Privacy Policy for The Expat Times (expat-times.com)
Last Updated: Oct 30 , 2025
1. Introduction
Welcome to The Expat Times (“we,” “our,” or “us”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website https://expat-times.com (the “Site”).
Please read this policy carefully. By using our Site, you consent to the practices described herein. If you do not agree with the terms of this policy, please do not access the Site.
2. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information from and about users of our Site:
a) Personal Information You Disclose to Us:
- Contact and Account Information: When you register for an account, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us, we may collect your name, email address, country of residence, and any other information you choose to provide.
- User Content: Information you post in comments, forums, or other public areas of the Site.
- Payment Information: If you make a purchase (e.g., for a premium subscription), our payment processors (like Stripe or PayPal) will collect your payment card details. We do not store sensitive payment information on our servers.
b) Information Collected Automatically:
- Log and Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your interaction with the Site, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, access times, and clicks.
- Device Information: Information about the device you use to access the Site, including hardware model, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
- Location Data: An approximate location (country/city level) derived from your IP address.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activities. For more details, please see our Cookie Policy below.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and improve the Site.
- To create and manage your account.
- To send you our email newsletter, if you have subscribed.
- To respond to your comments, questions, and customer service requests.
- To personalize your experience and deliver content and product offerings relevant to your interests.
- To analyze how the Site is used and monitor its performance.
- To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or security breaches.
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and conditions.
4. Legal Basis for Processing (For EEA/UK Users)
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Consent: When you have given clear consent (e.g., for marketing emails).
- Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our obligations to you under a contract (e.g., providing the services you signed up for).
- Legitimate Interests: For our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services, security, and marketing, provided your fundamental rights do not override those interests.
- Legal Compliance: Where processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
5. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information in the following situations:
- Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating the Site (e.g., hosting providers, email marketing services, analytics companies). These parties are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only for the purposes we specify.
- Advertising Partners: We may share aggregated or pseudonymized information with advertising partners to deliver targeted ads. You can opt-out of personalized advertising through your account settings or your device preferences.
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company.
- Legal Requirements: If required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency).
- With Your Consent: We may disclose your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.
6. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from your country. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including relying on approved legal mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses.
7. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access & Portability: The right to request copies of your personal data.
- Rectification: The right to have any inaccurate or incomplete data we hold about you corrected.
- Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): The right to ask us to delete your personal data.
- Restriction of Processing: The right to request that we suspend the processing of your personal data.
- Objection to Processing: The right to object to our processing of your personal data, particularly for direct marketing.
- Withdraw Consent: The right to withdraw your consent at any time where we relied on it to process your data.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the “Contact Us” section below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.
8. Cookie Policy
What are cookies? Cookies are small data files stored on your device by your web browser.
How we use cookies:
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for the Site to function and cannot be switched off.
- Performance/Analytics Cookies: Allow us to count visits and traffic sources to measure and improve performance. They help us know which pages are popular.
- Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization (e.g., remembering your login details or language preference).
- Targeting/Advertising Cookies: Set by our advertising partners to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites.
You can manage your cookie preferences through our Cookie Consent Banner or by changing your browser settings to refuse cookies.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete that information.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by a revised “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
The Expat Times
Email: privacy [@] expat-times.com
Contact Form: https://expat-times.com/panama/get-in-touch