Privacy Policy
This policy explains what personal information Derek Francis ("I", "me") collects through derekfrancis.net, why, and what choices you have. I keep collection to the minimum needed to send the newsletter and reply to messages.
Who is responsible for your data
Derek Francis is responsible for the personal information described here. To ask a question or exercise any of your rights, use the contact form and choose "Something else". I aim to respond within 30 days.
What I collect
| Where | Information | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter sign-up | Email address | To send The Launch Desk, one essay a week |
| Contact form | Name, email, topic, and your message | To read and reply to your enquiry |
| Hosting logs | IP address, browser type, pages requested, and timestamps | To deliver the site securely and prevent abuse |
| Lab favorites | A running total per lab item, with no personal information | To rank items by popularity |
I do not ask for sensitive information. Please do not include financial, health, or government identification details in a message.
Your consent and the legal basis
When you subscribe or send a message, you consent to my use of the information you provide for the purpose stated next to the form. You can withdraw consent at any time, as easily as you gave it: unsubscribe from any newsletter email or ask me to delete your details. For visitors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, the legal basis is your consent for the newsletter, and my legitimate interest in replying for the contact form.
Who processes data on my behalf
- Netlify hosts this website, receives form submissions, and keeps standard server logs.
- An email newsletter provider (currently planned to be Beehiiv) stores subscriber emails and sends the newsletter once it is set up. Each email includes an unsubscribe link.
These providers process data under their own security and privacy terms. Some of them store data in the United States and other countries outside India, so your information may be transferred internationally.
I do not sell, rent, or trade personal information, and I do not use it for advertising.
How long I keep it
- Newsletter emails: until you unsubscribe or ask me to delete them.
- Contact messages: up to 24 months after our last exchange, then deleted.
- Hosting logs: as long as the hosting provider retains them under its own policy.
Cookies and local storage
This site does not use advertising or tracking cookies. When you favorite an item in the AI Marketing Lab, the site adds one to that item's public favorite count. Only the total is stored, with nothing that identifies you. Your browser's local storage remembers which items you favorited so the same browser is not counted twice. That list stays on your device and is removed when you clear your browser data.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you can ask me to:
- Tell you what personal information I hold about you and how I use it
- Correct or update it
- Delete it
- Stop sending you email, or withdraw your consent
- Nominate another person to exercise these rights on your behalf if you are unable to
If you are in India, these rights come from the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and you may raise a grievance with me first and then with the Data Protection Board of India. If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you may also complain to your local data protection authority.
Children
This site is intended for business professionals. It is not directed at anyone under 18, and I do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information, contact me and I will delete it.
Security
The site is served over HTTPS, and form submissions are stored with the hosting and newsletter providers listed above. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but I take reasonable steps to protect your information.
Changes to this policy
If I change this policy, I will update the effective date above. If a change affects how I use information you have already given me, I will tell newsletter subscribers by email.