Privacy Policy

Thank you for using FlareNetwork.com (“FlareNetwork,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). FlareNetwork is a content platform owned and operated by FandeyTech. FlareNetwork™ and all associated brand elements (collectively, the “Marks”) are the exclusive property of FandeyTech Holdings, Inc., together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, sister companies, and other affiliated entities.

This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit, register an account with, or otherwise interact with our website, applications, or related online services (collectively, the “Services”). It is incorporated into and forms part of our Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meaning given to them in the Terms of Service.

1. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

This Policy applies to all individuals who access or use any part of the Services, regardless of location. By accessing or using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accept the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, you must discontinue use of the Services.

This Policy does not apply to (i) third-party websites, applications, or services that may be linked to or accessible from the Services, even if accessed through the Services, or (ii) information you provide directly to a third party. Your interactions with any such third parties are governed by their own privacy policies and terms.

2. ABOUT US AND OUR PLATFORM

FlareNetwork is a content platform on which creators can upload, publish, and distribute content, and users can register accounts, discover, view, and interact with that content as part of the broader Flare Network ecosystem. To operate the platform, deliver the Services, and continuously improve our offerings, we collect and process information about users and creators as described in this Policy.

We do not run third-party advertising on the Services and we do not sell user data. We do, however, create user profiles internally for the limited purposes described in Section 6.

3. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

3.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you provide directly when using the Services, including:

• Account Information.When you register, we collect information such as username, email address, password (stored in hashed form), date of birth (for age verification), and any optional profile information you choose to provide (e.g., display name, profile picture, biographical information).
• Content You Upload or Post.If you are a creator or user who posts content, we collect the content you upload, post, comment on, or otherwise transmit through the Services, together with associated metadata (e.g., upload date, captions, tags, titles, and descriptions).
• Communications.If you contact us for support, file or respond to a copyright claim under the DMCA Process (described in Section 16), or otherwise communicate with us, we collect the information you provide in those communications.
• Payment and Transaction Information.If the Services include features that require payment (including any account purchases made through our Marketplace), we and our third-party payment processors collect billing and transaction information necessary to process the payment. We do not store full payment card numbers on our systems; that information is handled by our payment processors.
• Verification and Eligibility Information.If we are required to verify your age, identity, residence, or eligibility for certain features, we may collect documentation or other information you submit for that purpose.

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you access or use the Services, we automatically collect certain information about your device and activity, including:

• Device and Connection Information.IP address, device type and identifiers, operating system, browser type and version, language preference, screen resolution, time zone, and similar technical attributes.
• Usage Information.Pages, content, and features you access; search terms entered on the Services; content you view, like, comment on, share, or interact with; the date, time, and duration of your visits; and referring and exit URLs.
• Log Data.Server logs, error reports, performance data, and security events generated in the ordinary operation of the Services.
• Approximate Location.We may infer approximate location (e.g., city, region, or country) from your IP address. We do not collect precise geolocation data from your device unless you affirmatively provide it.

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Payment Processors.Limited transaction and verification data needed to confirm payments and prevent fraud.
• Service Providers.Information from vendors that help us deliver and protect the Services (e.g., hosting, content delivery, analytics, security, and anti-abuse providers).
• Legal and Public Sources.Information from law-enforcement, regulatory, or court orders, and information that is publicly available.
• Other Users.Information other users provide about you (e.g., copyright claims, reports of policy violations, or @-mentions).

3.4 Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies (collectively, “Cookies”) to operate, secure, and improve the Services. The Cookies we use generally fall into the following categories:

• Strictly Necessary.Required for the Services to function, such as authentication, session management, and security.
• Preference.Remember your settings, display preferences, and prior choices (such as language).
• Analytics.Help us understand how users interact with the Services so we can measure performance and improve features.

We do not use Cookies to deliver third-party targeted advertising on the Services. You may control or block Cookies through your browser or device settings; however, disabling Cookies may affect the availability or performance of certain features.

4. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide and Operate the Services.Create and maintain accounts, authenticate users, host and deliver content, process transactions, and respond to your requests.
• Maintain, Improve, and Develop the Services.Diagnose technical issues, measure performance, analyze usage trends, develop new features and Tools (as further described in Section 6 of our Terms of Service), and otherwise improve the user and creator experience.
• Personalization.Tailor aspects of your experience on the Services (such as content surfacing, search results, and account-specific settings) based on your activity, interests, and stated preferences.
• Safety, Security, and Integrity.Protect the Services, our users, and the public, including by detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, spam, malicious activity, and violations of our Terms of Service or applicable law; enforcing our policies; and investigating disputes.
• Communications.Send transactional messages (e.g., account notices, security alerts, claim notifications, and service-related updates) and, where permitted, informational or promotional messages about FlareNetwork. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
• Compliance and Legal Process.Comply with applicable law, respond to lawful requests and legal process, enforce our agreements, and protect the rights, property, and safety of FlareNetwork, our users, and others.

We process personal data only for purposes that are reasonably necessary and proportionate to the products and services we provide, and we do not process personal data for materially different purposes than those disclosed at collection without your consent.

5. LEGAL BASES FOR PROCESSING

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction that requires a legal basis to process personal data, we rely on the following bases, depending on the purpose of processing:

• Performance of a Contract.To provide the Services you request, including creating and maintaining your account, hosting content, and processing transactions.
• Legitimate Interests.To operate and secure the Services; prevent fraud, abuse, and other harmful conduct; improve the Services; understand how the Services are used; and defend our legal rights, where those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.
• Consent.Where required by law (for example, for certain Cookies, certain communications, or processing of sensitive data), we rely on your consent. You may withdraw consent at any time.
• Legal Obligation.To comply with applicable laws and respond to lawful legal process.

6. USER PROFILES

We create internal user profiles by combining account information, content interactions, technical information, and other data we collect or receive about you. We use these profiles to operate, secure, personalize, and improve the Services, and to develop the Tools described in Section 6 of our Terms of Service.

We do not sell, lease, or otherwise transfer user profiles or the underlying personal data to third parties for their own marketing, advertising, or commercial purposes. We do not use user profiles to make decisions about you that produce legal or similarly significant effects (such as decisions about credit, employment, housing, insurance, or access to essential goods or services). To the extent we ever introduce processing that would constitute “profiling” in furtherance of such decisions, we will update this Policy and provide an opt-out mechanism in accordance with applicable law.

7. SHARING AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

7.1 Categories of Recipients

We may share personal data with the following categories of recipients:

• Service Providers and Processors.Vendors that perform services on our behalf, such as cloud hosting, content delivery, data storage, payment processing, analytics, customer support, fraud prevention, security, and communications. These providers are contractually bound to process personal data only on our instructions and in accordance with this Policy.
• Other Users (Limited).Information you choose to publish or make available through the Services (such as your username, profile information, uploaded content, comments, and public interactions) is visible to other users. We do not share non-public account information with other users except as described in this Policy.
• Rights Holders and DMCA Counterparties.When a copyright claim is filed or responded to through the DMCA Process described in Section 14, certain information is shared between the parties as part of that process.
• Legal and Safety.Law enforcement, courts, regulators, or other governmental authorities when we believe disclosure is required by law, legal process, or governmental request, or is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of FlareNetwork, our users, or others.
• Business Transfers.In connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, in which case personal data may be transferred subject to commercially reasonable protections consistent with this Policy.
• Affiliates.Direct and indirect subsidiaries, sister companies, and other entities that share common ownership with FandeyTech, for the purposes described in this Policy.
• With Your Consent.Any other recipient or purpose disclosed to you and to which you have consented.

7.2 No Sale of Personal Data

We do not sell personal data in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration, and we have not sold personal data within the preceding twelve (12) months. We also do not “share” personal data for cross-context behavioral advertising as that term is defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”).

7.3 No Targeted Advertising

We do not engage in targeted advertising on the Services and we do not disclose personal data to third parties for the purpose of targeted advertising as that term is defined under applicable state privacy laws.

8. SENSITIVE DATA

We do not seek to collect sensitive categories of personal data (such as racial or ethnic origin, religion, health information, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, biometric data used to uniquely identify an individual, precise geolocation, or data of known minors under 13). To the extent any sensitive data is collected, processed, or revealed in connection with your use of the Services, we will limit our processing to what is strictly necessary to provide the specific product or service you have requested, and we will not sell that data under any circumstances. Where applicable law requires opt-in consent for processing of sensitive data, we will obtain it.

9. DATA RETENTION

We retain personal data for as long as is reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to provide the Services, to comply with our legal, accounting, and reporting obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements. The applicable retention period for any specific category of personal data depends on the nature and sensitivity of the data, the purposes of processing, our legal obligations, and other relevant considerations.

When we no longer have a legitimate purpose or legal obligation to retain personal data, we will delete, anonymize, or de-identify it. Where deletion is not feasible (for example, because the data is preserved in backups or archives), we will isolate it from further processing until deletion is possible.

10. DATA SECURITY

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These safeguards include encryption of data in transit, restricted access controls, internal policies governing the handling of personal data, and ongoing monitoring of our systems.

No method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is fully secure. While we strive to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for notifying us promptly of any suspected unauthorized access to your account.

11. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

FlareNetwork is operated from the United States. If you access the Services from outside the United States, your personal data may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or in other jurisdictions where we or our service providers operate. The data-protection laws of those jurisdictions may differ from those of your country of residence. By using the Services, you understand that your personal data may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions other than your own. Where such transfers occur from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions requiring transfer safeguards, we rely on appropriate transfer mechanisms (such as the Standard Contractual Clauses) to the extent required by law.

12. CHILDREN’S AND MINORS’ PRIVACY

The Services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, please contact us using the information in Section 19.

For users between 13 and 17 years of age (or, in jurisdictions that define a minor as anyone under 18, all such users), we do not sell personal data, do not process personal data for targeted advertising, and do not engage in profiling for decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects, regardless of consent, where required by applicable law (including Maryland’s Online Data Privacy Act).

13. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

13.1 General Consumer Rights

Subject to applicable law and certain exceptions, you may have the following rights with respect to personal data we hold about you:

• Right to Know and Access.Confirm whether we are processing your personal data and obtain a copy of, or information about, that data.
• Right to Correct.Request that we correct inaccurate personal data.
• Right to Delete.Request that we delete personal data, subject to legal exceptions (such as retention required by law or to defend legal claims).
• Right to Data Portability.Receive a copy of certain personal data in a portable, structured, and machine-readable format.
• Right to Opt Out.Opt out of the sale of personal data, the processing of personal data for targeted advertising, and certain forms of profiling. As described in Sections 7.2, 7.3, and 6, we do not engage in those activities; you nonetheless retain the right to make these requests.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Data.Request that we limit our use or disclosure of sensitive personal data, where applicable.
• Right to Withdraw Consent.Where we process personal data based on your consent, withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing.
• Right to Non-Discrimination.We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.

13.2 How to Exercise Your Rights

You may submit a privacy rights request by contacting us using the information in Section 19, or, where available, through your account settings. We may need to verify your identity (or the authority of an authorized agent acting on your behalf) before responding, including by asking for additional information to match your request to data we hold. We will respond within the time periods required by applicable law.

13.3 Universal Opt-Out Mechanisms

Where required by applicable law, we honor recognized universal opt-out mechanisms, including the Global Privacy Control (GPC), as a valid request to opt out of the sale of personal data and the processing of personal data for targeted advertising. Because we do not sell personal data and do not engage in targeted advertising, the practical effect of a GPC signal is limited; we nonetheless treat such signals as a valid expression of your preferences.

13.4 Authorized Agents

You may designate an authorized agent to submit privacy rights requests on your behalf. We may require the authorized agent to provide proof of authorization (such as written permission signed by you or a power of attorney) and to verify the agent’s identity, and we may require you to verify your own identity directly with us.

13.5 Right to Appeal

If we decline to act on your request, you may appeal that decision by contacting us using the information in Section 19 and clearly stating that you wish to appeal. We will respond to your appeal within the time required by applicable law. If your appeal is denied, you may contact the applicable state attorney general or other regulator to submit a complaint, as further described in Section 14.

14. STATE-SPECIFIC RIGHTS AND DISCLOSURES

The following disclosures supplement the rights described above for residents of specific U.S. states. Where there is any conflict between this section and the rest of this Policy, the more protective provision applicable to you will control.

14.1 Maryland Residents

If you are a resident of Maryland, the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (“MODPA”) provides you with the rights described in Section 13. In addition:

• Data Minimization.We limit our collection of personal data to what is reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide and maintain the Services you request.
• Sensitive Data.We do not sell sensitive personal data, regardless of consent. We process sensitive data only when strictly necessary to provide a specific product or service you have requested or as otherwise permitted by MODPA.
• Minors’ Data.We do not sell the personal data of a consumer we know or should know is under 18, and we do not process such personal data for targeted advertising.
• Complaints.You may submit a complaint regarding our privacy practices to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division.

14.2 California Residents

If you are a resident of California, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the “CCPA”), provides you with the rights described in Section 13. The categories of personal information we have collected, the purposes for collection, the categories of sources, and the categories of recipients are described in Sections 3, 4, and 7 of this Policy. We have not sold or “shared” (as defined under the CCPA) personal information within the preceding twelve (12) months, and we do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 years of age. You may submit complaints to the California Privacy Protection Agency or the California Attorney General.

14.3 Other U.S. States

Residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and other states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws have the rights described in Section 13, subject to the specific provisions, thresholds, and exceptions of their state’s law. You may submit complaints to your state’s attorney general or designated regulator.

15. INTERNATIONAL USERS

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction whose data-protection law applies to our processing of your personal data, you may have additional rights under that law, including the rights described in Section 13, the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority, and, where applicable, the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that produces legal or similarly significant effects. To exercise any such right, please contact us using the information in Section 19.

16. COPYRIGHT AND DMCA

FlareNetwork maintains a structured copyright claims process described in Section 3.3 of our Terms of Service and at https://flarenetwork.com/legal/dmca (the “DMCA Process”). When a copyright claim is filed or responded to through the DMCA Process, the parties involved may be required to provide and exchange certain information, including identifying information and a sworn statement under penalty of perjury. By participating in the DMCA Process, you consent to the limited disclosure of that information to the opposing party and, where applicable, to FlareNetwork’s review team.

17. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

The Services may contain links to, or be integrated with, third-party websites, applications, or services that are not operated by FlareNetwork. This Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third party before providing personal data to it.

18. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Policy from time to time. The “Last Revised” date at the top of this Policy reflects when the most recent changes took effect. If we make material changes, we will provide reasonable notice (for example, by posting a prominent notice on the Services or sending you a notification) before the changes take effect. The current version of the Policy is always available at https://flarenetwork.com/legal/privacy-policy. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

19. CONTACT US

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://flarenetwork.com/

By continuing to use the Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.