DeafMonitor ("we," "us," "our") operates deafmonitor.com — a community platform and news aggregator for the global Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use our Platform.
Account Information — Name, email address, password, and account type (Free, Pro, or Organization).
Profile Information — Phone number (optional), ZIP code (optional), persona/role, interests, communication preferences, and accessibility preferences (such as captions, larger text, and reduced motion).
User-Generated Content — Shop listings, content creator profiles, job postings, library resource submissions, Deaf Perspectives posts, AI Forum posts, Wish List suggestions, community directory listings, event suggestions, news tips, and any other content you submit.
Referral Information — If you join through a referral link, we record the referral code and the referring account so we can credit referrals.
Payment Information — For paid subscriptions, payment details are collected and processed by our payment processor (Stripe). We do not store your full credit card number on our servers.
Communications — Messages sent through our contact form, support inquiries, tip submissions, and partner inquiries.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
Usage Data — Pages visited, features used, time spent on pages, search queries, and navigation patterns.
Device Information — Browser type and version, operating system, device type, and screen resolution.
Log Data — IP address, access times, referring URLs, and server logs. Retained for 30 days.
Cookie Data — See Section 4 (Cookie Policy) below for details.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Provide and operate the Platform — Maintain your account, process subscriptions, and deliver the services you request.
Personalization — Tailor content, recommendations, and your experience based on your persona, interests, and usage patterns.
Communications — Respond to your inquiries, send service-related notifications, and (with your consent) send newsletters or updates about the Platform.
Analytics and improvement — Understand how users interact with the Platform so we can improve features, fix bugs, and develop new services.
Safety and security — Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
Legal compliance — Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
We do not sell your personal information. We never have and we never will.
4. Cookie Policy
4.1 Essential Cookies (Always Active)
These cookies are required for the Platform to function and cannot be disabled. They include session management, authentication, and security tokens. Theme preference (light/dark mode) is stored in browser localStorage — not a cookie.
4.2 Analytics — No Cookies Used
DeafMonitor uses Plausible Analytics to measure aggregate Platform usage. Plausible is fully cookieless: it places no cookies on your device, does not track you individually across sessions or sites, and collects no personally identifiable information. It measures aggregate page view counts, referral sources, and general device types only. No consent is required for Plausible because no personal data or cookies are involved.
4.3 No Third-Party Advertising Cookies
DeafMonitor does not use third-party advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or retargeting tools. We do not serve ads and do not share data with advertising networks.
4.4 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect Platform functionality. Because analytics on this Platform are handled without cookies, there are no analytics cookies to manage or disable.
5. Data Sharing
We share your personal information only in the following limited circumstances:
Payment Processors — We use Stripe to process subscription payments, organization plans, marketplace purchases, and one-time placements (such as sponsored ticker, event, and brief boosts). Stripe receives the payment information necessary to complete transactions. We do not store full card numbers on our servers. Stripe's privacy policy governs their use of your data.
Hosting & Database — Our application data is stored with Supabase, our database and authentication provider, on secure cloud infrastructure. Supabase processes the account and content data necessary to operate the Platform on our behalf.
Email Delivery — We use Loops to send transactional emails (such as sign-up verification, password resets, and account notifications) and, where you have opted in, occasional product updates. Loops receives your email address and display name for this purpose.
Security / Bot Protection — Our sign-in and sign-up pages use Google reCAPTCHA to prevent automated abuse. Google may receive your IP address and limited browser signals for this check, subject to Google's privacy policy.
Analytics — We use Plausible Analytics for privacy-respecting usage measurement. Plausible is cookieless and collects no personally identifiable information. No personal data is shared with Plausible — only anonymous, aggregate page view counts reach their infrastructure.
Legal Requirements — We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of DeafMonitor, our users, or the public.
Business Transfers — If DeafMonitor is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes.
6. User-Generated Content
Certain content you submit to the Platform may be publicly visible, including:
Shop listings and seller profiles
Content creator profiles
Job postings (for organization accounts)
Library resource submissions
Deaf Perspectives posts and AI Forum posts
Community directory listings and business claims
Wish List feature suggestions
Event listings
Some submissions can be made without an account. A few features — such as Library resource submissions and Wish List suggestions — can be submitted anonymously. When you submit without an account, we still collect the name, email address, and IP address you provide so we can review the submission and prevent abuse.
You control what you share. Information you include in public-facing submissions will be visible to all Platform visitors. Do not include personal information in public submissions that you do not wish to be publicly available. You can edit or request removal of your submissions at any time.
7. Data Retention
Account data — Retained for as long as your account is active. If you request account deletion, your personal data will be deleted within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
Server logs — Retained for 30 days, then automatically deleted.
Payment records — Retained as required for tax and accounting obligations.
User-generated content — Public submissions (shop listings, creator profiles, etc.) will be removed upon account deletion or upon your request.
To request deletion of your account and associated data, email [email protected] or use the account deletion feature in your account settings.
8. Your Rights
8.1 Rights for EU/EEA Residents (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:
Right of Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification — Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
Right to Erasure — Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements).
Right to Data Portability — Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Right to Object — Object to processing of your personal data based on legitimate interests.
Right to Restrict Processing — Request that we limit how we use your data.
Right to Withdraw Consent — Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
To exercise these rights, contact [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
8.2 Rights for California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act:
Right to Know — Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
Right to Delete — Request deletion of your personal information.
Right to Opt-Out — Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. (Note: We do not sell personal information.)
Right to Non-Discrimination — You will not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights.
To exercise these rights, contact [email protected]. We will respond within 45 days.
9. Children's Privacy
DeafMonitor is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].
This is in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
10. International Users
DeafMonitor is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the Platform from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.
By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States. We take appropriate measures to ensure your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
11. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:
HTTPS encryption for all data in transit.
Encrypted storage of sensitive data at rest.
Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Access controls limiting employee access to personal data.
Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers (Stripe).
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you believe your data has been compromised, contact us immediately at [email protected].
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. For material changes, we will notify registered users by email or through a prominent notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your data rights, contact us at:
We value your privacy. We use session cookies only to keep you signed in. Analytics are handled by Plausible — cookieless, no tracking, no personal data. No advertising cookies, ever.