Privacy policy

Welcome to Author.Ph ("Platform", "Website", "we", "our", or "us").

Author.Ph is an online community and publishing platform that enables writers and readers to create, publish, share, discover, and discuss literary works and related content.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and what rights you have regarding your personal data.

By using Author.Ph, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account or use the Platform, we may collect information including:

* Name or pen name;

* Username;

* Email address;

* Password (stored in encrypted form);

* Profile photograph or avatar;

* Biography and profile information;

* Website and social media links;

* Literary works, blog posts, comments, and other content you publish;

* Communications sent to our support team.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access the Platform, we may automatically collect:

* IP address;

* Browser type and version;

* Operating system;

* Device information;

* Referring website addresses;

* Pages viewed and actions performed;

* Date and time of visits;

* Login history;

* Cookies and similar technologies.

2.3 Analytics Data

We may collect anonymous or aggregated statistics regarding user activity, readership, views, engagement, and Platform performance.

We use collected information to:

* Create and manage user accounts;

* Provide Platform functionality;

* Display user profiles and published content;

* Enable communication between users;

* Process comments and interactions;

* Send account notifications and service announcements;

* Provide readership statistics and rankings;

* Improve the Platform and user experience;

* Detect abuse, fraud, spam, and security threats;

* Comply with legal obligations.

Content you voluntarily publish on Author.Ph may become publicly accessible, including:

* Literary works;

* Blog posts;

* Comments;

* Public profile information;

* Author biographies.

Search engines may index publicly available content.

You are responsible for deciding what information you make public.

Where applicable, we process personal information based on:

* Your consent;

* Performance of a contract between you and Author.Ph;

* Compliance with legal obligations;

* Legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the Platform.

Author.Ph uses cookies and similar technologies to:

* Maintain user sessions;

* Remember preferences and settings;

* Improve security;

* Analyze traffic and usage patterns;

* Enhance user experience.

Users may disable cookies through browser settings, although some Platform features may not function properly.

Author.Ph may send emails related to:

* Account verification;

* Password recovery;

* New comments and interactions;

* Daily or periodic activity summaries;

* Administrative notices;

* Updates to policies or terms;

* Platform news and announcements.

Users may manage notification preferences through their account settings.

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information only in the following circumstances:

8.1 Service Providers

With trusted third-party providers who assist in operating the Platform, such as:

* Hosting providers;

* Email delivery services;

* Security providers;

* Analytics services;

* Cloud infrastructure providers.

8.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by:

* Applicable law;

* Court orders;

* Government authorities;

* Law enforcement agencies.

8.3 Protection of Rights

We may disclose information when necessary to:

* Protect Author.Ph;

* Protect users and visitors;

* Investigate violations of our Terms of Use;

* Prevent fraud or abuse.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:

* Provide Platform services;

* Comply with legal obligations;

* Resolve disputes;

* Enforce our agreements.

Published literary works and public content may remain archived unless removed by the author or required by law.

We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information, including:

* Password encryption;

* Secure server infrastructure;

* Access controls;

* Monitoring for unauthorized access;

* Security updates and maintenance.

However, no method of transmission or storage can guarantee absolute security.

Subject to applicable law, users may have the right to:

* Access their personal information;

* Correct inaccurate information;

* Update profile details;

* Request deletion of personal information;

* Object to certain processing activities;

* Withdraw consent where consent is the basis for processing;

* Receive information about how their data is used.

Requests may be submitted through the contact information provided below.

Author.Ph is not intended for children under thirteen (13) years of age.

Users under eighteen (18) should use the Platform only with the knowledge and consent of a parent or legal guardian where required by applicable law.

Author.Ph may be accessed from countries outside the Philippines.

By using the Platform, you acknowledge that your information may be processed and stored in jurisdictions where our servers or service providers operate.

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

Users should review the privacy policies of those websites independently.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Any changes will become effective upon publication on the Platform.

Continued use of Author.Ph after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy, personal data requests, or privacy-related concerns, please contact Rusenas company representatives. 

Author.Ph is committed to complying with the provisions of:

* Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012);

* Applicable regulations of the National Privacy Commission (NPC);

* Other applicable laws governing privacy, electronic communications, and online services.

Where local laws provide additional rights or protections, users may also exercise those rights as permitted by applicable law.