Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Athens Scoop collects, uses, and shares information when you visit athensscoop.com, subscribe, submit information, purchase an event promotion, or use our other services.

Who we are

Athens Scoop is a local publication based in Athens, Georgia. Questions or privacy requests may be submitted by emailing andrew@athensscoop.com with “Privacy Request” in the subject line.

Information we collect

We collect information you choose to provide, which may include your email address, name, phone number, relationship to a business, business information, survey selections, event or listing details, advertising inquiries, partner-offer requests, uploaded event or business images, photo captions and dates, permission records, and scheduling information.

When you use the site, we and our service providers may automatically receive technical information such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed, referring page, campaign parameters, approximate location, timestamps, and interactions with links and site features. We use cookies, browser storage, and similar technologies to keep a pseudonymous visitor identifier, remember preferences, connect related site activity, prevent abuse, and measure performance.

How we use information

We use information to deliver newsletters and requested services; publish and manage event or directory submissions; respond to inquiries; process purchases and bookings; provide partner offers; operate, secure, debug, and improve the site; measure readership and advertising performance; prevent fraud and abuse; comply with law; and enforce our agreements. We do not use PostHog to collect form contents, payment-card details, email addresses, names, phone numbers, or postal addresses.

Analytics and session replay

We use PostHog for product analytics, including visits, traffic sources, content engagement, searches, conversions, errors, and site performance. PostHog receives a pseudonymous identifier and technical usage information. Our analytics events are configured to remove direct identifiers and sensitive URL parameters. Analytics events are retained for up to 12 months.

Masked session replay is enabled by default for eligible visits and may be disabled below. We sample approximately 20% of eligible visits, mask text and inputs, and exclude administrative, sensitive, and payment routes. Recordings are retained for up to 30 days. These settings apply only to the current browser, and clearing browser storage resets them.

Business media submissions

Restaurant and coffee-shop submissions are stored in a private editorial library. We retain the submitted business details, prepared image files, captions, photo dates, submitter contact information, email-verification status, and a timestamped record of the exact permission language accepted. Approved media may be provided to authorized Sharpe Media production systems through time-limited download links. Those systems do not receive submitter contact information or consent evidence.

Unfinished submission drafts and quarantined uploads are scheduled for removal after 24 hours. Approved media and supporting permission records may be retained while the permission remains applicable and as reasonably needed to document prior editorial use, handle disputes, or comply with law. Contact Athens Scoop through an official communication to request a correction, withdrawal, or deletion review.

Advertising measurement

We use the Meta Pixel and Meta's Conversions API to measure advertising and newsletter or lead conversions. Depending on your browser and interaction, Meta may receive device and browser information, IP address, page activity, Meta cookie identifiers, and hashed contact information associated with a completed conversion. Meta processes this information under its own privacy terms and may use it for advertising measurement and personalization. You can manage advertising preferences through your Meta account, use browser tracking protections, or contact us with an opt-out request.

Payments

Event promotions and certain paid offerings are processed by Stripe. Athens Scoop does not receive or store your complete payment-card number. Stripe processes payment and transaction information under its own privacy policy. We retain transaction and order records as reasonably necessary for fulfillment, accounting, fraud prevention, disputes, and legal obligations.

Service providers and sharing

We disclose information only as reasonably necessary to operate the services, complete a request, measure advertising, protect the site, or comply with law. Providers may include Cloudflare for hosting and security; Beehiiv for newsletter subscriptions and delivery; PostHog for analytics; Meta for advertising measurement; Stripe for payments; Supabase for event data, authentication, and file storage; Resend for transactional email; Cal.com for scheduling; and professional advisers or authorities when legally required. Partner-offer information may be sent to the identified partner when you ask to receive that offer.

We do not sell personal information for money. Some privacy laws may define advertising measurement or targeted-advertising disclosures as a “sale,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising even when no money is exchanged.

Retention and security

We keep submitted information only for as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described above, including providing services, maintaining business and transaction records, resolving disputes, preventing abuse, and meeting legal obligations. Retention varies by record type and provider. We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, but no internet transmission or storage system is completely secure.

Your choices and rights

Newsletter messages include an unsubscribe link. You can use the controls above to disable PostHog analytics or manage replay on this browser. You can also block or clear cookies and browser storage through your browser, although doing so may affect site features.

Depending on where you live and whether a particular law applies to Athens Scoop, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, or a copy of personal information, or to opt out of certain advertising disclosures. Submit a request to andrew@athensscoop.com and include “Privacy Request” in the subject line. We may need to verify your request and may retain information when permitted or required by law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

Children

Athens Scoop is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Contact us if you believe a child has submitted personal information so we can review and delete it as appropriate.

External links and international processing

The site links to third-party websites whose practices are governed by their own policies. Athens Scoop and its providers may process information in the United States and other countries where they operate.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our services or legal obligations change. The date below shows the latest revision. Material changes will be communicated in a reasonable manner appropriate to the change.

Last updated September 1, 2026.