Privacy Policy for Weird History & Mysteries

Last Updated: January 26, 2024

1. Introduction

Welcome to Weird History & Mysteries! This Privacy Policy explains how Weird History & Mysteries ("we", "us", "our"), a YouTube Shorts channel, collects, uses, and discloses information when you interact with our content, channel, or services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices.

Please note that as a YouTube channel, much of the data collection and processing is handled directly by Google (YouTube's parent company). This policy primarily covers data we may collect directly and clarifies how Google's policies interact with your use of our channel.

2. Who We Are

Weird History & Mysteries is a YouTube Shorts channel dedicated to exploring fascinating and unexplained historical events and mysteries through short-form video content.

3. Information We Collect

We, as the channel owner, directly collect very limited personal information. Most data is collected and processed by YouTube (Google) when you view our content or interact with the YouTube platform.

3.1. Information Collected by YouTube (Google)

When you watch our YouTube Shorts, YouTube (Google) collects various types of information. This may include:

• Device and Usage Information: IP address, device type, operating system, browser type, unique device identifiers, mobile network information, and crash data.
• Location Information: General location derived from IP address.
• Interaction Data: Videos watched, search queries, views, comments, likes, shares, and watch history.
• Demographic Information: Aggregated, anonymized demographic data (e.g., age range, gender) provided through YouTube Analytics, which does not identify individual users.

This data is collected and processed by Google in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy, which you can review at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

3.2. Information We May Directly Collect

In certain limited circumstances, we may directly collect information:

• Communications: If you contact us directly via email, social media messages (e.g., YouTube comments, Instagram DMs if linked), or other communication channels, we may collect your name, email address, social media handle, and the content of your message. We use this information to respond to your inquiries and improve our content.
• Voluntary Submissions: If we ever run contests, surveys, or solicit user-generated content, and you choose to participate, we may collect information you voluntarily provide (e.g., name, email, submission content). Specific privacy terms would be provided for such activities.

4. Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites and online services remember information about you.

4.1. YouTube/Google's Use of Cookies

When you watch our content on YouTube, Google uses cookies and similar technologies (e.g., pixel tags, local storage) for various purposes, including:

• Functionality: To enable video playback, remember your preferences (e.g., volume settings), and ensure the YouTube platform works correctly.
• Analytics: To understand how users interact with YouTube, including which videos are popular, how long they are watched, and general audience demographics (in an aggregated, anonymized form for channel owners).
• Advertising: To personalize ads you see on YouTube and other Google services, based on your viewing history and interests.

You can learn more about Google's use of cookies and how to manage them in Google's Privacy Policy and their "How Google uses cookies" page: https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies.

4.2. Our Limited Use of Cookies

We do not directly use cookies or other tracking technologies on our channel beyond what YouTube provides as part of its platform functionality.

• Personalized Ads: our advertising partners uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your visit to our channel and other websites and services across the internet. These ads are often personalized based on your interests, viewing history, and demographic information collected by Google.
• Non-Personalized Ads: In some cases, you may see non-personalized ads, which are based on general context (e.g., video content) rather than your personal data.

Your Choices Regarding Personalized Ads:

You can manage your personalized ad settings or opt-out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings:

https://adssettings.google.com/

You can also opt-out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices/ (for US users) or www.youronlinechoices.eu/ (for EU users).

6. How We Use Your Information

We use the limited information we directly collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries and communications.
• To improve our content and understand audience preferences based on aggregated, anonymized data from YouTube Analytics.
• To operate, maintain, and improve our channel.
• To comply with legal obligations.

Google uses the data it collects from your interactions with YouTube as described in its Privacy Policy.

7. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your directly identifiable personal information to outside parties.

We may share aggregated, anonymized data (e.g., overall channel views, audience demographics from YouTube Analytics) with potential partners or for promotional purposes, but this data cannot be used to identify any individual user.

Google may share your information with its partners and third parties as described in Google's Privacy Policy.

8. Data Retention

We retain information we directly collect (e.g., communication records) only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Data collected by Google is retained according to Google's data retention policies. You can find more information in Google's Privacy Policy.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect the limited personal information we directly control against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Google is responsible for the security of data it collects and processes on the YouTube platform.

10. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws (such as the GDPR for EU/EEA citizens and CCPA/CPRA for California residents), you may have certain rights regarding your personal data.

10.1. Rights Regarding Data Collected by YouTube (Google)

For most of the data collected when you watch our content, Google is the data controller. Therefore, to exercise rights such as access, rectification, erasure, or objection regarding data processed by YouTube, you will need to do so through your Google account settings or by contacting Google directly. Please refer to Google's Privacy Policy for details on how to exercise these rights.

10.2. Rights Regarding Data We Directly Collect

If you have provided us with directly identifiable personal information (e.g., through email communication), you may have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request that we delete your personal data under certain conditions.
• Right to Restriction of Processing: Request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
• Right to Object to Processing: Object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
• Right to Data Portability: Request that we transfer the data we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

To exercise any of these rights concerning data we directly control, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

10.3. California Specific Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:

• Right to Know: The right to request that we disclose what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell/share.
• Right to Delete: The right to request the deletion of personal information we have collected about you, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Share: The right to opt-out of the "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information. We do not sell or share personal information as defined by CCPA/CPRA.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: The right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

As we do not directly collect or process personal information that would typically fall under the scope of CCPA/CPRA in a way that requires specific "Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information" links, and we do not sell or share data, these rights primarily apply to Google's practices as the platform provider. Please refer to Google's privacy policy for details on exercising these rights with respect to data collected by Google.

11. Children's Privacy

Our content is generally intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to remove that information from our records.

YouTube has its own policies and mechanisms for children's content and privacy (e.g., YouTube Kids). If our content is ever designated as "made for kids," YouTube will handle data collection and processing in accordance with COPPA and other relevant laws.

12. Links to Other Websites

Our YouTube channel or content may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or would like to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:

• By Email: privacy@weirdhistorymysteries.com
• Via YouTube: Through the comment section or direct messaging features on our YouTube channel (though email is preferred for privacy inquiries).