Last Updated: 25/04/2026
Introduction
Marketing Approved (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, process, and share information about you when you visit Author Approved (https://marketingapproved.com) (“the Site”) and use our membership platform and services. We are the data controller for personal data processed under this policy, operating in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) 2025.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information you provide directly to us:
– Account and Identity Data: Full name, email address, and a password (which is stored in a non-reversible format).
– Profile Data: Information voluntarily added to your profile, such as a biography, photograph, or writing interests.
– Transaction and Payment Data: Billing address and payment card details, though full card numbers are processed directly by our third-party payment processor and are not visible to our internal staff. We retain a record of your purchase history.
– Communications: Records of correspondence when you contact us for support or engage with our community directly.
1.2 Information we collect automatically when you use the Site:
– Technical Data: Internet protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, time zone setting, operating system and platform, and device identifiers.
– Usage Data: Pages viewed, links clicked, features used, time spent on pages, and interactions with our AI tools.
– Cookie and Similar Technology Data: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies as detailed in our Cookie Policy.
2. Lawful Basis and Purposes of Processing
We process your personal data for the following purposes and on the following lawful bases:
– Performance of a Contract: To register your account, manage your membership, process payments, and provide access to the services you have subscribed to (Article 6(1)(b) UK GDPR).
– Legitimate Interests: To communicate with you about service updates, respond to enquiries, maintain the security of our systems and your account, understand how our services are used for improvement, and protect our legal rights (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR). You may object to processing based on legitimate interests by contacting us.
– Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable law, such as financial record-keeping for tax compliance (Article 6(1)(c) UK GDPR).
– Consent: Where required by law, we will ask for your explicit consent, for example, to place non-essential cookies or to send you direct marketing emails which are not related to your core service (Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR).
3. How We Share Your Information
Your personal data is not sold to third parties. We may disclose data to:
– Service Providers: Trusted third parties acting on our behalf, including cloud hosting providers, secure payment processors, analytics providers, and customer support platforms, subject to appropriate contractual safeguards.
– Legal and Regulatory Authorities: Where disclosure is required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of our members and the public.
– Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, where your data would be transferred as a business asset under continued protection of this policy.
4. International Data Transfers
Your data is hosted within the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area. Where any service provider necessitates a transfer of data outside of the UK or EU, we ensure an adequate level of protection using standard contractual clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, or by relying on an adequacy regulation.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal data for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was processed.
– Account Data: Retained for the life of your account. Inactive accounts are deleted after a period of [specify period, e.g., 36 months] unless there is a legal reason to retain them longer.
– Payment Records:** Retained for [specify period, e.g., 7 years] to comply with tax and accounting regulations.
– Usage Data and Cookies:** Retained in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
6. Data Security
We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. This includes encryption of data in transit and at rest, regular security assessments, and strict access controls. You are responsible for keeping your password confidential.
7. Your Legal Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
– Access** your personal data (a Subject Access Request).
– Rectification** of incorrect or incomplete data.
– Erasure** (the “right to be forgotten”) in certain circumstances.
– Restrict processing** while a complaint is resolved.
– Data Portability**, allowing you to receive your data in a machine-readable format.
– Objection** to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
– Withdraw consent** at any time where processing is based on consent.
To exercise your rights, please contact us at [insert email address]. We will respond within one month of your request. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via [www.ico.org.uk](http://www.ico.org.uk).
8. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling
We do not currently use your personal data to make solely automated decisions that produce legal effects concerning you. We may use aggregated, anonymised data to understand platform usage trends and to train or improve our own internal models, which does not constitute profiling of an identifiable individual.
9. Changes to This Policy
We will notify registered users by email of any significant changes to this policy and will post the revised version on the Site. The “Last Updated” date will be modified accordingly.