Doomscroll News

Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 28, 2025
Website: https://doomscrollnews.com (the “Site”)
Owner/Operator: David Gross (individual) (“I,” “me,” “my”)
Contact: [email protected]

1) What this policy covers

This policy explains what information I collect when you use the Site, why I collect it, how I use it, when I share it, how long I keep it, and your choices—including rights under certain U.S. state privacy laws.

2) Information I collect

  • Technical & usage data. IP address, timestamps, request URLs, referrer, user-agent, error codes, and diagnostics from servers/WAF.
  • Cookies & local storage. Essential cookies for core functions (e.g., remembering comment details; session if accounts exist). Optional cookies may be set by analytics/ads or embedded third parties.
  • User-supplied data. Information you submit (comments, contact forms, display name, email, website).
  • Account/profile data (if accounts exist). Login, display name, preferences.
  • Media metadata. If you upload images, embedded EXIF/GPS may be accessible if you publish it.

3) How I use information (purposes)

  • Operate, secure, and improve the Site; prevent abuse/fraud; debug performance.
  • Moderate comments and block spam.
  • Analytics/advertising (if enabled).
  • Legal compliance and protection (including working with lawful investigations and enforcing my Terms).

4) Cookies & similar technologies

  • Essential cookies: core site functionality; blocking them may break features.
  • Analytics/ads cookies (if enabled): e.g., Google measurement/ads. Control via browser settings and industry opt-outs (YourAdChoices) and Google Ad Settings.
  • Your controls: browsers let you block/clear cookies and limit trackers.

5) Advertising, analytics, and validators

If enabled, Google advertising and validator bots may access pages to evaluate ad quality, policy compliance, and rendering (e.g., AdsBot-Google, AdsBot-Google-Mobile, Google-Display-Ads-Bot, Mediapartners-Google). These bots respect robots.txt. Third-party cookies are governed by their own policies.

6) Automated access / crawlers (indexing & AI training signals)

I publish a crawler allowlist in robots.txt and enforce it via firewall rules. As of this policy’s effective date, allowed crawlers include: Google (Googlebot family), Microsoft (bingbot), DuckDuckGo (DuckDuckBot), Apple (Applebot), Archive.org (ia_archiver), OpenAI (GPTBot), Anthropic (ClaudeBot), xAI (Grok), Common Crawl (CCBot), and link-preview fetchers (Twitterbot, facebookexternalhit/facebot, LinkedInBot, Slackbot, Discordbot, TelegramBot).

  • Applebot-Extended does not crawl; it’s an AI-training controller. If permitted in robots.txt, that constitutes consent for Apple to use publicly available content from this Site for AI training/usage on Apple products.
  • I also maintain per-bot kill switches and may block non-allowlisted crawlers. Misrepresenting a User-Agent or ignoring robots.txt violates my Terms.

7) Server logs, security, and retention

I maintain standard access/security logs (IP, user-agent, timestamps, request paths) to operate and protect the Site. Retention: generally 180–365 days, and longer when reasonably needed for security, debugging, dispute resolution, or legal requirements. Backups may persist for limited additional time.

8) Law-enforcement cooperation

I may preserve and disclose information when I, in good faith, believe it’s reasonably necessary to comply with law (including local, state, or federal requests), enforce my Terms, or protect the rights, property, or safety of me, users, or the public.

9) When I share information

  • Service providers. Vendors who help operate the Site (e.g., hosting, DDoS/WAF, logging). They may use data only to provide their services to me.
  • Legal/dispute. As described above.
  • With your direction. Content you intentionally publish (e.g., comments) is public.

10) Your choices

  • Cookies/trackers. Use browser/device settings to block or delete.
  • Ads personalization. Use Google Ad Settings and industry opt-outs.
  • Crawler preferences. See robots.txt; I also enforce via firewall rules.

11) U.S. state privacy rights (general)

Depending on your state of residence, you may have some or all of these rights: know/access, delete, correct, data portability, and rights to opt-out of certain processing (e.g., targeted advertising; “sale” or “sharing” of personal information; certain profiling).

  • How to exercise: email [email protected] with your request and state of residence. I may need to verify your identity and residency.
  • Appeals: If I deny your request, you may appeal by replying to the decision; I’ll review and respond as required by your state law.
  • Do Not Sell/Share. I do not sell personal information as “sale” is defined in many state laws. If I enable cross-context behavioral advertising that qualifies as “sharing” (CA) or “targeted advertising” (others), you may opt out via the Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information section below or by emailing me.
  • Authorized agents (CA). You may use an authorized agent; I may request proof of authorization and identity verification.
  • Sensitive data. I do not intentionally collect “sensitive” personal information; if I ever do, I will handle it per applicable law.

12) State Privacy Rights (Detailed)

Summary only; if a conflict exists, the applicable statute/regulations control.

A) California (CCPA/CPRA).

  • Key terms:
    • “Personal Information (PI)” includes identifiers (e.g., IP) and inferences.
    • “Sale” is exchanging PI for monetary or other valuable consideration.
    • “Share” is disclosing PI for cross-context behavioral advertising.
  • Rights: know/access, delete, correct, portability; opt-out of sale/sharing; limit use of sensitive PI (if collected); no discrimination for exercising rights.
  • Opt-out method: see Do Not Sell or Share below or email me.

B) Colorado (CPA).

  • Key terms:
    • “Sale” is exchange of personal data for monetary or other valuable consideration.
    • “Targeted advertising” means ads based on tracking over time and across contexts.
  • Rights: access, delete, correct, portability; opt-out of sale, targeted advertising, and certain profiling; appeal rights.

C) Connecticut (CTDPA).

  • Key terms/rights: similar to Colorado (sale, targeted ads, profiling); access, delete, correct, portability; opt-out controls; appeal rights.

D) Utah (UCPA).

  • Key terms:
    • “Sale” limited to monetary consideration (narrower than CA/CO/CT/VA).
    • Targeted advertising opt-out.
  • Rights: access, delete (limited), portability; opt-out of sale and targeted ads.

E) Virginia (VCDPA).

  • Key terms/rights: access, delete, correct, portability; opt-out of sale, targeted advertising, certain profiling; appeal rights.

F) Oregon (OCPA).

  • Key terms:
    • “Personal data” similar to other states; “sale” includes valuable consideration.
    • “Targeted advertising” tracking across unaffiliated sites/apps.
  • Rights: access, delete, correct, portability; opt-out of sale, targeted ads, certain profiling; appeal rights.
  • Sensitive data: requires consent if ever processed.

How I handle state requests (all states above):

  • I rely on email requests (below). I will verify your identity and state residency, respond within the applicable timeframe, and honor opt-outs where definitions apply to my activities. If I deny, you may appeal by replying to the decision email.

13) Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

If you are a resident of California or a state with similar rights (e.g., CO/CT/UT/VA/OR), you may exercise your right to opt-out of “sale”/“sharing”/“targeted advertising” as those terms are defined by your state’s law.

How to submit your request (choose one):

  1. Email: Send “Do Not Sell/Share Request” to [email protected]. Include your state of residence and the browser(s)/device(s) you use to access this Site.
  2. Browser signals (if supported): If your browser provides a recognized opt-out signal (e.g., GPC—Global Privacy Control), I will treat it as a valid opt-out for that browser.
  3. Ads opt-outs: You can also reduce cross-context ads via industry tools (YourAdChoices) and Google Ad Settings.

What happens next: I’ll record your opt-out and apply it to the extent applicable (e.g., disable or limit cross-context ad signals associated with your browser/device on this Site). If you clear cookies or use different browsers/devices, you may need to opt out again.

Authorized agents (CA only): Your agent may submit the request; I may require proof of authorization and identity verification.

14) Children

The Site is intended for users 13+. The Doom Scroll Global app is 17+. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child provided personal data here, contact me to remove it.

15) Data security

The Site uses HTTPS. No internet service can guarantee perfect security, but I work to protect the Site and the information I process. You are responsible for safeguarding any credentials for accounts (if accounts are offered).

16) International visitors

This Site is operated in the United States. If you access it from elsewhere, you understand your information may be processed in the U.S., where laws may differ from those in your location.

17) Your rights over comments/account data (WordPress-style)

If you have an account or have left comments, you may request an export of your personal data and/or deletion, subject to information I must retain for administrative, legal, or security purposes. Requests: [email protected].

18) Updates to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. When I do, I’ll change the Effective date above and, for material changes, I’ll provide a reasonable heads-up (e.g., a notice on this page).

19) Contact

Privacy questions or requests: [email protected]