Privacy Policy - Guide to Spokane

Last Updated: January 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Guide to Spokane (“we,” “our,” or “us”). 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 information when you use our directory listing service.

By accessing or using our website, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read this document carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

Account Information: Name, email address, username, password, and profile information when you create an account.
Business Listing Information: Business name, address, phone number, website URL, operating hours, services offered, and other details you provide when creating a business listing.
Contact Information: Information you provide when contacting us, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and correspondence content.
Payment Information: If you purchase premium listings or services, we collect payment details, billing addresses, and transaction information.
User-Generated Content: Reviews, ratings, comments, photos, and other content you submit to our platform.

2.2 Non-Personal Information

We also collect non-personal information, including:

Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, including pages visited, time spent, links clicked, and search queries.
Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and internet service provider.
Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address or more precise location if you grant permission.
Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

Provide and Improve Services: To operate our directory platform, process transactions, and enhance user experience.
Personalization: To customize content, recommendations, and advertising based on your preferences and browsing history.
Communication: To respond to inquiries, send service-related notifications, updates, and marketing communications.
Analytics: To analyze usage patterns, conduct research, and gather demographic information to improve our services.
Security: To detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and other potential security issues.
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests.

4. Data Minimization and Retention

We follow the principle of data minimization, collecting only the information necessary for the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy. We retain your personal information only for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

5. Your Data Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
Right to Restriction of Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data under certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances.
Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent as the lawful basis for processing.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of sensitive data
Regular security assessments
Access controls and authentication protocols
Staff training on data protection
Regular system updates and security patches

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

7. Third-Party Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with:

Service Providers: Third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting, and customer service.
Business Partners: Companies with whom we collaborate to offer combined services or promotions.
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, users, or public safety.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. When we share information with service providers, we ensure they use your information only for the purposes we specify and in compliance with this Privacy Policy.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze trends, administer the website, track users’ movements, and gather demographic information.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your access to certain features of our website.

9. International Data Transfers

We may transfer your personal information to countries outside your country of residence, including to countries that may not provide the same level of data protection. When we do so, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information and comply with applicable data protection laws.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete such information from our systems.

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. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Privacy Policy on our website and updating the “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our website after such modifications will constitute your acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

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

Guide to Spokane
Spokane, WA
hey@guidetospokane.com

13. GDPR Compliance

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain data protection rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We are committed to complying with the GDPR requirements and ensuring that your personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

13.1 Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

Your consent
Performance of a contract with you
Compliance with a legal obligation
Protection of vital interests
Public interest
Legitimate interests pursued by us or a third party

13.2 Data Protection Officer

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who is responsible for overseeing questions regarding this Privacy Policy. You can contact our DPO at notice@guidetospokane.com.

13.3 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a high risk to your rights and freedoms, we will inform you and the relevant supervisory authority without undue delay and, where feasible, within 72 hours after becoming aware of the breach.

14. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have certain rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other California privacy laws. These rights include:

The right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
The right to request deletion of your personal information
The right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information
The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights