Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 11, 2025

Introduction

The Black Society ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Black Society Community Network platform at blacksociety.co.uk. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

The Black Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales. We are committed to transparency and compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

When you register for an account and use our platform, we collect information that you voluntarily provide, including:

Account Information: Name, email address, username, password, date of birth, and profile information
Profile Content: Profile picture, bio, location, interests, and other information you choose to share
User-Generated Content: Posts, comments, messages, photos, videos, and other content you create or share
Communication Data: Messages you send to other users, support inquiries, and feedback
Verification Information: Documentation and information provided for account verification or author status applications

Information Collected Automatically

When you access our platform, we automatically collect certain information, including:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent on platform, click patterns, search queries
Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (we do not collect precise GPS location)
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy)

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

Social Media: If you connect your account to social media platforms
Partner Organizations: Information shared by our partner organizations with your consent
Public Sources: Publicly available information relevant to verification or author applications

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Platform Operations

Providing, maintaining, and improving our platform services
Creating and managing your account
Authenticating users and preventing fraud
Personalizing your experience and content recommendations
Facilitating connections between community members

Communication

Sending you platform notifications, updates, and announcements
Responding to your inquiries and providing customer support
Sending newsletters and information about our programmes (with your consent)
Facilitating communication between users through our messaging features

Community Development

Understanding how our community uses the platform
Analyzing trends and engagement patterns
Developing new features and programmes based on community needs
Measuring the impact of our charitable initiatives

Safety and Security

Detecting, preventing, and addressing fraud, abuse, and security threats
Enforcing our Terms of Service and community guidelines
Protecting the rights, property, and safety of our users and the public
Complying with legal obligations and responding to legal requests

Marketing and Partnerships

Promoting our programmes, events, and initiatives
Identifying potential partnership opportunities
Showcasing community success stories (with permission)
Supporting our charitable mission and fundraising efforts

Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

Consent: When you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
Contract: To fulfill our contractual obligations in providing platform services
Legitimate Interests: For our legitimate interests in operating a charitable organization and community platform
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Vital Interests: To protect the vital interests of individuals in emergency situations

How We Share Your Information

We respect your privacy and do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Your Consent

When you choose to share content publicly on the platform
When you authorize us to share information with third parties
When you participate in partner programmes or events

With Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, including:

Cloud hosting and storage providers
Email and communication services
Analytics and performance monitoring tools
Payment processors (for donations and transactions)
Security and fraud prevention services

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

With Partner Organizations

We may share limited information with our partner organizations (such as The Voice, MOBO, Mobilise, and others) when:

You participate in partner programmes or events
You consent to partnership communications
It is necessary to provide services you have requested

For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
Enforce our Terms of Service and other agreements
Protect the rights, property, or safety of The Black Society, our users, or the public
Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues

Business Transfers

If The Black Society is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and the choices you may have.

Your Privacy Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of Access

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

Right to Rectification

You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten")

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict processing of your personal information in certain situations.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

Right to Object

You have the right to object to processing of your personal information based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

Right to Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [email protected]

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.

Account Information: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward
User-Generated Content: Retained according to your account settings and platform policies
Communication Records: Retained for customer service and legal compliance purposes
Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required for legal, regulatory, or legitimate business purposes.

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 penetration testing
Access controls and authentication requirements
Employee training on data protection and security
Incident response and breach notification procedures

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

Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

For users between 13 and 18, we recommend parental guidance and supervision when using our platform.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the United Kingdom. When we transfer personal data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK authorities
Adequacy decisions recognizing equivalent data protection standards
Other legally approved transfer mechanisms

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our platform. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please see our Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

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

Posting the updated policy on our platform
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of the platform after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

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

The Black Society
Data Protection Officer
Email: [email protected]
Address: Southwark, London, United Kingdom

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the ICO:
Website: https://ico.org.uk/
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

This Privacy Policy is part of our commitment to transparency and protecting your rights. Thank you for trusting The Black Society Community Network with your information.