1) Data controller and contact
For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where it applies, the data controller for this website is Northern Signal Media Inc. (operating Canadian Online Watch). This means we determine why and how your personal data is processed when you visit this site, subscribe to updates, or contact us.
Northern Signal Media Inc.
200 Bay Street, Suite 1300
Toronto, ON M5J 2J2
Canada
Email: [email protected]
General: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (416) 977-9010
We do not publicly display or sell individual-level browsing data. Where we use measurement tools, our goal is to understand usage at an aggregate level, such as which sections are read most often or which pages load slowly, so we can improve the site’s reliability and readability.
2) Personal data we collect
The specific data we collect depends on how you interact with Canadian Online Watch. You can browse content without submitting a form. If you choose to contact us or subscribe, we collect the details you provide. We also collect certain technical information automatically when you access the site, which helps us keep the service secure and functioning.
Data you provide directly
- Full name (contact form).
- Email address (contact form and newsletter signup).
- Message content and any links you choose to include (contact form).
- Phone number only if you voluntarily include it in your message (we do not require it).
Data collected automatically (technical and usage)
- IP address and approximate location (derived at a coarse level, typically city or region, depending on provider).
- Browser and device information (device type, operating system, browser version).
- Usage data such as pages viewed, time on page, and referral source, when analytics are enabled by your cookie choice.
- Cookie and preference data including your cookie banner selection stored in localStorage.
- Server logs including timestamps, requested pages, and error codes to support security and debugging.
We do not ask for sensitive categories of personal data (such as health data, political opinions, or biometric identifiers). Please do not send such information to us. If you provide it in a message, we will handle it with care and may delete it if it is not necessary for the purpose of responding.
3) How we collect data
We collect personal data through a limited set of methods tied to normal website operations. These methods are designed to be transparent and to avoid collecting more information than necessary. You can control optional cookies through the cookie banner and your browser settings.
Web forms
When you use the contact form or subscribe to the email digest, we collect the fields you submit. Forms include clear notices and links to this Privacy Policy next to the submit button.
Cookies and local storage
We use a cookie consent banner. Your choice is stored in localStorage so you are not asked repeatedly. Optional analytics cookies are used only after you accept.
Analytics tools
If enabled by consent, we may use Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregated site usage, such as which pages are read and how visitors find us. If we implement Meta Pixel for advertising measurement, it would also be consent-based and disclosed in this policy before activation.
Server logs
Our hosting infrastructure automatically records logs for security, reliability, and troubleshooting, including IP address, request times, and requested URLs.
Canadian Online Watch does not use pop-ups that block reading or automatic redirects. The cookie banner appears in the bottom-right corner and can be accepted or rejected without preventing access to content.
4) Legal bases for processing (GDPR Art. 6)
Where GDPR applies, we process personal data only when we have a valid legal basis. The legal basis depends on the specific purpose and data category. In many cases, you have a choice and can withdraw consent at any time.
If you are located in Canada, Canadian privacy laws may apply in addition to or instead of GDPR. We apply similar core principles: transparency, limited collection, security, and meaningful choice, especially for optional measurement and marketing.
5) Purposes of processing
We use personal data for specific, limited purposes that support operating a news-style site and responding to readers. We do not use personal data to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you, and we do not knowingly attempt to infer sensitive personal characteristics.
Service delivery and operations
We process technical data to deliver pages, load images, remember basic preferences (such as cookie choices), and ensure the site works across devices. Logs help identify broken pages, fix errors, and maintain performance.
Customer support and communication
We use contact form details to respond to questions, review corrections, and follow up on clarifications. We may keep a history of messages so we can provide consistent replies and demonstrate accountability.
Marketing (consent-based only)
If you opt in to the digest, we process your email address to send periodic summaries. We do not add you to marketing lists without your action. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we will respect withdrawal requests.
Security and abuse prevention
We use logs and technical signals to reduce spam and to protect the site from malicious activity. This can include rate limiting, detecting automated scraping patterns, and investigating suspicious traffic that could harm site availability.
We do not sell personal information. If we run advertising campaigns, we aim to use context-based placement and aggregated measurement rather than collecting detailed profiles. Any marketing pixels, if used, are treated as optional cookies and require consent.
6) Retention periods
We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purpose it was collected, plus any additional period required for security, dispute resolution, or legal compliance. Retention may be shorter if you request deletion and no overriding legal reason requires us to keep the data.
Standard retention schedule
- Contact form submissions: up to 2 years from last correspondence, unless a longer period is needed to address an ongoing issue.
- Newsletter email list: until you unsubscribe, then we remove or anonymize within 30 days, except where limited records are required to demonstrate compliance with consent preferences.
- Analytics data (if enabled by consent): 14 months (typical GA4 retention setting), then automatically deleted or aggregated.
- Server logs: up to 30 days for security and troubleshooting, unless needed longer for investigating abuse or incidents.
- Cookie consent preference (localStorage): stored until you clear your browser storage or change your choice by re-opening the banner (if implemented) or clearing local data.
If you request deletion, we will evaluate the request and remove data where we can. In some cases, we may retain minimal records (for example, a suppression record indicating an email address should not be mailed) to honor opt-out requests and prevent accidental re-subscription.
8) International transfers
Northern Signal Media Inc. is based in Canada. Depending on the service providers we use (for example, analytics or hosting), personal data may be processed in countries outside your province, outside Canada, and where GDPR applies, outside the European Economic Area (EEA). International processing can occur when providers operate global infrastructure or store data in specific regions.
Where GDPR applies and personal data is transferred outside the EEA to a country not subject to an adequacy decision, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and, when needed, supplementary measures. We also minimize transfers by limiting optional tracking and by using consent for non-essential analytics.
How to ask about transfers
You may request information about applicable transfer safeguards by emailing [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before sharing details about specific processing arrangements.
9) Your rights under GDPR and how to exercise them
If GDPR applies to you, you have specific rights regarding your personal data. We will respond to requests within the timeframes required by law and may ask for information to verify your identity. If your request is complex, we may need additional time, but we will explain why.
Your rights
- Right of access: request a copy of personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure: request deletion where the legal requirements are met.
- Right to restriction: ask us to limit processing in certain cases.
- Right to data portability: receive certain data in a commonly used format where applicable.
- Right to object: object to processing based on legitimate interests in certain situations.
- Right to withdraw consent: if processing is based on consent, you can withdraw at any time without affecting prior lawful processing.
How to submit a request
Email [email protected] with the subject line “Privacy Request”. Please include enough detail for us to locate your data, such as the email address used for newsletter signups or the approximate date you contacted us. Do not send passwords. If you used our contact form, include the email you used so we can search communications securely.
Unsubscribe: if you receive a digest email, use the unsubscribe link in that email. If you cannot access it, contact us and we will process your request.
Right to complain to a supervisory authority
If GDPR applies and you believe we have not handled your personal data appropriately, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. If you are in the United Kingdom, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). If you are in Canada, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). You can also contact the authority where you live, work, or where an alleged infringement occurred.
11) Children’s privacy
Canadian Online Watch is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you believe a child has provided personal data to us through the contact form or newsletter signup, please contact us at [email protected]. After reasonable verification, we will take steps to delete the information and prevent further collection where appropriate.
If you are between 16 and 18, you may use the site and submit forms, but you should use your own email address and avoid sharing personal information that is not necessary for your inquiry.
12) Policy updates
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in how we operate the website, changes in service providers, or updates in legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. If changes are material, we may provide additional notice, such as a banner on the site or an email to newsletter subscribers where appropriate.
Continued use of the site after an update means you have read the revised policy. If you disagree with the changes, you can stop using the site and, where applicable, withdraw consent for optional cookies or unsubscribe from the digest.
13) Contact, data deletion, and privacy mailbox
To exercise privacy rights, request deletion, or ask questions about this policy, email our dedicated privacy mailbox: [email protected]. You may also write to us at our mailing address listed below. We do not appoint a formal Data Protection Officer for this site at this time; however, we maintain a dedicated privacy contact and will route requests to the appropriate team member.
Mailing address
Northern Signal Media Inc.
Attn: Privacy
200 Bay Street, Suite 1300
Toronto, ON M5J 2J2
Canada
What to include in requests
Include the email address you used on the site and a clear description of your request. For deletion requests, specify whether you want newsletter data removed, contact messages removed, or both. We may ask for confirmation to prevent unauthorized deletions.
For general inquiries unrelated to privacy, use the Contact page. For an overview of how we describe trends and how we handle corrections, see Methodology.
