1. Introduction
Direct Selling Industry News ("DSIN", "we", "us", "our") is published by the Direct Selling Partnership ("DSP") and is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect information obtained through this website (the "Website"), including the press release submission engine and any authenticated editorial area, in compliance with:
- The EU General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) ("GDPR")
- The UK General Data Protection Regulation ("UK GDPR") and the Data Protection Act 2018
- The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 ("PECR")
- All applicable national data-protection legislation in the jurisdictions in which we operate
By accessing or using the Website you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, you should discontinue use of the Website immediately.
2. Data Controller
DSP is the data controller responsible for the processing of personal data collected through DSIN. Our contact details for data-protection matters are:
- Email: privacy@directsellingpartnership.com
- Postal Address: Direct Selling Partnership, United Kingdom
If you have any questions about how we handle your personal data, or wish to exercise any of your rights under data-protection law, please contact us using the details above. We aim to respond to all legitimate requests within one calendar month.
3. Categories of Personal Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:
3.1 Identity & Contact Data
First name, last name, email address, telephone number, company or organisation name, job title, and country of residence. This data is collected when you submit a press release, complete a contact form, or register for editorial access.
3.2 Submission Content
The press release text, images, source materials and metadata you upload for editorial consideration. Submissions are reviewed by DSIN editors and — if approved — published on the Website.
3.3 Account Data
For editorial staff and admin users, we collect login credentials (email address and encrypted password), role, and profile information. Passwords are stored using industry-standard hashing and are never accessible to our staff in plain text.
3.4 Usage & Activity Data
Information about how you use the Website, including pages visited, features accessed, links clicked, search queries entered, session duration, and navigation paths.
3.5 Technical Data
Information collected automatically through server logs and similar technologies, including IP address, browser type and version, device type and operating system, time-zone setting, and referral URL.
3.6 Communication Data
Records and content of correspondence you send to us via the Website's forms, email, or any other communication channel, together with metadata such as date, time, and method.
3.7 Cookie & Tracking Data
Data collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies as described in Section 8.
4. How We Collect Personal Data
- Direct interactions: when you fill in forms, submit a release, create an account, or otherwise engage with the Website.
- Automated technologies: as you navigate the Website, we automatically collect Technical Data and Usage Data through cookies, server logs and similar technologies.
- Third-party sources: we may receive personal data from analytics providers or publicly available sources, but only where we have a lawful basis for doing so.
5. Legal Bases for Processing (Article 6 GDPR)
- Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)): where you have given clear, affirmative consent — for example, opting in to marketing communications or non-essential cookies. You may withdraw consent at any time.
- Performance of a Contract (Art. 6(1)(b)): where processing is necessary to provide requested services, including editorial review and publication of a submitted release.
- Legitimate Interests (Art. 6(1)(f)): for security, fraud prevention, service improvement, internal analytics, and administration of our business, where our interests are not overridden by your rights.
- Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)): where processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which DSP is subject.
6. Purposes of Processing
- To review, edit and — where approved — publish press releases submitted to DSIN
- To respond to your enquiries, contact forms and support requests
- To administer editorial accounts and access controls
- To administer, maintain and secure the Website
- To send you service-related communications (submission status, account notifications, security alerts)
- To send marketing communications where you have consented to receive them
- To conduct internal research and analytics to improve our services
- To comply with legal and regulatory obligations and protect our rights
7. Editorial Submissions
When you submit a press release you acknowledge that (i) editorial changes may be suggested and publication is not guaranteed; (ii) approved submissions, including the named contact and company, will be published on the public Website and may be indexed by search engines; and (iii) DSIN may retain non-published submissions for a reasonable period for audit, editorial and legal purposes.
8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
The Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (such as local storage) to operate the site, remember your preferences, authenticate editorial users, analyse traffic patterns, and improve the service. We categorise cookies as:
- Strictly Necessary Cookies: essential for the operation of the Website. These cannot be disabled.
- Functional Cookies: enable enhanced functionality and personalisation.
- Analytics Cookies: help us understand how visitors interact with the Website by collecting anonymous statistical data.
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
9. Data Sharing & Third-Party Recipients
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for their marketing purposes. We may share your personal data with the following categories of recipients, solely for the purposes described in this policy:
- Service Providers & Data Processors: hosting providers, cloud infrastructure providers, email providers, analytics platforms, and support tools, under written agreements compliant with Article 28 GDPR.
- DSP Partner Network: where necessary for editorial review or delivery of services, bound by confidentiality obligations.
- Professional Advisers: lawyers, accountants, auditors, and insurers subject to professional duties of confidentiality.
- Regulatory & Law Enforcement Authorities: where required by law, regulation or court order.
- Business Transfers: in the event of a merger, acquisition or sale of all or part of our business, subject to this Privacy Policy continuing to apply.
10. International Data Transfers
Where personal data is transferred to a country outside the EEA or the United Kingdom that has not been deemed to provide an adequate level of data protection, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, including EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), UK International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs), and applicable adequacy decisions.
11. Data Security
- Encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL protocols
- Encryption of sensitive data at rest
- Secure authentication mechanisms, including password hashing
- Role-based access controls limiting access to personal data to authorised personnel only
- Incident response procedures and breach notification protocols
- Staff training on data-protection and information security
While we take every reasonable precaution, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to maintaining the highest practicable standards.
12. Data Retention
- Submitted press releases (approved): retained indefinitely as part of the public editorial archive.
- Submitted press releases (unpublished): retained for up to 24 months from submission for editorial and audit purposes.
- Contact form submissions: retained for 24 months from the date of submission.
- Editorial account data: retained for the duration of the account and for 36 months following closure or last login.
- Technical & server logs: retained for 12 months.
- Marketing consent records: retained for as long as consent remains valid, plus 36 months.
- Legal & compliance records: retained for the period required by law (typically 6–10 years).
13. Your Rights Under GDPR
- Right of Access (Art. 15)
- Right to Rectification (Art. 16)
- Right to Erasure (Art. 17)
- Right to Restriction of Processing (Art. 18)
- Right to Data Portability (Art. 20)
- Right to Object (Art. 21)
- Rights related to Automated Decision-Making (Art. 22) — DSIN does not currently engage in solely automated decision-making.
- Right to Withdraw Consent at any time (without affecting prior processing).
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@directsellingpartnership.com. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request and will respond within one calendar month.
14. Children's Privacy
The Website is not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
15. Third-Party Links
The Website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services. We recommend that you review the privacy policies of any third-party website you visit.
16. Right to Lodge a Complaint
If you believe your data-protection rights have been infringed, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority. In the United Kingdom this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — ico.org.uk, telephone 0303 123 1113. If located in another EU/EEA member state, you may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.
17. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated via a prominent notice on the Website. Continued use of the Website after publication of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
18. Contact Us
- Email: privacy@directsellingpartnership.com