Draft for review. Have the adviser and head developer check this before launch, and fill in the highlighted parts. This page explains our practices; it isn't legal advice.
Your email and display name if you make an account, plus what you choose to post.
No selling, no ads that track you, no sharing for marketing.
See, fix, download or delete your data anytime. Just ask.
01Who we are
Focalpoint is an independent, student-run youth media outlet. This policy covers the Focalpoint website and the accounts, comments, photo submissions and feedback you send through it. We follow the Philippines' Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and the rules of the National Privacy Commission.
Our Data Protection Officer is [name, role], reachable at [privacy email].
02What we collect
| What | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Email, display name, password (stored scrambled) | You create a reader account | To sign you in and keep your points, streak and saved stories |
| Name and email from Google | You choose "Continue with Google" | Same as above. We never see your Google password. |
| Comments, reactions, your name or "Anonymous" | You comment or react | To show your comment after our team reviews it |
| Photos, captions, the story behind them | You submit to the Gallery | To review and, if approved, publish with credit |
| Feedback messages | You message Fokie | To improve the site and answer you |
| Staff name, role, desk, drafts | Focalcrew members use the staff desk | To write, review and publish stories |
| Basic technical data (browser, device type, pages visited, rough location by country) | Anyone visits | To keep the site working and see what readers find useful. [name the analytics tool, if any] |
We don't ask for your address, phone number, school ID, or anything about your health, religion or beliefs. Please don't put those in comments or photos either.
03How we use it
- Run your account, points, streaks, frames and badges.
- Review comments and photos before they go public.
- Credit you by name when we publish your photo or quote, unless you ask to stay anonymous.
- Answer feedback and fix problems.
- Keep the site safe from spam and abuse.
We won't use your data for advertising, sell it, or use it to train AI models.
04What's saved on your device
We use your browser's storage instead of tracking cookies. It holds settings like light or dark mode, whether you've seen the intro and the welcome tour, sound on or off, and, if you're not signed in, your points and saved stories. Clearing your browser data removes it. [List any sign-in or analytics cookies once the real site is built.]
05Who we share it with
Only with services that help us run the site, and only what they need: [hosting: Vercel], [database / sign-in provider], and Google if you use Google sign-in. They may store data outside the Philippines, under agreements that protect it. We'll share data with authorities only when the law requires it.
06Younger readers
Many of our readers and writers are high school students. If you're under 18, please make sure a parent or guardian knows you're making an account or sending us photos. We never publish a minor's full name, school section or photo without consent, and a parent or guardian can ask us to remove anything about their child at any time.
07How long we keep it
- Accounts: until you delete them, or after 2 years of no sign-ins.
- Comments and published photos: as long as the story is up, unless you ask us to take them down.
- Unpublished submissions and feedback: up to 1 year.
- Staff accounts: until the member leaves the Focalcrews.
08Your rights
Under the Data Privacy Act you can ask to see the data we hold about you, correct it, download a copy, object to how we use it, or have it deleted. Email [privacy email] and we'll reply within 15 days. If you think we've mishandled your data, you can also complain to the National Privacy Commission (privacy.gov.ph).
09Keeping it safe
Passwords are stored scrambled (hashed), the site runs over HTTPS, and only the members who need it can reach the admin tools. No system is perfect. If a breach puts your data at risk, we'll tell you and the National Privacy Commission as the law requires.
10Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top and, for big changes, post a notice on the homepage before they take effect.
11Contact us
Questions or requests: [privacy email], or tap Fokie in the corner and send feedback. Back to stories