Privacy Policy for Harlan Books
1. Introduction
At Harlan Books, accessible via harlanbooks.com, we are deeply committed to protecting your personal data. We recognize the importance of privacy and data security for every visitor, customer, and user of our website. This Privacy Policy outlines our data processing practices and the steps we take to safeguard your information in compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
We are committed to transparency, accountability, and empowering users with control over their personal data.
2. Scope of this Policy and Data Controller Responsibility
This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data processed through the online services provided via harlanbooks.com. Harlan Books acts as the Data Controller for the purposes of the GDPR and as a Business under the CCPA. This means we determine the purposes and means by which your personal data are processed.
This Policy applies to all interactions with our website, including browsing, purchasing, account creation, subscription to newsletters, support inquiries, and other forms of engagement.
3. Categories of Data We Process
We collect and process different categories of personal data to deliver and improve our services:
a. Usage Data
We automatically collect data regarding how you use our website, including your IP address, browser type and version, pages visited, date and time of access, time spent on pages, referral URLs, and website interactions.
b. Account Data
When you create an account or make a purchase, we collect your name, email address, shipping and billing addresses, and phone number.
c. Profile Data
We collect personal preferences, purchase history, reading behavior, wishlists, and other data related to your use of our services.
d. Communication Data
We retain information you provide through support requests, chat interactions, email communications, and messages submitted through contact forms.
e. Technical Data
We collect information about the device and software you use to access harlanbooks.com, including operating system, device type, browser settings, screen resolution, and system language.
f. Transaction Data
We process records of payments made through our website, including transaction details, order history, delivery tracking, and payment method identifiers. We do not store your full credit card details; all payment processing is conducted through secure, third-party PCI-compliant providers.
g. Preference Data
We may collect information about your communication preferences (e.g. opting in to newsletters or promotions), product interests, and other marketing consents.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
We process your personal data only when we have a valid legal basis for doing so, namely:
– Performance of a Contract: To process your orders, manage your account, and deliver services.
– Consent: For marketing communications, cookies (where applicable), and any processing that requires your voluntary agreement.
– Legitimate Interests: To enhance our website performance, enforce our terms, prevent fraud, and understand user behavior (except where such interests are overridden by your rights).
– Legal Obligations: To comply with statutory requirements, tax regulations, and law enforcement requests.
5. Your Rights Under Data Protection Laws
Subject to applicable laws and certain exceptions, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
– Right of Access: You can request access to and obtain a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
– Right to Rectification: You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
– Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): You may request the deletion of your data where there are no overriding lawful grounds for its retention.
– Right to Restriction: You can request that we temporarily stop processing your data under certain circumstances.
– Right to Data Portability: You can request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
– Right to Object: You can object to specific processing activities, including direct marketing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond without undue delay, as required by law.
6. Data Security Measures
We adopt industry-standard security protocols to protect your data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our security measures include:
– Data encryption in transit and at rest
– Role-based access controls and authentication procedures
– Regular security audits and penetration testing
– Secure data backup and disaster recovery practices
– Staff confidentiality agreements and privacy training
7. International Data Transfers
Where personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or California, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:
– Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
– Transfers to jurisdictions recognized as providing an adequate level of data protection
– Binding contracts with service providers to uphold privacy requirements consistent with GDPR and CCPA standards
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required to comply with legal obligations. Retention periods by data type include:
– Usage Data: up to 12 months
– Account Data: as long as the account is active, and up to 7 years thereafter for legal compliance
– Profile and Preference Data: 3 years after last user activity
– Communication Data: up to 5 years
– Technical Data: up to 12 months
– Transaction Data: 7 years for financial and legal purposes
When data is no longer necessary, it is securely deleted or anonymized.
9. Cookie Policy
We use cookies and similar technologies on harlanbooks.com for the following purposes:
– Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality, including login and account management.
– Functional Cookies: Enable site personalization and language preferences.
– Analytics Cookies: Help us understand user behavior on the site for performance monitoring, typically via Google Analytics.
– Performance Cookies: Enhance the speed and responsiveness of our website.
No cookies will be deployed on your device without your consent, except for those strictly necessary to operate our website.
10. Cookie Management & Regulatory Compliance
We comply with GDPR and CCPA requirements regarding cookies. Upon your first visit to harlanbooks.com, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner where you can accept or reject non-essential cookies.
You may also manage cookie settings at any time through your browser controls or by revisiting our Cookie Settings page.
Under CCPA, residents of California may opt out of the “sale” of personal data. Harlan Books does not sell personal data for monetary consideration.
11. Children’s Privacy
Harlan Books does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal data to us, please contact us immediately at [email protected]. If a child’s information is collected inadvertently, we will take prompt action to delete such information from our records.
12. Policy Updates and User Notifications
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our legal obligations, data practices, or technology. Updated versions will be posted on harlanbooks.com and will supersede prior versions.
When changes materially affect your rights or the way we process your data, we will notify you via email or prominent notice on the website, as required by law.
13. Contacting Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://harlanbooks.com
We are committed to handling all privacy-related inquiries promptly and in accordance with applicable legal standards.
Compliance Statement
Harlan Books adheres to the principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, and accountability in its data handling practices. We appreciate your trust in us and encourage you to contact our team at [email protected] for any privacy concerns.