Privacy Policy

1. Our privacy approach

Digital Bookstore is built to be a privacy‑friendly, creativity‑focused platform. We collect only the information needed to operate the service, process purchases, and keep the community safe.

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use advertising or third‑party tracking cookies.

2. Information we collect

2.1 Information you provide directly

When you use Digital Bookstore, you may provide:

• Account information (such as username, email address, and password).
• Profile details as part of your account settings (if applicable).
• Creator information, if you apply to become a creator.
• Content you upload as a creator (books, cover images, descriptions, etc.).
• Reviews and ratings you leave on books.
• Feedback or complaints you submit via the contact page.

2.2 Age verification data (creators only)

To become a creator, you must be 18 or older. Age verification may be handled by a secure third‑party identity provider. That provider may process documents or images to confirm your age.

We do not use age verification data for marketing or analytics. It is used solely to confirm eligibility to receive payouts and comply with laws and regulations.

2.3 Purchase and payment information

When you buy a book, we store:

• Information about your purchase (which book, when it was purchased, and the price).
• Your relationship to the content (for example, which books are in your library).

Payments are processed by third‑party providers such as PayPal or card processors. We do not store your full card details. Any payment information you provide is handled according to the payment provider’s own privacy policies.

2.4 Technical and usage information

When you visit or use the platform, we may collect:

• Basic device and browser information.
• Pages visited, buttons clicked, and general navigation behaviour.
• Times and dates of access.

We use this information to understand how the site is used and to improve performance and reliability.

3. Analytics and unique identifiers

We use a privacy‑friendly analytics system that focuses on devices and activity, not on personal identities.

3.1 Unique device identifiers

When you visit the site, a non‑identifiable unique ID may be stored and used to understand how often the site is accessed. This ID:

• Is not tied to your real‑world identity.
• Is not used to track your browsing across other websites.
• Helps us count unique visits and understand general usage patterns.

3.2 What we use analytics for

Analytics help us:

• See how many people are using the platform.
• Understand which books are popular.
• Support creators with insights into how their content is performing.
• Monitor the health and stability of the platform.

We do not use analytics for targeted advertising or profiling outside the platform.

4. Cookies and sessions

4.1 Session cookies

Digital Bookstore uses a single essential session cookie when you sign in. This cookie:

• Keeps you logged in while you move around the site.
• Is required for our account and security features to function correctly.
• Does not contain your password or payment details.

We do not use separate cookies for analytics, advertising, or third‑party tracking.

4.2 Cookie control

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. However, blocking essential session cookies may prevent you from logging in or using some parts of the site.

5. How we use your information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate and maintain the platform.
• Provide access to your account and purchased content.
• Process purchases and creator earnings.
• Review and moderate content and feedback.
• Protect users and enforce our Terms of Service.
• Improve the reliability, performance, and safety of the site.

We do not sell your personal data or use it for third‑party advertising.

6. Sharing of information

6.1 Service providers

We may share limited information with trusted third‑party providers who help us operate the platform, such as:

• Payment processors (for handling purchases and payouts).
• Identity verification providers (for creator age checks).
• Hosting or infrastructure providers.

These providers are only given the information necessary to perform their services and are expected to protect it appropriately.

6.2 Legal requirements and safety

We may disclose information if we believe it is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws or legal processes.
• Enforce our Terms of Service.
• Protect the rights, safety, or property of our users, creators, or the platform.

7. Data retention

We keep information for as long as it is needed to:

• Operate your account and provide access to your purchased content.
• Meet our legal and financial obligations.
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements.

If an account is permanently banned, we may remove or anonymise certain data, while still retaining information that is legally required.

8. Your choices and controls

8.1 Access and updates

You can access and update certain account information through your account settings. Keeping your information accurate helps us provide a better experience.

8.2 Feedback and complaints

If you have concerns about privacy or how your information is used, you can submit feedback via the Contact page. While we do not provide direct two‑way communication, all feedback is reviewed internally.

9. Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes technical, administrative, and organisational measures.

However, no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You are responsible for keeping your login details safe and not sharing them with others.

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the platform, our practices, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

By continuing to use Digital Bookstore after changes are posted, you accept the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Questions

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please submit feedback via the Contact page in the footer. Your message will be reviewed by our moderation and admin team as part of our one‑way feedback system.