Privacy Policy

Commitment

DeshiAI respects personal privacy and aims to handle personal information lawfully, fairly, transparently and only to the extent reasonably required for its publishing, editorial, security, communication and operational activities. This policy describes the main ways personal information may be collected, used, disclosed, retained and protected through the DeshiAI website and associated publication activities.

DeshiAI serves readers in different countries. The rights available to an individual and the obligations applying to DeshiAI may depend on the person’s location, where processing occurs, the purpose of the processing, applicable law and whether the activity is journalistic, editorial, contractual, commercial or technical. Nothing in this policy is intended to remove a legal right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Who Is Responsible

DeshiAI, acting through its independent Publisher, is responsible for personal information for which it determines the purposes and methods of processing in connection with the publication. Unless a separate verified legal operator is expressly identified on the Publisher and Legal Information page, references to DeshiAI mean the independent Publisher responsible for operating the DeshiAI publication and website.

Privacy questions and rights requests may be sent to privacy@deshiai.in. DeshiAI does not identify an individual as a data-protection officer unless such an appointment has actually been made and is appropriate or required for the organization.

Scope

This policy applies to personal information processed through website visits, email, contact forms, correction requests, complaints, grievances, rights of reply, contributor proposals, author administration, newsletter subscriptions, commercial enquiries, sponsorships and advertising, affiliate relationships, accessibility reports, security disclosures, source communications, interviews, editorial research, publication activities, legal correspondence, website security, analytics and cookies, events, licensing and related operational records.

Certain activities may be governed by additional terms or a dedicated privacy notice. Where such a notice exists, it should be read together with this policy.

Personal Information

Personal information means information that relates to an identified person or someone who can reasonably be identified. Depending on the interaction, DeshiAI may process names, email addresses, telephone numbers, organizations, professional roles, public profiles, biographies, subscription details, correspondence, article-related information, complaint or correction evidence, contributor proposals, contractual information, payment and invoice details, publication history, author photographs, interview recordings, quotations, source information, technical information, device and browser details, IP addresses, approximate location derived from technical information, cookie preferences, security logs, referral data, requested pages, timestamps, voluntarily supplied accessibility information, public records, social-media content, photographs, audio, video and other information deliberately provided or lawfully obtained for editorial purposes.

DeshiAI does not intentionally request sensitive information unless there is a legitimate reason for doing so.

Sources of Information

Personal information may come directly from an individual or authorized representative, contributor or source. It may also be obtained through website and email systems, public records, courts, regulators, official publications, companies and institutions, social-media services, publicly accessible professional profiles, service providers, advertising or commercial partners, security researchers, analytics systems, cookies and similar technologies, or lawful editorial research.

Information being publicly accessible does not automatically make every possible use appropriate, necessary or fair.

Purposes

DeshiAI may use personal information to operate, maintain and secure the website, publish journalism and commentary, investigate matters of public interest, communicate with sources and subjects, verify identity or authority, administer authors and contributors, assess pitches, commission and edit work, manage rights and licenses, answer enquiries, process corrections and complaints, administer rights of reply and provide requested newsletters. It may also use information to remember cookie choices, prevent spam and abuse, investigate security events, respond to vulnerability reports, support accessibility, administer advertising and sponsorship, process invoices and payments, maintain tax and accounting records, comply with legal duties, establish or defend legal claims, protect sources and readers, improve performance and usability, understand aggregated audience activity, preserve the published record and maintain operational continuity.

Personal information is not reused for an incompatible purpose without appropriate consideration and notice where required.

Lawful Basis

Depending on the activity and the law that applies, DeshiAI may process personal information on the basis of consent, performance of a contract or steps taken at an individual’s request before entering into a contract, compliance with a legal obligation, legitimate publishing, security, administrative or commercial interests, protection of vital interests, a public-interest function where applicable, freedom of expression and information, journalistic or editorial provisions, establishment or defense of legal claims or another lawful basis recognized by the relevant legal framework.

The applicable basis may differ between analytics, contributor administration, commercial communications and public-interest journalism. Where consent is the basis, it may be withdrawn for future processing through the available mechanism. Withdrawal does not make processing that was already lawful retroactively unlawful.

Editorial and Journalistic Processing

DeshiAI may process personal information for journalism, public-interest reporting, commentary, criticism, archiving and freedom of expression. This can include information concerning public figures, companies, officials, institutions, private individuals, interviewees, sources, public records, allegations, legal proceedings, professional activities, images and quotations.

Privacy rights and ordinary data-protection obligations may operate differently where necessary to protect journalism, freedom of expression, confidential sources, editorial records or legal claims. A journalistic purpose does not mean every private detail is appropriate for publication. Editorial processing remains subject to considerations including accuracy, fairness, proportionality, source protection, harm reduction and applicable law.

Sensitive Information

Information relating to health, disability, race or ethnicity, religion, political opinions, trade-union activity, sex life, sexual orientation, biometric identifiers, genetic information, criminal allegations, children, intimate relationships, precise location, financial accounts, identity documents and confidential communications receives additional protection. DeshiAI processes such information only where it is necessary and supported by an appropriate editorial, legal, contractual, consent-based or public-interest basis. Sensitive information is not routinely requested through general contact forms.

Children

DeshiAI’s general publication is not designed as a service requiring children to establish public accounts at launch. The website may nevertheless publish reporting involving children or be accessed by younger readers. Additional safeguards apply when children are identifiable. DeshiAI does not knowingly seek unnecessary personal information from children and considers factors including age, maturity, consent requirements, guardian involvement, safety, public interest and the lasting nature of publication. A parent, guardian or institution does not automatically have unlimited authority to authorize publication of a child’s private information.

Website Technical Data

When someone visits the DeshiAI website, DeshiAI and relevant service providers may process technical information needed to deliver pages, secure systems, prevent abuse, diagnose faults, manage consent, distribute traffic, monitor performance and measure usage where permitted. This information may include IP address, browser type, device details, operating system, requested page, referring page, date and time, broad geographic region, error information, security events, consent status and identifiers associated with cookies or similar technologies.

The optional technologies currently in use are described through Cookie Settings and the applicable cookie information.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

DeshiAI uses necessary technologies and, where enabled, optional technologies as described in its Cookie Policy. Where consent is legally required, optional analytics, advertising, personalization and similar technologies are not enabled before an appropriate choice has been made. Visitors may reject optional technologies and can later change their preferences. Cookie controls do not necessarily govern processing required for editorial, legal, security or other legitimate purposes.

Correspondence

When an individual contacts DeshiAI, the publication may retain contact details, the message, attachments, date, routing information, response, related article, supporting evidence and action taken. This information is used to understand and respond to the communication and, where appropriate, maintain a reliable record.

People should not send passwords, private keys, payment-card information, complete medical records, identity documents or unrelated sensitive information through ordinary contact channels.

Corrections, Complaints and Rights of Reply

DeshiAI may process information required to verify a requester, identify the affected article, assess supporting evidence, contact authors and editors, protect confidential sources, reach a decision, publish a correction or reply, maintain appropriate records, prevent misuse and protect legal rights. Public corrections and complaint outcomes should avoid unnecessary personal information. Confidential source identities are not disclosed simply because a requester asks for them.

Authors and Contributors

Contributor records may contain identity details, public name, biography, contact information, qualifications, affiliations, conflicts of interest, payment information, tax or invoice details, contracts, pitches, drafts, source records, declarations, information about AI use, editorial correspondence, publication history, corrections and complaints. Public author profiles contain only information considered appropriate for publication. Identity documents are collected only where necessary and handled with appropriate safeguards.

Newsletters

Where DeshiAI offers a newsletter, it may process an email address, subscription selection, consent record where required, confirmation status, delivery information, bounce and unsubscribe status, limited engagement information where lawfully enabled and suppression records. Individuals can unsubscribe using the provided link or by contacting DeshiAI. An unsubscribed address may remain on a restricted suppression list to prevent future unwanted messages. Newsletter registration should not be misleadingly combined with unrelated optional processing.

Commercial Enquiries

Advertising, sponsorship and partnership records may include an organization, representative, business contact information, proposal, client, campaign, payment, invoice, contract, supporting claims, disclosures, destination information, security details, correspondence and performance information. Necessary information may be shared with accounting, legal, payment and technical service providers where required to administer the relationship.

Security and Accessibility Reports

Security reports may include a researcher’s identity or preferred name, contact information, affected system, technical description, IP or log information, proof of concept, preferred attribution, disclosure timing and related correspondence. Access to such information is restricted, with retention determined by remediation, legal and accountability requirements.

Accessibility communications may contain information about a page, accessibility barrier, device, browser, assistive technology, requested format and voluntarily provided disability-related information. A person is not required to provide a diagnosis, and such information is used only to address the request and improve accessibility where appropriate.

Public Sources and Social Media

DeshiAI may use public records and publicly accessible online platforms as part of legitimate editorial work. The publication considers relevance, reliability, context, authenticity, the person’s role, reasonable expectations, vulnerability, permanence, public interest, potential harm and whether identifying an individual is necessary. Public material can still be incorrectly attributed, manipulated, outdated or presented without its original context.

Sharing

DeshiAI may share necessary personal information with service providers that support hosting, content delivery, email, security, backups, analytics, consent management, payments, accounting, legal services, technical support, collaboration, accessibility and administration. Providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for their assigned function and are subject to appropriate contractual or legal obligations.

Information may also be shared with an authorized representative, where required by law or valid legal process, to protect rights or safety, investigate abuse, establish or defend legal claims, support an organizational restructuring, work with an editorial collaborator under appropriate safeguards or where the individual has provided consent. Personal information is not treated as a standalone commodity for sale. This does not prevent transparent advertising, affiliate or commercial activities described elsewhere, provided personal information is not sold or disclosed deceptively or unlawfully.

International Processing

DeshiAI serves readers internationally and may rely on service providers located in countries other than an individual’s country of residence. Personal information may therefore be processed across national borders. Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers, DeshiAI uses an appropriate mechanism, contractual protection, adequacy arrangement or other lawful transfer method. Transfer safeguards cannot remove every risk, so relevant factors such as provider, jurisdiction, security and necessity are considered.

Retention

DeshiAI retains personal information for no longer than reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose, taking account of legal requirements, public-interest journalism, source protection, accounting, security, disputes and the integrity of the publication record. Retention periods vary according to the type of information. Unsuccessful contributor pitches are not kept indefinitely without a reason; newsletter records may remain until unsubscribe with limited suppression information retained afterward; financial records are kept for legally required periods; correction and complaint records may be retained for accountability; source material may require extended protection; security records may remain through remediation and a reasonable defense period; and published articles and correction histories may remain part of the public archive.

Information that no longer has a defensible continuing purpose is deleted, anonymized or otherwise disposed of through periodic review.

Security and Incidents

DeshiAI applies reasonable technical and organizational safeguards proportionate to the type of information and associated risk. These may include access controls, unique accounts, multi-factor authentication, encrypted transmission, backups, software maintenance, malware protection, logging, least-privilege access, secure disposal, restricted source records, incident response procedures and provider review. No internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

If personal information is lost, accessed, changed, disclosed or destroyed improperly, DeshiAI may contain the incident, assess the affected information, preserve relevant evidence, reduce potential harm, investigate the cause, review provider involvement, document remedial action and notify regulators or affected individuals where legally required or otherwise appropriate.

Rights

Depending on applicable law, an individual may have rights to receive information about processing, access personal information, correct inaccurate information, request deletion, restrict processing, object to certain processing, receive portable information, withdraw consent, challenge certain automated decisions, complain to a supervisory authority and seek a judicial remedy. These rights are subject to legal limitations and may be restricted where necessary to protect journalism, freedom of expression, confidential sources, public-interest reporting, legal obligations, another person’s rights, security, fraud prevention, legal claims, archival integrity or another lawful basis.

Exercising Rights

Privacy and rights requests may be sent to privacy@deshiai.in. Requests should provide the requester’s name and contact information and, where possible, explain the nature of the request, relevant information or activity and applicable dates or relationship with DeshiAI. Proportionate identity verification may be required. A complete identity document will not be requested where a less intrusive method is reasonably sufficient. DeshiAI responds within the period required by applicable law, subject to lawful extensions, exemptions or limitations.

Deletion and Published Journalism

A request to delete operational personal information is different from a request to remove published journalism. Requests concerning published material are assessed with regard to factors such as accuracy, public interest, passage of time, the person’s role, privacy, rehabilitation, legal status, source protection, continuing harm, historical integrity, freedom of expression and applicable law. Depending on the circumstances, DeshiAI may correct or update an article, remove unnecessary details, anonymize information, apply technical de-indexing, delete operational records, restrict processing, refuse the request, retract material or remove content.

Direct Marketing and Automated Decisions

Individuals may object to direct electronic marketing at any time. DeshiAI will stop such marketing where required and may retain limited information necessary to respect the objection. Editorial communications, responses to enquiries and essential service notices are not necessarily considered direct marketing.

DeshiAI does not make significant editorial, complaint or privacy-rights decisions solely through automated processing. Automated tools may assist with spam detection, security, routing, analytics, transcription, moderation support and administrative tasks, but consequential decisions require accountable human oversight.

External Links and Policy Changes

External websites and embedded services may collect or process information according to their own privacy practices. DeshiAI does not control the privacy practices of every third-party service. Where third-party functionality uses optional tracking, appropriate controls or consent mechanisms are applied where required.

This policy may be revised when applicable law, service providers, website functions, processing practices, the publication’s operator or relevant risks change. Material changes are reflected through an updated date and, where appropriate, additional notice. DeshiAI does not describe a planned privacy feature or future configuration as though it were already operational.

Contact and Complaints

Privacy enquiries and rights requests may be sent to privacy@deshiai.in. Security vulnerabilities may be reported to security@deshiai.in. Formal legal correspondence may be sent to legal@deshiai.in. Individuals may also have the right to submit a complaint to the relevant privacy or data-protection authority under applicable law.