StackTrace Media, Inc.
Last Updated: August 24, 2025
Introduction
StackTrace Media, Inc. ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") operates multiple newsletter services covering technology, business, financial markets, economic trends, and related topics through various branded publications. We also operate e-commerce stores selling merchandise related to our content. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect your information when you subscribe to our newsletters, visit our websites, purchase products or services from our stores, or interact with our content.
This consolidated privacy policy covers all StackTrace Media operations, including our newsletters, websites, and retail activities conducted through various platforms including Shopify-powered stores.
Information We Collect
Personal Information You Provide
Newsletter and Account Information:
• Email Address: Required for newsletter subscription and account creation
• Name: Optional for personalization; required for certain premium services
• Communication Preferences: Newsletter frequency, content preferences, and notification settings
• Contest/Giveaway Information: Entry details, demographic information when participating in contests or promotions
• Feedback and Correspondence: Information provided when contacting customer support or submitting feedback
• Survey Responses: Optional feedback about our content and services
E-commerce and Store Information:
• Contact Details: Name, address, billing address, shipping address, phone number, and email address for purchases
• Financial Information: Credit card, debit card, and financial account numbers, payment card information, financial account information, transaction details, form of payment, payment confirmation and other payment details
• Account Information: Username, password, security questions, preferences and settings for store accounts
• Transaction Information: Items you view, put in your cart, add to your wishlist, or purchase, return, exchange or cancel and your past transaction history
• Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address for paid subscriptions and merchandise purchases (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
• Shipping Information: Name, address, phone number for merchandise orders
Automatically Collected Information
• Email Engagement Data: Open rates, click-through rates, time spent reading, and interaction with newsletter content
• Website Analytics: Pages visited, time on site, referral sources, and user behavior patterns
• Device and Technical Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and connection information, and other unique identifiers
• Usage Information: Information regarding your interaction with our services, including how and when you interact with or navigate our websites and stores
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: See our Cookie Policy section below
Third-Party Information
We may receive information about you from:
• Social Media Platforms: When you interact with our social media content or use social login features
• Advertising Partners: Demographic and interest data to improve ad targeting (with your consent where required)
• Data Brokers: Publicly available information to enhance our services (in compliance with applicable laws)
• Referral Partners: Information when you're referred by another user or partner organization
• Service Providers: When we engage them to enable certain technology and when they collect or process your personal information on our behalf
• Partners or other third parties as disclosed at the time of collection
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
Service Delivery and Operations:
• Deliver newsletters and communications you've subscribed to
• Process payments and fulfill merchandise orders
• Provide, tailor, and improve our services, including creating a customized shopping experience
• Process purchases, returns, exchanges or other transactions
• Create, maintain and otherwise manage your accounts
• Arrange for shipping and facilitate returns and exchanges
• Enable you to post reviews
• Remember your preferences and items you are interested in
• Send notifications related to your account
Personalization and Marketing:
• Personalize content based on your interests, reading history, and market focus areas
• Send marketing, advertising and promotional communications by email, text message or postal mail
• Show you online advertisements for products or services on our websites or other websites, including based on items you previously have purchased or added to your cart and other activity on our services
• Conduct contests, sweepstakes, and promotional activities
Business Operations:
• Improve our newsletter content, website functionality, and delivery systems
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Analyze market trends and user engagement to enhance our content
• Generate anonymized analytics and reports
Security and Legal:
• Authenticate your account and provide a secure payment and shopping experience
• Detect, investigate or take action regarding possible fraudulent, illegal, unsafe, or malicious activity
• Protect public safety and secure our services
• Comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Respond to valid legal process, including requests from law enforcement or government agencies
• Investigate or participate in civil discovery, potential or actual litigation, or other adversarial legal proceedings
• Enforce or investigate potential violations of our terms or policies
Shopify Partnership and E-commerce Platform Relationship
Our e-commerce operations are powered by Shopify. This creates important data sharing relationships you should understand:
Information Sharing with Shopify:
• Information you submit through our stores will be transmitted to and shared with Shopify as well as third parties that may be located in countries other than where you reside, in order to provide and improve services for you
• Shopify collects and processes personal information about your access to and use of our stores in order to provide and improve services for you
• We use certain Shopify enhanced features that incorporate data and information obtained from your interactions with our stores, along with other merchants and with Shopify
• To provide these enhanced features, Shopify may make use of personal information collected about your interactions with our stores, along with other merchants, and with Shopify
Shopify's Independent Processing:
• For Shopify's enhanced features, Shopify is responsible for the processing of your personal information, including for responding to your requests to exercise your rights over use of your personal information for these purposes
• To learn more about how Shopify uses your personal information and any rights you may have, you can visit the Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy
• Depending on where you live, you may exercise certain rights with respect to your personal information through the Shopify Privacy Portal
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. We use both session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (remain until deleted or expired).
Types of Cookies We Use
• Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality, subscription management, and security
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (Google Analytics, etc.)
• Marketing Cookies: Track your activity to provide relevant advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and personalization choices
Third-Party Cookies
Our website may contain cookies from:
• Google Analytics and Google Ad Manager
• Social media platforms
• Email service providers
• Advertising networks and partners
• Shopify and related e-commerce service providers
Cookie Consent and Management
• EU/UK Residents: We obtain explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies
• Cookie Settings: You can manage cookie preferences through our cookie banner or browser settings
• Opt-Out: You can disable cookies in your browser, though this may affect website functionality
Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR/UK GDPR)
For users in the European Economic Area and United Kingdom:
• Consent: Newsletter subscriptions, marketing communications, and non-essential cookies
• Contract Performance: Processing payments, delivering purchased products/services
• Legitimate Interests: Analytics, service improvement, fraud prevention, and customer support
• Legal Compliance: Compliance with tax, financial regulations, and legal obligations
Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share information in these circumstances:
Service Providers
We share information with third parties who perform services on our behalf, including:
• Email Service Providers: For newsletter delivery and automation
• Payment Processors: Secure processing of subscription and merchandise payments (e.g., Shopify, Stripe, PayPal)
• Shipping Partners: Fulfillment of physical product orders
• Analytics Providers: Website and email performance analysis (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Customer Support Tools: To provide efficient customer service
• Cloud Storage and Hosting: Secure data storage and website hosting
• IT Management: Technical infrastructure and system management
• Data Analytics: Business intelligence and performance analysis
• Fulfillment and Shipping: Order processing and delivery services
Business and Marketing Partners
• Advertising Networks: To display relevant advertisements on third-party websites and provide personalized advertising with third-party services based on your online activity with different merchants and websites
• Social Media Platforms: For custom audience creation and lookalike targeting
• Affiliate Partners: Performance tracking for referral programs
• Marketing Service Providers: To provide marketing services and advertise to you
Important Note on Targeted Advertising: Depending on where you reside, you may have a right to direct us not to share information about you to show you targeted advertisements and marketing based on your online activity with different merchants and websites. You can exercise your rights to opt-out of those uses through our privacy preference center or by contacting us.
Corporate and Legal Sharing
• Affiliates and Corporate Group: We may share information within our corporate group and with affiliated entities
• Legal Process: Court orders, subpoenas, or government requests
• Safety and Security: Protecting our rights, users' safety, and preventing fraud
• Business Transfers: In connection with mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcy, or asset sales (with user notification where required)
Contest and Promotional Partners
• Prize Fulfillment: Third-party sponsors or prize providers for contests and giveaways
• Co-Marketing Partners: Joint promotional activities (with your explicit consent)
Consent-Based Sharing
When you direct, request us or otherwise consent to our disclosure of certain information to third parties, such as to ship you products or through your use of social media widgets or login integrations.
Age Verification and Children's Privacy
Age Requirements:
• Our services are intended for users 18 years and older
• We do not knowingly collect information from individuals under 13 years of age
• Users between 13-17 must have parental consent to use our services
Verification Process: We may request age verification for certain premium features or contest entries.
Data Deletion: If we discover we have collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information and terminate the account.
Data Retention
We retain personal information based on:
• Active Subscriptions: Duration of your subscription plus 2 years for customer service
• Inactive Accounts: 3 years from last engagement, then anonymized or deleted
• Financial Records: 7 years for tax and regulatory compliance
• Marketing Data: Until you opt-out or request deletion
• Legal Requirements: As required by applicable laws and regulations
Upon unsubscription, we will:
• Stop sending marketing communications immediately
• Retain minimal information for legal compliance and fraud prevention
• Delete or anonymize your data within 30 days unless legally required to retain
Your Rights and Choices
Subscription Management
• Unsubscribe: Use the link in every email or contact customer support
• Preferences: Update frequency, content topics, and notification settings
• Account Deletion: Request complete account and data deletion
Data Protection Rights (GDPR/UK GDPR)
• Access/Know: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request removal of your personal information
• Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities
• Restriction: Limit how we process your information
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke previously given consent
Targeted Advertising and Sharing Opt-Out Rights
Depending on where you reside, you may have a right to:
• Opt out of the "sale" or "share" of your personal information
• Opt out of the processing of your personal information for purposes considered to be "targeted advertising," as defined in applicable privacy laws
• Global Privacy Control: If you visit our website with the Global Privacy Control opt-out preference signal enabled, depending on where you are, we will automatically treat this as a request to opt-out for the device and browser that you use to visit the website. If we are able to associate the device sending the signal to a user account, we will apply the opt out request to the account as well. To learn more about Global Privacy Control, you can visit https://globalprivacycontrol.org/
• Do Not Track: Other than the Global Privacy Control, we do not recognize other "Do Not Track" signals that may be sent from your web browser or device
California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
Additional rights for California residents:
• Right to know categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
• Right to know business/commercial purposes for collecting information
• Right to know categories of third parties with whom we share information
• Right to delete personal information (with certain exceptions)
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights
• Right to limit use of sensitive personal information
Managing Communication Preferences
We may send you promotional emails, and you may opt out of receiving these at any time by using the unsubscribe option displayed in our emails to you. If you opt out, we may still send you non-promotional emails, such as those about your account or orders that you have made.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@stacktracemedia.com with "Privacy Request" in the subject line.
Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights. We may need to verify your identity before we can process your requests, as permitted or required under applicable law. In accordance with applicable laws, you may designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf to exercise your rights.
International Data Transfers
Data Processing Locations: Your information may be processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate, including countries other than where you reside.
Transfer Safeguards: We implement appropriate safeguards for international transfers including:
• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs): For EU and UK data transfers, we rely on recognized transfer mechanisms like the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses, or any equivalent contracts issued by the relevant competent authority of the UK, as relevant
• Adequacy Decisions: Where applicable, transfers to countries that have been determined to provide an adequate level of protection
• Binding Corporate Rules: With international partners where applicable
• Data Processing Agreements: With all service providers handling your information
Security Measures
We implement comprehensive security measures:
Technical Safeguards
• End-to-end encryption for data transmission
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Multi-factor authentication for employee access
• Secure payment processing (PCI DSS compliant)
Organizational Safeguards
• Employee privacy training and confidentiality agreements
• Need-to-know access controls
• Regular security awareness programs
• Incident response procedures
• Data breach notification protocols
Limitations
Please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee "perfect security." In addition, any information you send to us may not be secure while in transit. We recommend that you do not use unsecure channels to communicate sensitive or confidential information to us. While we implement industry-standard security measures, no system is 100% secure, but we will promptly notify you of any material security incidents as required by law.
Third Party Websites and Links
Our services may provide links to websites or other online platforms operated by third parties. If you follow links to sites not affiliated or controlled by us, you should review their privacy and security policies and other terms and conditions. We do not guarantee and are not responsible for the privacy or security of such sites, including the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information found on these sites. Information you provide on public or semi-public venues, including information you share on third-party social networking platforms may also be viewable by other users of our services and/or users of those third-party platforms without limitation as to its use by us or by a third party. Our inclusion of such links does not, by itself, imply any endorsement of the content on such platforms or of their owners or operators, except as disclosed on our services.
Contest and Promotional Terms
Contest Information Collection: When you participate in contests or promotions, we may collect:
• Contact information for winner notification
• Demographic information for eligibility verification
• Social media handles for promotional purposes
• Content submissions (with usage rights)
Winner Verification: Contest winners may be required to:
• Provide government-issued identification
• Sign winner declarations and liability releases
• Consent to publicity rights usage
• Comply with tax reporting requirements
Third-Party Sponsors: Some contests may be sponsored by third parties. Your information may be shared with sponsors as disclosed in contest rules, and their privacy policies will also apply.
Merchandise and E-commerce
Order Processing: For merchandise purchases, we collect and process:
• Payment information (through secure third-party processors)
• Shipping and billing addresses
• Order history and preferences
• Product reviews and ratings
Payment Security:
• We do not store complete credit card information
• All payments processed through PCI-compliant providers
• Fraud detection and prevention measures in place
• Secure tokenization for recurring payments
Return and Refund Data: We retain information about returns and refunds for:
• Customer service and warranty purposes
• Fraud prevention and pattern analysis
• Financial reporting and tax compliance
Complaints
If you have complaints about how we process your personal information, please contact us using the contact details provided below. Depending on where you live, you may have the right to appeal our decision by contacting us using the contact details set out below, or lodge your complaint with your local data protection authority.
Updates to This Privacy Policy
Notification Methods: We will notify you of material changes through:
• Email notification to all subscribers
• Prominent website notice for 30 days
• In-newsletter announcements
• Updated effective date at the top of this policy
Your Continued Use: Continued use of our services after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. If you disagree with changes, you may unsubscribe or delete your account.
Contact Information
General Inquiries: StackTrace Media, Inc.
Email: support@stacktracemedia.com
EU Representative: For GDPR-related inquiries, you may also contact your local data protection authority.
Shopify-Related Privacy Rights: For rights related to data processed by Shopify in connection with our e-commerce operations, you can visit:
• Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy
• Shopify Privacy Portal
Response Times: We will respond to privacy requests within:
• 30 days for GDPR requests
• 45 days for CCPA requests (with possible 45-day extension)
• 5 business days for general privacy inquiries
This Privacy Policy was last updated on August 23, 2025. Please review this policy periodically for updates.
© 2025 StackTrace Media, Inc. All rights reserved.