GDPR & CCPA Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 2, 2025

At Amigurumi Corner, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your data in compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.

This policy applies to all visitors and users of https://amigurumicorner.com, a website dedicated to sharing amigurumi patterns, crochet tutorials, and crafting inspiration.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to improve your experience and deliver our services effectively.

1.1 Personal Identification Information (PII)

We may collect personal information you provide directly, such as:

Name
Email address
Mailing address or phone number (if provided voluntarily)

When Collected:

Subscribing to our newsletter
Contacting us via forms or email
Commenting on blog posts
Participating in surveys, giveaways, or other interactions

Purpose:
To personalize your experience, communicate with you, and process requests or subscriptions.

1.2 Usage Data

Automatically collected information about how you interact with our Website, including:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
Pages visited, time spent, and referral sources
Language preferences

Purpose:
To analyze website performance, enhance usability, and maintain security.

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (such as pixels or beacons) to:

Remember preferences (like language or theme)
Track website activity and improve functionality
Serve relevant content and ads through services such as Google AdSense

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain site features (e.g., saving preferences).

2. How We Use Your Data

Your data helps us provide a smooth, personalized, and safe experience on Amigurumi Corner.

We use it for purposes including:

Personalization: Delivering customized patterns, recommendations, or ads
Communication: Sending newsletters and updates (only with your consent)
Analytics: Understanding how visitors use our site to improve content
Advertising: Displaying relevant ads through partners like Google AdSense
Security: Detecting and preventing fraudulent activity
Support: Responding to messages, feedback, or inquiries

For users in the EEA, we process personal data under the following legal bases:

Consent: For newsletters, promotional emails, or personalized advertising.
Legitimate Interests: For analytics and site improvements that do not override your privacy rights.
Contractual Necessity: To fulfill specific requests, such as sending resources or responding to inquiries.
Legal Obligation: When required to comply with applicable laws or regulations.

If you are located in the EEA, you have the following rights:

Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold.
Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your personal information.
Restriction: Limit how your data is processed in certain cases.
Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format.
Objection: Object to processing for direct marketing or other purposes.
Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously granted consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@amigurumicorner.com. We will respond within 30 days as required by GDPR.

5. Your Rights Under CCPA

If you are a California resident, you are entitled to the following rights:

Right to Know: Request details about the categories and specific data we collect and their purposes.
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, with some legal exceptions.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information. If this changes, we will provide an opt-out option.
Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be penalized for exercising your privacy rights.

To submit a request, please contact contact@amigurumicorner.com. We will verify your identity and respond within 45 days as required by law.

We may share your data only in the following cases:

Service Providers: With trusted partners that help operate our website (e.g., hosting, analytics, email services).
Advertising Partners: With Google AdSense for displaying personalized ads.
Legal Requirements: To comply with laws, protect our rights, or respond to lawful requests.
Business Transfers: In case of a merger or acquisition, your data may be transferred to the new entity.

We never sell your personal data for monetary gain.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary to:

Provide requested services (like newsletters or user accounts).
Fulfill legal and contractual obligations.
Maintain business and analytics records.

When no longer needed, your data will be securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to:

Improve user experience and functionality.
Track engagement for analytics.
Deliver relevant ads via Google AdSense.

You may adjust your cookie preferences in your browser or visit the Google Ad Settings page to control ad personalization.

9. Data Security

We implement strong technical and organizational safeguards to protect your data, including:

SSL encryption for secure data transmission
Access controls limiting who can view or modify data
Regular audits and updates to security systems

While we strive to protect your information, no system is 100% secure. In case of a data breach, we will notify affected users within 7 business days, as required by law.

10. Children’s Privacy

Amigurumi Corner does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 years of age.
If you believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at contact@amigurumicorner.com, and we will delete the information promptly.

11. International Data Transfers

Our website is operated from the United States.
If you access the Website from outside the U.S. (including the EEA), your data may be transferred and stored in the U.S., where privacy laws may differ.
We ensure that any such transfers comply with GDPR-approved safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Updates will be posted on this page with an updated Effective Date.
For significant changes, we may notify you by email or through a notice on the Website.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us at:

Amigurumi Corner
📧 Email: contact@amigurumicorner.com
🌐 Website: https://amigurumicorner.com