Effective Date: April 21, 2025
Last Updated: April 21, 2025

Welcome to MLTrends (“we”, “our”, “us”). Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy details how we collect, use, process, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you visit and interact with our website and associated services.

This document fulfills our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other relevant privacy and data protection laws.

1. Our Privacy Mission

We are committed to transparency regarding how we handle your data, respect your privacy rights, and secure your information against unauthorized access or misuse.

2. Data We Collect and How We Use It

2.1. Comments

When you leave comments on MLTrends.com, we collect:

  • Data entered in the comment form.
  • Your IP address and browser user-agent to aid in spam detection.

An anonymized hash from your email address may be shared with Gravatar to verify your usage of their services. After moderation approval, your Gravatar profile image will be visible publicly alongside your comment. Review Gravatar’s Privacy Policy here.

2.2. Uploaded Media

If you upload images to our website, we advise avoiding images containing embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may download these images and extract embedded location data.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

MLTrends.com utilizes cookies—small text files placed on your device—and similar technologies like tracking pixels, beacons, and scripts to enhance your user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver targeted advertisements.

3.1. Cookies in Comments and Login

  • When commenting, opting-in allows your name, email, and website to be stored in cookies lasting one year for convenience.
  • Visiting the login page sets a temporary session cookie to detect browser cookie compatibility, containing no personal data and expiring upon closing your browser.
  • Logged-in users have cookies set to preserve login sessions (two days) and screen display preferences (one year). Selecting “Remember Me” extends login cookies to two weeks. Logging out deletes these cookies.

3.2. Article Editing Cookies

  • Editing or publishing an article sets a cookie storing the post ID, containing no personal data and expiring after one day.

3.3. Third-Party Cookies and Tracking Pixels

We use tracking pixels to monitor ad effectiveness, user behavior, and marketing campaigns. Third-party services such as Google Analytics and advertising networks may deploy cookies to track engagement metrics.

4. Embedded Content

Articles on MLTrends.com may contain embedded content (videos, images, articles) from external websites that behave as if you directly visited those external sites. They may collect your data, set cookies, employ tracking technologies, and monitor interactions, especially if you are logged in to their service.

5. Advertising and Analytics

We use third-party advertising services (Google AdSense, etc.) to display advertisements. These services employ cookies and pixels to personalize ads based on your browsing behavior across websites.

5.1. Google Analytics

MLTrends.com uses Google Analytics, a web analytics tool by Google Inc. (“Google”), employing cookies to generate data about your interaction with our site, such as your IP address. Google’s Privacy Policy is available here.

5.2. Opt-Out Options

  • Opt-out from Google Analytics tracking here.
  • Manage personalized advertising settings via the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) here.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data. However, certain services require sharing your information with third parties:

  • Spam Detection: Visitor comments are verified via automated spam detection services (e.g., Akismet).
  • Legal Obligations: Data may be disclosed when legally mandated or to defend against legal claims.

7. Data Retention

  • Comments and metadata: Retained indefinitely for automatic moderation recognition.
  • Registered users: Personal data remains until account deletion request, except usernames.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

Residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) have rights including:

  • Access: Request an exported file of your data.
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data.
  • Erasure (“Right to Be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data.
  • Restrict processing: Limit how your data is processed.
  • Data portability: Obtain your data to transfer elsewhere.
  • Objection: Oppose certain data processing activities.

Submit GDPR-related requests to: privacy@mltrends.com

9. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Rights

California residents have rights to:

  • Request disclosure of collected personal data.
  • Request deletion of personal data.
  • Opt-out of data selling (note: MLTrends.com does not sell personal data).

Requests should be sent to: privacy@mltrends.com

10. Data Security

We implement rigorous technical and organizational measures, including encryption and secure servers, to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

11. Accessibility

MLTrends.com is committed to ensuring digital accessibility. Users experiencing difficulties can request alternative formats or additional assistance by contacting: accessibility@mltrends.com

12. Children’s Privacy

MLTrends.com does not knowingly collect data from minors under the age of 13 (or applicable legal age). If we become aware of personal data from minors, we promptly delete such information.

13. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed and stored outside your jurisdiction. By using MLTrends.com, you consent to such international transfers following applicable laws and regulations, ensuring equivalent protection under GDPR standards.

14. Email Marketing and Communications

  • You may subscribe voluntarily to newsletters or promotional communications.
  • Every communication provides clear unsubscribe instructions to opt-out anytime.

15. Amendments to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or change this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify users via email or prominent website notifications. Regularly reviewing this policy is recommended.

16. Contact Information

For questions, comments, or requests regarding your privacy, reach us at:

  • Email: privacy@mltrends.com
  • Mailing Address:
    MLTrends Privacy Team
    [Address Line 1]
    [City, State, ZIP]
    United States

Consent

By using MLTrends.com, you expressly consent to this Privacy Policy, data processing practices, and our use of cookies and tracking technologies.

This Privacy Policy comprehensively describes our data handling processes, aligning with applicable privacy legislation to ensure transparency and compliance.