Effective Date: July 29, 2026
HiDesertNEWS respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how HiDesertNEWS, operated through HiDesertNEWS.net, collects, uses, stores, and protects information in connection with our website, publishing tools, and integrations with Meta products, including Facebook and Instagram.
1. Information We May Collect
Depending on how our services are used, we may receive or process:
- Information voluntarily submitted through HiDesertNEWS.net, such as a name, email address, contact information, news submission, photo, video, caption, or message.
- Technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type, access time, and basic website server logs.
- Information provided through Meta APIs, which may include Facebook or Instagram account identifiers, Page identifiers, account or Page names, permissions granted to the application, post information, media information, publishing status, and related technical data.
- Access tokens or authorization credentials required to connect authorized Facebook or Instagram accounts.
HiDesertNEWS only requests information and permissions reasonably necessary to operate its publishing and account-management functions.
2. How Information Is Used
Information may be used to:
- Connect authorized Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- Create, schedule, publish, retrieve, or manage HiDesertNEWS content.
- Display the status of posts or media published through our system.
- Process community news, photo, video, lost-pet, event, or field-reporter submissions.
- Respond to questions, requests, or technical problems.
- Protect the security and reliability of HiDesertNEWS.net.
- Comply with applicable laws, platform requirements, and legitimate legal requests.
HiDesertNEWS does not use information obtained through Meta APIs for advertising, direct marketing, audience profiling, or the sale of personal information.
3. Sale and Sharing of Information
HiDesertNEWS does not sell, rent, trade, or license personal information.
Information may be shared only when reasonably necessary with:
- Service providers that support website hosting, data storage, security, email delivery, or application functionality.
- Meta, when required to use Facebook or Instagram services.
- Government authorities or other parties when required by law or necessary to protect legal rights, safety, or security.
Service providers may only process information for the purpose of providing their services to HiDesertNEWS.
4. Public Submissions
Photos, videos, names, credits, captions, contact details, and other information submitted for publication may become publicly visible when the person submitting the information authorizes publication.
Users should not submit private, confidential, or sensitive information that they do not want publicly displayed.
Contact information submitted solely for verification or internal communication will not be publicly displayed unless the person submitting it specifically requests or authorizes publication.
5. Data Storage and Security
HiDesertNEWS uses reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
Access tokens and other authorization credentials are used only to provide authorized account functionality. They are not sold or used for marketing.
No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
6. Data Retention
Information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to:
- Provide the requested service.
- Maintain publishing records.
- Resolve technical or security issues.
- Comply with legal or platform requirements.
Information that is no longer required may be deleted, anonymized, or securely archived.
7. Data Deletion Requests
Users may request deletion of information associated with their use of HiDesertNEWS or its Meta integration.
To request deletion, email:
Include:
- Your name.
- The Facebook or Instagram account or Page involved.
- A description of the information you want deleted.
- Any relevant submission, post, or account details that will help us locate the information.
After verifying the request, HiDesertNEWS will delete the applicable information from its active systems unless retention is required by law, necessary for security, or required to document a legitimate business transaction.
Users may also remove HiDesertNEWS permissions directly through their Facebook or Instagram account settings. When Meta sends HiDesertNEWS a valid data-deletion request, associated user data will be deleted as required by Meta’s platform rules.
8. Cookies and Analytics
HiDesertNEWS.net may use essential cookies or similar technologies required for login, security, account authorization, publishing functions, and basic website operation.
HiDesertNEWS does not use information obtained through Meta APIs to create advertising profiles or conduct targeted marketing.
9. Children’s Privacy
HiDesertNEWS services are not directed toward children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate authorization. If such information is discovered, it will be deleted.
10. Third-Party Services
HiDesertNEWS may link to or integrate with third-party services, including Facebook, Instagram, and Meta. Those services operate under their own privacy policies and terms.
HiDesertNEWS is not responsible for the independent privacy practices of third-party websites or platforms.
11. Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated when HiDesertNEWS services, integrations, or legal obligations change. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
12. Contact
Questions, privacy requests, and data-deletion requests may be sent to:
HiDesertNEWS
Website: https://hidesertnews.net
Email: sheldoncowles@gmail.com