email or a notice on our website.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: [Insert email address, e.g., privacy@thedigitalarena.com]

• Address: The Digital Arena, [Insert physical address in Cheshire], United Kingdom

• Phone: [Insert phone number, if applicable]

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s data protection authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), at www.ico.org.uk if you believe we have not handled your data appropriately.