// PRIVACY POLICY

> Last updated: December 2024

1. Introduction

Welcome to PulseCast ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you understand how your personal information is collected, used, and safeguarded when you use our services.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the PulseCast platform, including creators who publish content, token holders who engage with creator publications, and visitors who browse our platform. By accessing or using PulseCast, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

PulseCast operates on blockchain technology, which inherently involves a degree of transparency. This policy will help you understand what information remains private and what becomes part of the public blockchain record.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • Account Information: Username, display name, bio, profile picture, and social media links when you create a profile
  • Wallet Address: Your blockchain wallet address used for authentication and transactions
  • Creator Content: Publications, posts, images, and other content you upload to your Pulse
  • Communication Data: Messages sent through our support channels or feedback forms

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on platform, click patterns, and navigation paths
  • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and language preferences
  • Network Data: IP address, approximate geographic location, and internet service provider
  • Referral Information: How you arrived at our platform (search engine, social media, direct link)

2.3 Blockchain Data

  • Transaction Records: Token purchases, transfers, and interactions with smart contracts
  • Token Holdings: Your balance of creator tokens and interaction history
  • Smart Contract Events: Airdrop claims, reward distributions, and other on-chain activities

2.4 Third-Party Integrations

  • Farcaster: If you connect your Farcaster account, we may access your Farcaster ID, username, follower count, and public profile
  • Wallet Providers: Connection status and transaction signing requests through services like MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or WalletConnect

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Platform Operations

  • Authenticate your identity and maintain account security
  • Process transactions and facilitate token-based interactions
  • Display your profile and content to other users
  • Enable communication between creators and their communities
  • Provide customer support and respond to inquiries

3.2 Platform Improvement

  • Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
  • Develop new features and functionalities
  • Monitor platform performance and stability
  • Conduct research and analytics on platform usage

3.3 Safety and Security

  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and malicious activities
  • Enforce our Terms of Service and community guidelines
  • Protect the rights and safety of our users
  • Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

3.4 Communications

  • Send essential service notifications (transactions, security alerts)
  • Notify you of updates to your Pulses or content you follow
  • Provide information about new features or platform changes
  • Send promotional content only with your explicit consent

4. Blockchain Data & Transparency

Important Notice

PulseCast operates on the Base blockchain. Certain information is inherently public and immutable once recorded on the blockchain. Please carefully consider this before engaging in on-chain activities.

4.1 Publicly Visible On-Chain Data

  • Your wallet address and all associated transactions
  • Token balances and transfer history
  • Smart contract interactions (purchases, claims, transfers)
  • Timestamps of all blockchain activities

4.2 Data We Store Off-Chain

  • Profile information (username, display name, bio, avatar)
  • Content you publish (articles, posts, images)
  • Platform preferences and settings
  • Analytics and usage data

4.3 Immutability Disclaimer

Once data is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be modified or deleted by us or any other party. This is a fundamental characteristic of blockchain technology. While we can remove or hide off-chain data from our platform, on-chain records will remain permanently accessible through blockchain explorers and other tools.

5. Data Sharing & Third Parties

5.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data

PulseCast does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining your trust.

5.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist in operating our platform:

  • Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers
  • Analytics services to understand platform usage
  • Security services for fraud detection and prevention
  • Customer support tools

These providers are contractually bound to use your data only for the purposes we specify and to maintain appropriate security measures.

5.3 Blockchain Network Participants

Transaction data is broadcast to the Base network and becomes publicly accessible. This includes validators, block explorers, and anyone monitoring the blockchain.

5.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or in response to:

  • Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
  • Government or regulatory requests
  • Protection of our legal rights or defense against legal claims
  • Prevention of fraud or illegal activities
  • Emergency situations involving potential threats to safety

5.5 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will provide notice before your personal information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

6.1 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Required for basic platform functionality, authentication, and security
  • Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform

6.2 Local Storage

We use browser local storage to maintain your session, store preferences, and cache certain data for improved performance. This data remains on your device and is not transmitted to our servers unless necessary for functionality.

6.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for the platform to operate.

7. Data Retention

7.1 Account Data

We retain your account information for as long as your account remains active. If you request account deletion, we will remove your off-chain data within 30 days, subject to any legal retention requirements.

7.2 Content Data

Published content remains on our platform until you delete it. Once deleted, content is removed from active systems within 30 days. Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days for disaster recovery purposes.

7.3 Transaction Records

We retain transaction records for a minimum of 7 years to comply with financial regulations and tax requirements. On-chain transaction data is permanent and cannot be deleted.

7.4 Analytics Data

Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely for historical analysis. Individual-level analytics data is typically retained for 2 years.

8. Your Rights & Choices

8.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. You may request a copy of your data in a portable, machine-readable format.

8.2 Correction

You can update your profile information directly through your account settings. For other data corrections, please contact us.

8.3 Deletion

You may request deletion of your off-chain personal data. Please note that:

  • On-chain data cannot be deleted due to blockchain immutability
  • Certain data may be retained for legal or regulatory compliance
  • Aggregated, anonymized data may be retained for analytics

8.4 Objection and Restriction

You may object to certain processing activities or request restriction of processing in specific circumstances. We will honor such requests where legally required.

8.5 Withdraw Consent

Where we process data based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.

8.6 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through our official social channels. We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

9. Security Measures

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS/SSL
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls limit employee access to user data on a need-to-know basis
  • Infrastructure Security: Our servers are hosted in secure data centers with physical and network security measures
  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activities and potential security threats
  • Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and code reviews

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your wallet and private keys.

10. International Data Transfers

PulseCast operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction.

When we transfer data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to ensure your information receives adequate protection, including:

  • Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities
  • Data processing agreements with our service providers
  • Compliance with applicable data protection frameworks

Blockchain data is inherently global and distributed across nodes worldwide. By using blockchain-based features, you acknowledge this international distribution of data.

11. Children's Privacy

PulseCast is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately.

Parents and guardians who believe their child has provided us with personal information should contact us through our official social channels.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes:

  • We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
  • We will notify you through the platform or via email for significant changes
  • We may require you to acknowledge the updated policy before continuing to use the platform

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through our official channels:

We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns and will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe.