Shore Investigates Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

This Policy applies to information we collect online and offline, including when you interact with our websites, apps, connected devices, customer support channels, and any other Services that reference this Policy. By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read this Policy and agree that your use of the Services is subject to it and to our Terms of Use, which are incorporated by reference. If you do not agree, you should not use the Services.

2. Key Definitions

Personal information means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or can reasonably be associated with an identified or identifiable individual. Sensitive personal information means personal information that receives heightened protection under applicable law, for example precise location or certain government identifiers. Deidentified information means information that cannot reasonably be used to infer information about, or otherwise be linked to, an identifiable individual. Aggregated information means information that relates to a group or category of individuals from which individual identities have been removed. Pseudonymous information means information that cannot be attributed to a specific individual without additional information that is kept separate and subject to safeguards. Sell and share have the meanings assigned by applicable law. Targeted advertising, profiling, controller, processor, service provider, contractor, and affiliate have their customary meanings under relevant privacy laws.

3. Notice at Collection and Overview

We collect personal information as described in this Policy. We collect it directly from you, automatically from your devices, from our service providers and partners, and from public sources. We use personal information to provide and secure the Services, to process transactions, to communicate with you, to personalize content, to improve and develop features, to comply with law, and to protect our rights and users. We retain personal information for as long as needed for the purposes described in this Policy, taking into account legal, tax, accounting, and security requirements, system design, and backup or archival constraints.

4. Categories of Personal Information We Collect

Identifiers and contact information, for example name, postal address, email address, phone number, and unique identifiers. Account and authentication information, for example usernames, credentials, and security tokens. Commercial and transactional information, for example purchase history, preferences, and interactions with our Services. Device and network activity information, for example IP address, device identifiers, app usage, browser type, operating system, diagnostic logs, and telemetry. Geolocation information, which may be precise or imprecise depending on your settings and device. User generated content and communications, including feedback, ratings, messages to customer support, and other content you upload. Financial information and payment details, processed through payment processors, we do not store full payment card numbers unless explicitly stated. Inferences drawn from other information to create profiles reflecting preferences, characteristics, or behavior. Employment or education information if you apply for a role. Sensitive information if you choose to provide it or if required to deliver certain Services, for example precise location or certain identifiers. Children's data is handled as described in the Children's Privacy section.

5. Sources of Personal Information

We collect information directly from you when you create an account, make a purchase, use the Services, or communicate with us. We collect information automatically through cookies, pixels, beacons, SDKs, local storage, and server logs. We receive information from service providers, contractors, partners, affiliates, and public sources. Where permitted, we also receive information from social sign on services that you choose to use.

6. Purposes for Using Personal Information

To provide, operate, and maintain the Services, including fulfilling requests, processing transactions, and delivering functionality. To administer accounts, authenticate access, prevent fraud, detect abuse, ensure integrity and safety, and protect the Services, our users, and the public. To personalize experiences, perform research, quality assurance, analytics, and product development. To communicate with you about your account, transactions, updates, and administrative messages. To market and measure the effectiveness of our communications where permitted by law, and to honor your preferences. To comply with applicable law, respond to legal process, and enforce our Terms and policies. To support corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, or insolvency events.

7. Legal Bases for Processing

In certain jurisdictions, we process personal information when necessary to perform a contract with you, when we have a legitimate interest that is not overridden by your interests or rights, when you provide consent, to comply with legal obligations, or to protect vital interests. You may contact us to request additional information about how our legitimate interests were balanced against your rights.

8. Sensitive Information Handling

We limit our use and disclosure of sensitive personal information to the purposes permitted by law, for example providing and securing the Services or with your consent. We do not sell or share sensitive personal information without legally sufficient permission where required.

9. Automated Decision Making and Profiling

We may use automated tools, including profiling, to support functions such as fraud prevention, abuse detection, and content safety. These processes help us analyze patterns and maintain the integrity of the Services. Where required by law, you may request a description of the logic involved and the significance and expected consequences, and you may request human review using the contact information below.

10. AI, Model Improvement, and Product Development

We may use deidentified or aggregated information for research, testing, and development. If we use user inputs or content to improve models or features, we do so in accordance with this Policy and applicable law. You may email us to request that your user inputs are excluded from model improvement where such an opt out is required or offered. Enterprise offerings may be set to exclude such use by default.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to provide essential functionality, to measure and analyze performance, and to support advertising where permitted. You can manage cookies through your browser or device settings. Where required by law, we honor signals such as Global Privacy Control that communicate your choices regarding certain data practices.

12. Disclosure of Personal Information

We disclose personal information to service providers and contractors that process information on our behalf to support functions such as hosting, security, analytics, customer support, payment processing, and delivery of features. We disclose information to advertising and analytics partners where permitted by law and subject to your choices. We disclose information among our affiliates and within our corporate family. We disclose information in connection with corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, or insolvency. We disclose information to comply with law, to protect rights, property, and safety, and to respond to lawful requests from authorities. This Policy does not create rights for any third party.

13. Cross Border Transfers

We operate globally. Your information may be processed and stored in the United States and in other jurisdictions where we or our service providers operate. When we transfer personal information across borders, we implement appropriate safeguards, for example Standard Contractual Clauses, the UK Addendum, and supplementary measures as needed.

14. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, including to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. We consider the nature and sensitivity of the information, the potential risk from unauthorized use, the purposes of processing, and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means. When information is no longer needed, we delete it, deidentify it, or archive it as appropriate, subject to technical and legal limitations and backup retention cycles.

15. Security

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. These include access controls, encryption in transit and at rest where appropriate, network and application security, and personnel training. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we do not guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for controlling access to your devices and accounts.

16. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights such as access, correction, deletion, portability, restriction, objection, and consent withdrawal. You may submit a request by emailing privacy@shoreinvestigates.com. To protect your privacy, we will verify your identity before fulfilling a request. We will respond within the timeframes required by law and will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. Our Services do not respond to browser Do Not Track signals. We honor legally required browser or device based preference signals as described in this Policy.

17. Sale or Sharing and Targeted Advertising

Some privacy laws define a sale or sharing of personal information broadly. We may engage in activities that could be considered a sale or sharing under certain state laws, for example when we allow advertising or analytics partners to collect information through cookies or SDKs. You may opt out by emailing privacy@shoreinvestigates.com, by using browser and device settings, and by following any instructions we provide in communications. If you are a minor where applicable law requires affirmative authorization, we do not sell or share your personal information without such authorization.

18. Children's Privacy

The Services are not directed to children where prohibited by law. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child in violation of law, we will take steps to delete it. Parents or guardians may contact us to request removal of content posted by a child.

19. Security Incident Response

We maintain incident response procedures designed to identify, investigate, contain, and remediate security events. Where required by law, we will notify you and any relevant authorities of certain breaches of security. We also cooperate with regulators and law enforcement as appropriate.

20. Communications Consent (Email, Phone, and SMS)

A. Email Consent

By subscribing to Shore Investigates, submitting a contact or letter to the editor form, creating an account, or otherwise providing your email address to us, you expressly consent to receive emails from us, including magic sign in links, account and transactional notices, story alerts, newsroom updates, newsletters, and administrative messages. Consent to receive marketing emails is not a condition of any purchase. Email frequency varies. You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email, by visiting our unsubscribe page, or by emailing privacy@shoreinvestigates.com. Transactional and security related emails, such as sign in links and account notices, may continue while your account remains active. You represent that the email address you provide belongs to you.

B. Telephone and SMS Consent (TCPA)

By providing a telephone number to Shore Investigates through any form, account signup, contact submission, tip line, or other channel, you give your prior express written consent under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227, and its implementing regulations, to receive calls and text messages from us and from parties acting on our behalf at the number you provide. This consent includes calls and messages delivered using an automatic telephone dialing system, an artificial or prerecorded voice, AI generated voice, or similar technology, and applies even if your number is on a federal or state Do Not Call list. Such communications may include account and transactional notices, story alerts, newsroom updates, follow ups on tips or letters, and other administrative or informational messages.

Consent is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply from your carrier. To opt out of text messages, reply STOP to any text from us, and reply HELP for help. You may also revoke consent at any time by emailing privacy@shoreinvestigates.com or by following any opt out instructions provided in a communication. Revocation of consent does not affect the lawfulness of communications sent before the revocation took effect.

You represent that any telephone number you provide belongs to you and that you are authorized to consent to receive communications at that number. You agree to notify us promptly if your number changes or is reassigned. Where permitted by law, inbound and outbound calls may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance, training, and legal compliance purposes.

21. How to Contact Us

You may contact us by email at privacy@shoreinvestigates.com.

22. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Policy and any disputes arising out of or relating to it or the Services are governed by the laws of New Jersey, United States, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Except where prohibited, you agree to resolve disputes through binding individual arbitration rather than in court, and you waive any right to participate in a class action. You may opt out of arbitration by emailing privacy@shoreinvestigates.com within thirty days of first accepting this Policy, stating your wish to opt out and providing your name, account email, and a statement that you are the account holder.

23. Changes to this Policy

We may modify this Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the Effective Date and, where required by law, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Services after the Effective Date of a revised Policy means that you accept the changes.