Privacy Policy
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Welcome to the website for the Kokrajhar Literature Festival (hereinafter, ‘the Website’), a platform dedicated to celebrating literary and cultural endeavors. This Privacy Policy sets out our privacy policies and practices with respect to information collected and used through our website, applications, and any other online services (hereinafter, ‘the Services’) that link to this Privacy Policy, including any websites or online services we operate.
1.2. Our data protection practices are governed by applicable data privacy laws, including the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 (“SPDI Rules”). However, India’s data protection regime is undergoing significant changes with the introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“DPDP Act”), published in the Gazette of India on August 11, 2023. Once in force, the DPDP Act will supersede the SPDI Rules and introduce enhanced obligations on data processing, security, and privacy protection.
We are committed to protecting your rights as a data principal, including your right to access, correction, erasure, and grievance redressal, as required under the DPDP Act. We are actively monitoring developments and will assess the implications of the DPDP Act on our operations to ensure full compliance. As necessary, we will update this Privacy Policy and our data protection practices, including our processes for obtaining consent, secure data transfers, and handling personal data, to reflect the new regulatory requirements.
The organizers reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. Any updates will be posted on our website, application, or other online services, with the ‘Last Updated’ date reflecting the most recent changes.
1.3. You are encouraged to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed of updates. You will be deemed to have been made aware of, will be subject to, and will be deemed to have accepted the changes in any revised Privacy Policy by your continued use of the Website after the date such revised Privacy Policy is posted.
COLLECTING YOUR DATA
2.1. THE TYPES OF DATA WE COLLECT
2.1.1. Personal Data: While using our Services, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information (PII) that can be used to contact or identify you. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:
* First and Last Name
* Email Address
* Postal Address
* ZIP/Postal Code/Country
* Telephone Number
* Age
* Gender
* Occupation
* Interests
* Photograph
* Preferences within our services
2.1.2. While using our Services and payments therein, we may ask you to provide financial information such as Credit/Debit Card number and/or Bank account number. While we may ask for your details, it is hereby clarified that we do not retain any payment-related information whatsoever. Any such data/personal information stored by banks and other payment platforms is not accessible to us, and we shall not be held liable for any violation done by payment gateways. We urge you to review the privacy policies of such third parties, including banks and other payment platforms, to further understand the types of data collected by them.
2.2. HOW IS THIS DATA COLLECTED
2.2.1. Directly Provided By You: We may ask you to provide your personal information or information about your preferences or interests when you:
* Subscribe/Register for an account on our Services.
* Sign up to receive regular updates from us.
* Make a purchase on our Services.
* Participate on social media accounts involving our events, initiatives, or brands.
* Provide information about other people through our ‘refer-a-friend’ email feature.
* Submit user-generated content on any part of our Services that permit it.
* Knowingly volunteer information on any other part of the Sites (e.g., request for customer service, submit a job application).
2.2.2. Collected By Us: In addition to any information you provide directly to us, we and our third-party service providers may use a variety of technologies that automatically collect certain non-personal information when you interact with our Services, including but not limited to the following:
* Device Data: When you access our Services through a computer or a mobile device, we may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of device you use, your device’s unique ID, the IP address of your device, your device’s operating system, the type of Internet browser you use, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data. We may also collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Services or when you access the Services through a device.
* Usage Data: We may log certain data about your usage of our Services, such as log files, clickstream data, a reading history of the pages you view, your search terms and search results, and additional data related to the traffic on our Services, such as date/time stamp of access, advertisements viewed, software crash reports, session identification number, access times, and referring website addresses. It is possible that such data is collected even if the Services are not open on your device or you’re not logged in.
* Cookies and Related Technologies: We use cookies (very small files that are sent by the website to the customer’s access device) which can be accessed by us when you visit our Services in the future. These cookies enable you to browse the website and use its features. We use these cookies to measure and analyze how you use our Services. This allows us to continuously improve the website and your experience. When browsing online, the Services give you the option to enable ‘remember preferences’ (for example, your username, language, or location). These cookies are also used by us to deliver relevant advertisements to you and, in addition, limit the number of times you see an advertisement.
* You can instruct your browser to refuse all Cookies or to indicate when a Cookie is being sent. We and our third-party providers may use Local Device Storage in connection with the Service for any lawful business purpose, including without limitation browsers that offer a ‘Do Not Track’ (hereinafter, ‘DNT’) feature that lets you inform websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. We do not respond to these signals, and at this time, we do not alter our practices when we receive a DNT signal from a visitor’s browser. You may opt out of the use of your Data for online behavioral advertising by third parties at any time.
* Tracking Technologies: We may use web beacons, web bugs, internet or pixel tags, clear gifs, digital fingerprinting, and similar technologies on the Service and in our communications with you, such as within e-mail, text messages, and push notifications. We use Tracking Technologies to determine which of our messages have been opened by recipients and for lawful business purposes.
* We may also use Tracking Technologies for the purposes of ‘Online Behavioral Advertising’ (OBA), which allows us to serve advertisements tailored to the interests you have shown by browsing on the Services on other sites, applications, destinations, and services, using the same or a different device. To enable OBA, we may use Tracking Technologies to collect data, including but not limited to the make, model, settings, specifications (e.g., CPU speed, connection speed, browser type, operating system, device identifier), and geographic location of your device, date/time stamp, IP address, pages visited, time of visits, content viewed, ads viewed, the site(s), application(s), destination(s), and/or service(s) you arrived from, and other clickstream data.
2.2.3. Collected from third-party sources: We may also acquire your personal and non-personal data offline or otherwise from other sources outside of our Services to, among other things, enable us to supplement the information contained in our database and to better customize your experience with us.
2.2.4. Collected from Social Media Sources: When using our Services, if you choose to access, visit, or utilize any social media platforms integrated with our Services, we may receive data that you have made available to those platforms. This may include, but is not limited to, your contact information, registration details, and information collected via cookies while you use the social media platform. We will only access this data with your explicit consent and will handle it in accordance with the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.
3. USING YOUR DATA
We use the information we learn about you to help us to personalize and improve your experience with us. We may use your personal and non-personal information in the following ways:
3.1. To manage your account and registration as a user of the Services which gives you access to different functionalities of the Services including processing your subscription to any of our products, participation in any of our contests or submission of any content to us.
3.2. To contact you by email, telephone calls, SMS, or other equivalent forms of electronic communication, such as a mobile application’s push notifications regarding updates or informative communications related to the functionalities, products or contracted services, including security updates, when necessary or reasonable for their implementation.
3.3. To ensure performance of a contract, its compliance and undertaking of the items or services that you have purchased or of any other contract with us through the Services.
3.4. To send you news, special offers, and information about Our services and events, but only if you have opted to receive such communications. You can opt-out at any time by following the instructions in Our communications or by contacting us directly. Additionally, We may collect and use your geographic location information to provide you with tailored content, including advertising and sponsored messages based on your location. By using Our services you give us explicit consent to use your geographic data, although you can manage your preferences regarding location-based services through your account settings or by contacting Us.
3.5. To provide and maintain the Services, including to monitor your usage of the Services, your customer service requests while using the Services and completing such requests as soon as reasonably possible.
3.6. To evaluate or conduct a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding.
3.7. To evaluate your application for career/employment with us, in connection with an employment inquiry and for related recruiting, reporting and recordkeeping purposes whether or not we hire you, for as long as required or permitted by law.
3.8. Towards other purposes such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and to evaluate and improve our Services, products, marketing and your experience with us.
We may also share your data in certain situations:
3.9. With our service providers we may share your data to monitor and analyze the use of our Services, conduct technical maintenance, perform market research, manage community forums, provide auction services, facilitate e-commerce, assist with personal/job searches, and enable advertising functionalities. We will only share your data to the extent necessary to provide these services and for the specific purposes outlined above. Your data will not be shared for any unrelated purposes without your explicit consent.
If you choose to share personal information or interact in the public areas of our Services (such as forums or community boards), please be aware that this information may be viewed by all users and could be publicly distributed outside Our Services. We encourage you to exercise caution when sharing personal information in these areas. We may also disclose your data for other purposes, but only with your explicit consent.
3.11. With governmental agencies for the purposes of health, safety and other matters in the public interest or to cooperate with official investigations or legal proceedings brought by or otherwise involving governmental and/or law enforcement officials, as well as private parties, including, for example, in response to search warrants, court orders, or other legal process. We may also provide access to protect our rights and property and those of our agents, customers, and others including to enforce our agreements, policies, and terms of use.
3.12. Your information may be used for services that may be managed or participated in by one or more third party providers. In such cases, the Data may be used by us or by such provider(s), each pursuant to its own policies. We urge you to review the privacy policies of the such third-party providers to further understand the types of data collected by them.
3.13 Your information may also be used for:
(a) Compliance with any judgment or decree or order issued under any law for the time being in force in India, or any judgment or order relating to claims of a contractual or civil nature under any law for the time being in force outside India.
(b) Responding to a medical emergency involving a threat to the life or immediate threat to Your health or any other individual.
(c) For measures to provide medical treatment or health services to any individual during an epidemic, outbreak of disease, or any other threat to public health.
(d) For taking measures to ensure safety of or provide assistance or services to any individual during any disaster or any breakdown of public order. The expression “disaster” shall have the meaning assigned to the term in Section 2(d) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
(e) For the purposes of employment or those related to safeguarding the company from loss or liability, such as prevention of corporate espionage, maintenance of confidentiality of trade secrets, intellectual property, classified information or provision of any service or benefit sought by You as an employee.
4. RETENTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA
4.1. We will retain your Data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy or as required by applicable law. The retention period will be determined based on the nature of the data, our legal obligations, and our legitimate business interests. After the retention period, We will securely delete or anonymize your Data, ensuring it cannot be used to identify you.
4.2. In connection with payments made through our Service, we may retain certain information, such as your name, age, and residence, for record-keeping purposes related to the transaction. We do not retain any financial information, including credit/debit card numbers or bank account details, as all payments are processed through secure third-party payment gateways. While We will not retain or sell your financial information, We may need to transfer such information to trusted third-party payment providers who require access to fulfil a transaction. We ensure that these providers are compliant with relevant data protection regulations and maintain adequate security measures to protect your data during this transfer.
4.3 We have mechanism in place to inform users when their data retention period is nearing expiration or when data is no longer needed, reinforcing user control over their information.
4.4 We take necessary steps to ensure that Our data retention policy is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary to comply with any changes in legal requirements or operational practices.
5. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR DATA
Unless otherwise specified on the Services, We may share your personal information, including your name, email address, postal address, and phone number, with our parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, and trusted third parties for the purpose of marketing our services tailored to your interests. We will only share your information with third parties who have adequate data protection measures in place. If you do not wish to have your information shared with third parties for marketing purposes, you have the right to opt-out. To do so, please contact our Privacy Policy Coordinator specified in Clause 9. We will process your request as soon as possible and ensure that your preferences are honoured.
6. TRANSFER OF YOUR DATA
6.1. Your information is processed at our operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are situated. As such, information may be transferred to and maintained on computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction, where the data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. Any transfer of Personal Data outside India will only occur in compliance with the norms provided under the applicable data protection laws of India, particularly when such processing is related to the offering of goods or services to you within the territory of India. We will take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy. No transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or country unless there are adequate safeguards in place to protect your data, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring that the destination country provides an adequate level of data protection; or
• Implementing contractual clauses with third parties that provide assurances of data security.
For avoidance of doubt, users have rights regarding their personal data, including the right to access, correct, or delete their information. If you have questions regarding our data transfer practices or the safeguards in place for your Personal Data, please contact us at given details in clause 9.
7. SECURITY MEASURES
7.1. If you do not wish to receive marketing or other commercial messages from us, simply follow the unsubscribe instructions contained within the message you receive. Please note however, that you may continue to receive certain communications that are necessary for the Services such as renewal notifications, invoices, technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative service bulletins.
7.2. If you do not wish to be a part of our Tracking Technologies as detailed in Clause 2.2.2 and the Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA) thereof, you may be able to opt-out by visiting http://www.aboutads.info or http://www.networkadvertising.org or http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk or by clicking the “Ad Choices” icon that appears in adverts served through OBA. Please note that the option to opt-out applies only to tracking by Third Party Providers across the Services and other sites, applications, destinations and services but not tracking among pages within the Services itself.
7.3. The use of Tracking Technologies by Third Party Providers is subject to their own privacy policies, not this Privacy Policy, and we have no responsibility or liability in connection therewith.