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Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how The Smile Channel (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our platform at thesmilechannel.com and related services.

If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at privacy@thesmilechannel.com.

1. Who we are

The Smile Channel is operated by Perfect Publishing. References to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the operator of the platform. We are the data controller for personal information collected through this platform.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide directly

  • Account information: name, email address, password (hashed)
  • Profile information: bio, profile photo, location, professional title, social links
  • Content you publish: books, episodes, reviews, comments
  • Payment information: billing address (card details are processed by Stripe and not stored by us)
  • Communications: support tickets, emails, messages you send through the platform

Information we collect automatically

  • Usage data: pages visited, features used, time spent, referring URLs
  • Device information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
  • Cookies and similar technologies: see our Cookie Notice for details

Information from third parties

  • Payment processor: Stripe provides us with transaction confirmations and limited card metadata (last 4 digits, expiry)
  • Social platforms: if you connect a social account, we receive the basic profile information you authorize

3. How we use your information

  • To provide and maintain the platform
  • To process payments and manage subscriptions
  • To communicate with you about your account, transactions, and platform updates
  • To track affiliate program participation and process commission payouts
  • To improve the platform through analytics and aggregated usage data
  • To detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, or technical issues
  • To comply with legal obligations

4. Legal basis for processing (UK and EU users)

If you are in the UK or EU, we process your personal data under the following legal bases under UK GDPR and EU GDPR:

  • Contract: processing necessary to provide the services you signed up for
  • Legitimate interests: improving the platform, preventing fraud, marketing to existing customers
  • Consent: for non-essential cookies and marketing emails (you can withdraw consent at any time)
  • Legal obligation: for tax, accounting, and compliance requirements

5. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:

  • Service providers: Stripe (payments), our hosting provider, email delivery services, analytics tools — all under data processing agreements
  • Public profiles: information you choose to publish on your profile is, by definition, public and may be indexed by search engines
  • Legal compliance: when required by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety
  • Business transfers: if we are acquired or merged, your data may be transferred with appropriate notice

6. International data transfers

The Smile Channel operates internationally. Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the UK or EU. Where we transfer personal data outside the UK/EU, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses or transfer to countries with adequacy decisions.

7. How long we keep your information

  • Active accounts: for as long as you maintain a profile
  • Closed accounts: deleted within 30 days, except for data we are required to retain (tax records, fraud prevention) which may be kept for up to 7 years in anonymized form
  • Backups: may persist for up to 90 days after deletion
  • Aggregated/anonymized data: may be retained indefinitely

8. Your rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

  • Access: request a copy of your personal data
  • Correction: have inaccurate data corrected
  • Deletion: request that we delete your data (“right to be forgotten”)
  • Portability: receive your data in a machine-readable format
  • Restriction: limit how we process your data
  • Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interests
  • Withdraw consent: at any time, where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@thesmilechannel.com. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK).

9. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (HTTPS), hashed passwords, and access controls to protect your data. However, no system is 100% secure. We will notify you and any relevant authority if a breach occurs that is likely to affect your rights.

10. Children

The Smile Channel is not intended for users under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has signed up, contact us and we will remove their account.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated by email or through a prominent notice on the platform. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision.

12. Contact us

For privacy questions, requests, or complaints:
Email: privacy@thesmilechannel.com