The purpose of this policy is to explain the privacy and data compliance standards followed by AILensNews when handling personal data. AILensNews recognizes that digital publishing involves interaction with readers, sources, contributors, advertisers, and other users, and those interactions may involve personal information.

This policy is designed to provide transparency about how AILensNews may collect, use, store, protect, review, delete, restrict, disclose, or otherwise process personal data. It also explains how users may contact AILensNews about data protection concerns, privacy rights, consent withdrawal, data correction, data access, deletion requests, restriction requests, or complaints.

AILensNews aims to handle personal data with care, proportionality, security, and accountability. The website does not intend to collect more personal data than is reasonably required for website operation, editorial communication, legal compliance, reader services, security, analytics, advertising management, user support, and other lawful purposes.

For the purpose of this policy, personal data means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or may reasonably be linked to an individual. Depending on the context, personal data may include name, email address, phone number where provided, location information where provided, IP address, device details, browser details, cookie identifiers, account details where applicable, newsletter preferences, submitted messages, inquiry details, complaint details, user-generated content, contributor details, source communication, payment-related references where applicable, and other information connected with a user’s interaction with AILensNews.

Personal data does not always mean sensitive information. Some information may be general contact information, while other information may require greater care because it relates to identity, privacy, user communication, legal claims, source protection, reader rights, or other sensitive context.

AILensNews may also process technical data that does not directly identify a user but may become personal data when linked with other information. Such data may include analytics identifiers, session data, browser type, device type, page visits, referral sources, access logs, and website activity information.

AILensNews may collect personal data directly from users when they subscribe, submit forms, send emails, request corrections, raise privacy concerns, contact the newsroom, submit content, respond to editorial requests, participate in reader communication, send advertising inquiries, or otherwise communicate with AILensNews.

AILensNews may also collect technical and usage information when users access ailensnews.com. This may include IP address, device type, browser information, operating details, page views, time spent on pages, referral links, approximate access location, cookie data, consent choices, interaction logs, and other technical information needed for website operation, analytics, security, performance, and compliance.

AILensNews may receive personal data from contributors, sources, agencies, advertisers, service providers, public records, public posts, official documents, and other lawful sources where the information is relevant to editorial, commercial, legal, technical, or operational purposes.

AILensNews processes personal data only where there is a lawful basis under Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. The lawful basis may depend on the type of data, the user’s relationship with AILensNews, the purpose of processing, and the legal requirements applicable to that activity.

AILensNews may process personal data where processing is necessary for website operation, user communication, consent-based services, newsletter delivery, account management where applicable, user support, legal compliance, security monitoring, fraud prevention, editorial communication, correction handling, source communication, advertising communication, contractual arrangements, legitimate operational interests, or protection of rights.

Where consent is required, AILensNews may request consent through appropriate website notices, forms, subscription options, cookie settings, or user action. Where consent is withdrawn, AILensNews may stop the relevant consent-based processing unless another lawful basis applies under Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

AILensNews may use personal data for purposes including:

• operating and maintaining ailensnews.com;• providing access to articles, pages, newsletters, and reader features;• responding to user inquiries, correction requests, privacy requests, legal notices, and support messages;• managing newsletter subscriptions and communication preferences;• reviewing editorial submissions, contributor communication, and source material;• handling advertising, sponsored content, partnership, or business inquiries;• managing website security, abuse prevention, spam detection, technical errors, and fraud prevention;• analyzing website performance, readership trends, content engagement, and service improvement;• complying with legal duties, regulatory requirements, dispute handling, and enforcement needs;• protecting the rights, safety, security, and lawful interests of AILensNews, readers, contributors, sources, advertisers, and third parties.

AILensNews does not use personal data in a manner that is knowingly unlawful, excessive, misleading, or unrelated to the purpose for which the information was collected, unless permitted by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

AILensNews may request user consent for certain activities, including newsletter subscription, optional communication, certain cookies, analytics preferences, advertising preferences, or other consent-based services. Consent should be clear enough for the user to understand the relevant activity.

Users may withdraw consent where the processing is based on consent. Withdrawal may affect access to optional services, preferences, newsletters, personalized features, or certain website functionality. Withdrawal of consent does not automatically affect processing carried out before withdrawal or processing that continues under another lawful basis.

AILensNews may maintain records of consent choices, withdrawal requests, and related actions for compliance, audit, technical, and dispute-handling purposes.

AILensNews may use cookies, pixels, local storage, tags, analytics tools, advertising tools, consent tools, and similar technologies on ailensnews.com. These technologies may support essential website functions, performance review, analytics, advertising measurement, security, reader preferences, and content improvement.

Some cookies may be necessary for the website to function properly. Other cookies may require consent depending on their purpose and Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. Users may manage cookie preferences through available cookie settings or browser controls where supported.

Cookie-related practices are explained in the Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings page published on ailensnews.com. Users should review those pages for more detailed information about cookie categories, preference controls, and consent options.

AILensNews may share personal data where necessary and lawful. Data may be shared with website hosting providers, analytics providers, email service providers, newsletter tools, security providers, advertising service providers, payment service providers where applicable, legal advisers, technical providers, moderation tools, compliance support providers, and other service providers assisting with website operation or legal responsibilities.

AILensNews may also disclose personal data where required to comply with Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, respond to legal notices, protect rights, investigate abuse, prevent fraud, enforce website terms, protect safety, handle disputes, respond to regulatory communication, or comply with a lawful request.

AILensNews does not intend to sell personal data in a way that violates Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. Any data sharing should be limited to the purpose for which it is required and handled with appropriate safeguards where reasonably possible.

Because digital publishing may involve users, service providers, hosting tools, communication tools, analytics services, advertising partners, and technical infrastructure in different locations, personal data may be processed, stored, accessed, or transferred across different jurisdictions where permitted by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

Where cross-border processing or transfer occurs, AILensNews may rely on lawful transfer methods, contractual safeguards, service provider terms, user consent where required, legitimate operational needs, or other permitted legal grounds. The level of data protection may differ depending on where data is processed.

AILensNews may take reasonable steps to work with service providers that support appropriate data protection, confidentiality, security, and compliance practices.

AILensNews retains personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer period is required or permitted by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. Retention periods may vary depending on the data type, relationship with the user, operational purpose, legal duty, dispute risk, security need, editorial relevance, and technical requirement.

Examples of retained data may include user communication records, correction requests, privacy requests, legal correspondence, consent records, newsletter preferences, contributor records, advertising inquiries, technical logs, security records, and website analytics.

AILensNews may delete, anonymize, aggregate, restrict, or archive data when it is no longer required. Some data may be retained where necessary for legal claims, compliance, audit, fraud prevention, security, dispute handling, or editorial recordkeeping.

AILensNews aims to apply reasonable security measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, alteration, disclosure, destruction, or unlawful processing. Security measures may include access controls, technical safeguards, service provider review, secure communication practices, internal restrictions, monitoring, backups, and reasonable administrative controls.

No website, communication method, storage service, or digital tool can guarantee complete security. Users should take care when sharing sensitive information through online forms, email, comments, or other communication channels.

If AILensNews becomes aware of a data security concern, it may review the issue, take reasonable containment steps, notify affected users or authorities where required by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, and improve controls where appropriate.

Users may have privacy and data protection rights under Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. These may include the right to request access to personal data, correction of inaccurate data, deletion, restriction of processing, objection to certain processing, withdrawal of consent, data portability where applicable, complaint review, or information about how data is handled.

The availability and scope of these rights depend on Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, the type of data, the purpose of processing, and the legal basis used by AILensNews. Some requests may be refused, limited, delayed, or handled differently where legal, security, editorial, source protection, recordkeeping, contractual, or public-interest reasons apply.

Users may send data protection requests to dpo@ailensnews.com. Legal concerns may be sent to legal@ailensnews.com. AILensNews may require identity verification before acting on a request.

A user may request information about personal data that AILensNews holds about them, subject to Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. AILensNews may provide available information where the request is valid, specific, and verifiable.

AILensNews may refuse or limit access where disclosure would affect the rights of others, reveal confidential sources, expose internal editorial notes, disclose privileged material, compromise security, interfere with legal claims, or conflict with lawful restrictions.

Access requests should include sufficient information to identify the user, the relevant interaction with AILensNews, and the data being requested. AILensNews may request additional details to process the request.

Users may request correction of inaccurate or outdated personal data where AILensNews holds such data. Correction requests should clearly identify the information believed to be inaccurate and provide supporting evidence where appropriate.

AILensNews may correct contact details, subscription information, inquiry records, or other personal data where the request is verified and appropriate. Correction of personal data is different from correction of published editorial content. Published content accuracy concerns may be handled through the Corrections Policy or newsroom review.

AILensNews may decline correction requests that are unsupported, inaccurate, abusive, misleading, or designed to alter a lawful editorial record improperly.

Users may request deletion of personal data where permitted by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. AILensNews may delete personal data where there is no continuing lawful basis to retain it.

Deletion may not be possible where data is required for legal compliance, contractual obligations, security, fraud prevention, dispute handling, audit records, consent records, editorial records, source protection, public-interest publication, legal claims, or other permitted reasons.

A deletion request does not automatically require removal of published editorial content. Requests involving published content may be reviewed under the Corrections Policy, Editorial Policy, or other applicable AILensNews policy.

Users may object to certain processing or request restriction of processing where permitted by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules. AILensNews may review whether the request applies to the relevant data and whether another lawful basis allows processing to continue.

Restriction may be appropriate where data accuracy is disputed, processing is contested, legal claims are involved, or the user has objected and review is pending. However, AILensNews may continue processing where required for legal compliance, security, defence of claims, editorial purposes, public-interest obligations, or other lawful reasons.

Requests should be sent to dpo@ailensnews.com with details of the processing being challenged.

Where required by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, users may request a copy of certain personal data in a structured, commonly used format. Data portability may apply only to certain categories of data and only where legal conditions are met.

AILensNews may not be required to provide data that includes confidential editorial notes, internal records, security logs, source information, third-party personal data, privileged material, or data not covered by portability rights.

AILensNews may verify the requester’s identity and review the request before providing any export.

AILensNews is intended for a general audience. The website does not knowingly seek to collect unnecessary personal data from children. Where content relates to children, students, education, family, safety, healthcare, or sensitive public-interest matters, AILensNews may apply additional care.

If a parent, guardian, or authorized person believes that a child’s personal data has been submitted to AILensNews inappropriately, they may contact dpo@ailensnews.com with details of the concern.

AILensNews may review, restrict, delete, or retain information depending on the issue, verification, editorial need, safety concern, and Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

AILensNews may handle some personal data in connection with editorial, journalistic, public-interest, source-related, correction-related, or publication-related activities. Such processing may involve different considerations from ordinary user account or marketing data.

Editorial data may include source communications, interview notes, submitted documents, photographs, public statements, complaints, correction requests, and information contained in news reports. AILensNews may need to retain certain editorial records to support accuracy, accountability, legal defence, source protection, and responsible publishing.

Data protection requests involving editorial content may be reviewed in light of privacy rights, publication rights, public interest, editorial independence, legal duties, and Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

Users may contact AILensNews if they believe their personal data has been handled incorrectly, unlawfully, unfairly, insecurely, or inconsistently with this policy. Privacy and data protection complaints may be sent to dpo@ailensnews.com. Legal complaints may be sent to legal@ailensnews.com.

A complaint should include the user’s name, contact details, relevant page or interaction, description of the concern, supporting documents where available, and the requested action.

AILensNews may review the complaint, request more information, verify identity, respond where appropriate, correct data, restrict processing, delete data, update practices, or reject unsupported complaints.

Users may have the right to contact Data Protection Board of India / Press Council of India where they believe their data protection rights have been violated or where they are not satisfied with AILensNews handling of a privacy concern.

AILensNews encourages users to contact dpo@ailensnews.com first so that the issue can be reviewed directly. However, nothing in this policy prevents a user from contacting Data Protection Board of India / Press Council of India where such right is available under Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.

AILensNews may use service providers to support website hosting, analytics, email communication, newsletter delivery, advertising, security, data storage, technical maintenance, payment handling where applicable, moderation, support, and compliance activities. These providers may process personal data on behalf of AILensNews or in connection with AILensNews operations.

AILensNews may take reasonable steps to work with providers that support confidentiality, data protection, security, and compliance obligations. Service provider relationships may be governed by contracts, platform terms, processing terms, privacy commitments, or other applicable arrangements.

AILensNews may change service providers from time to time as operational needs develop.

If AILensNews identifies a data breach or security incident affecting personal data, it may review the nature of the incident, the data involved, affected users, likely risks, containment steps, service provider involvement, legal obligations, and communication requirements.

Where required by Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, AILensNews may notify affected users, Data Protection Board of India / Press Council of India, service providers, or other relevant parties. The timing and content of any notice may depend on investigation status, legal requirements, security needs, and risk level.

AILensNews may also take steps to reduce future risk, including technical updates, access review, provider review, internal reminders, or process improvements.

AILensNews may update this GDPR & Data Compliance Policy from time to time due to changes in Information Technology Act, 2000; Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, privacy practices, website operations, user rights, data protection expectations, service providers, cookies, advertising tools, security practices, editorial operations, or internal compliance needs.

Updated versions may be posted on this page. Continued access to or use of ailensnews.com after an update means the user has had the opportunity to review the revised policy. Users with privacy concerns may contact dpo@ailensnews.com. Legal concerns may be sent to legal@ailensnews.com.