Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Introduction

Welcome to POGS.com ("we", "us", or "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

POGS.com is operated from Australia and complies with the Australian Privacy Act 1988, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other applicable privacy laws worldwide.

By using our website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our website.

Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services:

Personal Information

When you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us, we may collect:

Email address: Used for sending newsletters, updates, and communications
Name: If provided, used for personalization
Contact information: When you reach out to us directly

Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website:

Log data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and time spent on pages
Analytics data: Information about how you interact with our website, collected through Google Analytics
Device information: Device type, screen resolution, and other technical details

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Types of cookies we use include:

Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality
Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (Google Analytics)
Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

Communication: Send newsletters, updates about new articles, upcoming events, and other relevant content
Service improvement: Analyze website usage to improve content, functionality, and user experience
Marketing: Send promotional materials and updates about player-owned game servers (only if you've opted in)
Support: Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
Legal compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
Security: Protect against fraud, abuse, and security threats
Research: Conduct research and analysis to better understand the gaming server industry

We value your privacy and only share your information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and conducting our business:

ActiveCampaign: Email marketing and newsletter delivery platform
Google Analytics: Website analytics and usage tracking
Simplesat.io: Feedback and satisfaction surveys
Ghost: Content management and publishing platform

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal obligations
Protect our rights, property, or safety
Prevent fraud or security threats
Enforce our terms and conditions

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specifically:

Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Analytics data: Retained in accordance with Google Analytics retention settings (typically 26 months)
Contact inquiries: Retained for a reasonable period to respond to your inquiry and for record-keeping purposes

Your Rights and Choices

We respect your privacy rights and provide you with control over your personal information. Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

Right to access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Right to erasure: Request deletion of your personal information ("right to be forgotten")
Right to data portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to object: Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
Right to restriction: Request restriction of processing your personal information
Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

CCPA Rights (California Residents)

Right to know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, or disclosed
Right to delete: Request deletion of personal information
Right to opt-out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
Right to non-discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

Australian Privacy Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:

Access your personal information
Correct inaccurate or out-of-date information
Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances
Make a complaint about how we handle your personal information

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the details provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law (typically 30 days).

To unsubscribe from our newsletter, you can click the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send you.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including Australia and the United States. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country.

When we transfer personal information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

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

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Regular security assessments and updates
Access controls and authentication mechanisms
Employee training on data protection practices
Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including Discord, GitHub, YouTube, and other platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
Sending an email notification to our subscribers (for significant changes)

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

Contact Us

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

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://pogs.com/contact/

For privacy-related complaints or concerns, we will investigate and respond within a reasonable timeframe. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority:

Australia: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) - www.oaic.gov.au
EU/EEA: Your local Data Protection Authority
UK: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) - ico.org.uk

By using our website, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please discontinue use of our website.

This privacy policy is designed to comply with the Australian Privacy Act 1988, GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy laws. It was last reviewed and updated on January 20, 2026.