Privacy Policy
1. Who We Are
CritiqueHQ (“we,” “our,” or “us“) operates the website located at www.critiquehq.com (the “Site“). We publish independent reviews, product comparisons, buying guides, and informational content across multiple categories. Some pages on the Site contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you.
Data Controller / Site Owner: CritiqueHQ
Website: www.critiquehq.com
Contact Email: support@critiquehq.com
2. Information We Collect
We collect two categories of information: information you provide directly to us, and information collected automatically when you use the Site.
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Contact form submissions – your name, email address, and the content of your message when you use our contact form.
- Email newsletter sign-ups – your name and email address if you subscribe to any newsletter or update list we operate.
- Comments – if we enable a commenting system, any information you submit as part of a comment (name, email, website URL, and comment content).
- Correspondence – records of any emails or messages you send to support@critiquehq.com.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Log data – IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and time and date of visits.
- Cookies and similar technologies – small data files stored on your device. See Section 5 (Cookies) for full details.
- Analytics data – aggregated statistics about how visitors interact with our pages, collected via third-party analytics tools.
- Affiliate click data – when you click an affiliate link, the destination merchant may record click and transaction data under their own privacy policy.
2.3 Information We Do Not Collect
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Legal Basis (where applicable) |
|---|---|
| To operate and maintain the Site | Legitimate interest |
| To respond to your enquiries and contact form submissions | Consent / Contract performance |
| To send newsletters or updates (only if you opted in) | Consent |
| To analyse site traffic and improve content | Legitimate interest |
| To display relevant advertising and affiliate content | Legitimate interest / Consent (where required) |
| To detect and prevent fraud or abuse | Legitimate interest / Legal obligation |
| To comply with applicable laws and regulations | Legal obligation |
We will never sell your personal information to third parties.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We may share it only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers – third-party vendors who help us operate the Site (hosting, email delivery, analytics). They are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to us.
- Affiliate networks and merchants – when you click an affiliate link, you are redirected to a third-party merchant site governed by its own privacy policy. We do not transfer your personal data to merchants; click data is processed by the affiliate network.
- Analytics providers – platforms such as Google Analytics that aggregate and anonymise visitor behaviour data to help us understand Site performance.
- Law enforcement or legal process – if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of CritiqueHQ, our users, or the public.
- Business transfers – in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on the Site before your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. We use the following types of cookies:
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Enable core website functionality (e.g., security, session management) | Session |
| Analytics / Performance | Collect anonymised data on how visitors use the Site to improve content and performance | Up to 2 years |
| Functional | Remember your preferences (e.g., language, region) to personalise your experience | Up to 1 year |
| Affiliate / Tracking | Track clicks on affiliate links and attribute any resulting commissions to the correct partner | 30 to 90 days (varies by network) |
| Advertising | Deliver relevant advertisements based on your interests via third-party ad networks | Up to 2 years |
Managing Cookies
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually.
- Block third-party cookies.
- Block cookies from particular sites.
- Block all cookies from being set.
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser.
Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Site. For more information on managing cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
6. Third-Party Services and Links
Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, affiliate merchant pages, and embedded content (e.g., videos, social media widgets). When you click these links or interact with embedded content, third-party services may collect data about you independently of CritiqueHQ.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit. Common third-party services we use include:
- Google Analytics – website traffic and behaviour analytics. Google Privacy Policy
- Affiliate networks (e.g., Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, FlexOffers) – track affiliate link clicks and conversions.
- WordPress.com / WordPress.org plugins – site functionality, comment management, and caching.
- Email marketing platforms (if applicable) – manage newsletter subscriptions and communications.
7. Affiliate Disclosure and Data
CritiqueHQ participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means we may earn a commission when you click on certain links on our Site and subsequently make a purchase on a third-party site. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Affiliate links may use cookies to track the referral. The data collected through affiliate tracking is governed by the affiliate network’s own privacy policy. CritiqueHQ does not receive your payment details or personal purchase information from merchants; we only receive commission notification data (e.g., order value and commission amount) on an anonymised basis.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law:
- Contact form / email enquiries – retained for up to 2 years from the date of last correspondence, then securely deleted.
- Newsletter subscriber data – retained until you unsubscribe, plus a 30-day grace period, then securely deleted.
- Server log files – retained for up to 90 days for security and diagnostic purposes.
- Analytics data – aggregated and anonymised; retained indefinitely in anonymised form.
9. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our Site (HTTPS).
- Access controls limiting Site administration to authorised personnel only.
- Regular software updates and security patching.
- Secure, reputable third-party hosting services.
However, no method of data transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you believe your data has been compromised, please contact us immediately at support@critiquehq.com.
10. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data. We honour these rights regardless of jurisdiction where reasonably practicable.
| Right | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Right to Access | Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. |
| Right to Rectification | Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data. |
| Right to Erasure | Request deletion of your personal data (“right to be forgotten”). |
| Right to Restrict Processing | Request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances. |
| Right to Data Portability | Receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format. |
| Right to Object | Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing. |
| Right to Withdraw Consent | Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent. |
| Right to Opt Out (California – CCPA) | California residents may opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information. |
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@critiquehq.com. We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.
11. Children’s Privacy
CritiqueHQ is intended for a general adult audience. We do not knowingly collect, solicit, or process personal information from children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction).
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at support@critiquehq.com and we will promptly delete that information from our records.
12. International Visitors and Data Transfers
CritiqueHQ is operated from and primarily directed at visitors in the United States. If you are accessing the Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our servers or service providers are located.
Data protection laws in those countries may differ from the laws of your country. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, including the United States.
Where we transfer data from the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom to a country not deemed to provide an adequate level of data protection, we implement appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission).
13. California Residents – CCPA / CPRA Rights
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), grants you specific rights regarding your personal information:
- Right to Know – the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the purposes for collection, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
- Right to Delete – request deletion of personal information we collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
- Right to Correct – request correction of inaccurate personal information.
- Right to Opt-Out – we do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising.
- Right to Non-Discrimination – you will not be discriminated against for exercising any of your CCPA rights.
To submit a CCPA request, email us at support@critiquehq.com with the subject line “CCPA Privacy Request.” We will respond within 45 days.
14. EEA and UK Residents – GDPR Rights
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR apply to your personal data. In addition to the rights described in Section 10, you have the right to:
- Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (e.g., the ICO in the UK, or your national supervisory authority in the EEA).
- Object to automated decision-making and profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you. CritiqueHQ does not currently use automated decision-making in this manner.
Our lawful bases for processing your personal data are: Consent, Contract performance, Legitimate interests, and Legal obligation, as indicated in Section 3 above.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make changes, we will:
- Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
- Post a notice on the Site’s homepage for material changes.
- Where required by law or where practicable, notify registered subscribers by email.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
16. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please contact us:
CritiqueHQ – Privacy Team
Website: www.critiquehq.com
Email: support@critiquehq.com
Response time: We aim to respond to all enquiries within 5 business days.