Privacy Policy

1. Information we collect

• Story submissions: we collect the pseudonym, location, and story text you provide. We do not ask for or store your name during submission. An email is only stored if you choose to give one so we can tell you when your story is reviewed, and it is deleted straight after.
• Newsletter: if you explicitly sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address via a double opt-in process to confirm your consent.
• Correspondence: if you email hello@shieldmate.io or use our contact form, we use your email address only to respond. We do not use these addresses for marketing.

2. How we handle stories

• Moderation: our team (moderators and experts) will see your raw submission. All team members are bound by confidentiality agreements with Spell Shield Pty Ltd.
• PII removal: we have a strict policy to remove names, specific addresses, and other identifying details before a story is published.
• Retention: we store the original version of submissions for a limited period to allow for moderation and verification of edits. After that, raw versions are deleted, and only the edited, de-identified version remains in our archive.

3. Technical data

• Hosting: our site is hosted on Vercel, which may log your IP address and browser metadata for security and performance.
• Bot protection: we use Vercel BotID to prevent spam and automated abuse. It is used only to tell humans from bots on our forms.
• Analytics: we use Vercel Web Analytics to understand aggregate traffic. It is fully cookieless, collects no personal identifiers (no IP addresses, no fingerprints), and does not track individuals across sessions, so no cookie consent is required. We exclude our story-submission page from analytics to further protect the privacy of people sharing their experiences. We do not use Google Analytics or any other tracking service.
• Database: our database (Supabase) is located in Australia.
• Voluntary support: if you choose to support us via our Partnership page, your payment information is collected and processed entirely by Stripe. We do not receive or store your payment details.

4. Data sharing

We do not sell or trade your data. We only disclose information if:

• Legal requirement: we are compelled by a court order or Australian law.
• Safety: a submission describes an immediate threat to life or a serious crime, in which case we may notify relevant authorities.

5. Your rights

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have rights regarding your data. However, because story submissions are not linked to accounts or emails, we generally cannot identify which story belongs to you.

• To unsubscribe from our newsletter, use the “Unsubscribe” link in any email.
• For redaction requests regarding published stories, contact us at hello@shieldmate.io.

6. International users

While we are based in South Australia, we aim to respect global privacy standards. By using this site, you acknowledge that your data is stored in Australia and governed by Australian law.

7. Contact us

Email: hello@shieldmate.io

Company: Spell Shield Pty Ltd