গোপনীয়তা নীতি

Last updated: 21 September 2026

Madhu Dasari, sole proprietor, trading as Zio Times (Udyam Reg. UDYAM-TS-16-0043996) ("ZioTimes", "we", "us", "our") operates the ZioTimes website and related digital properties. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why, how we use it, and the rights you have over it under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ("DPDP Act") and its 2025 Rules.

1. Who we are

Madhu Dasari, sole proprietor, trading as Zio Times (Udyam Reg. UDYAM-TS-16-0043996), registered at Kasim Complex, 1st Floor, Opposite Sparsha Hospital, Kamareddy, Telangana - 503111, is the Data Fiduciary for the personal data described in this policy. You can reach us at ziotimes.info@gmail.com.

2. What we collect

• Account data: if you sign in with Google to comment, follow journalists and places, or submit a story, we receive your name and email address from Google. If you create a password-based account directly, we collect the email address and name you provide.
• Submission data: if you submit a story through the Digital Journalist Program, we collect the story text, any photos, videos, or documents you attach, your stated location, and your contact details, so our editorial team can verify and review the submission.
• Payment data: once payments are enabled for Digital Journalist plans, payment will be processed by Razorpay; we receive confirmation of payment and your plan tier, not your card or UPI details, which Razorpay handles directly.
• Usage data: standard web analytics (pages viewed, approximate location from IP, device/browser type) via Google Analytics and PostHog, only after you consent through our cookie banner.
• Newsletter data: your email address, if you subscribe.
• Push notification data: if you enable breaking-news alerts, your browser's push subscription endpoint, stored only to deliver those alerts.

3. Why we collect it (our legal basis)

• To operate your account and show your submission and follow history — consent and contract necessity.
• To review and publish Digital Journalist submissions — consent and legitimate editorial interest.
• To process payments, once enabled — contract necessity.
• To send the newsletter and push alerts — consent, withdrawable at any time.
• To understand site usage and improve ZioTimes — consent, via the cookie banner; nothing is tracked before you accept.

4. Who we share it with

We do not sell personal data. Limited data is shared only with the service providers that run ZioTimes, each only for its stated purpose: Vercel (website hosting); Supabase (database and file storage); Google (sign-in with Google, Google Analytics only if you consent, and video playback through YouTube's privacy-enhanced embeds); PostHog (product analytics, only if you consent); Razorpay (payment processing for Digital Journalist plans); Resend (sending account emails such as password resets); and your browser's own push service (Google, Mozilla, Apple or Microsoft, depending on your browser) if you turn on breaking-news alerts. We do not share Digital Journalist submission content with anyone beyond what's needed for editorial review and, upon approval, publication as a byline story. Files you attach to a submission are kept private and are never shown on the public site unless an editor publishes them with your story.

5. How long we keep it

Account data is kept while your account is active. When you delete your account, your profile, follows, comments, notification and newsletter subscriptions, and your story submissions with their attached files are erased; stories already published remain part of ZioTimes' editorial record under your byline. Payment records are kept as required by Indian tax law. Push subscription data is deleted as soon as you turn notifications off, and your newsletter subscription as soon as you unsubscribe.

6. Your rights under the DPDP Act

You can ask us to: access the personal data we hold about you; correct inaccurate data; erase your data, subject to the legal retention requirements above; withdraw consent at any time (this won't affect processing already done); and nominate someone to exercise these rights on your behalf if you're unable to. You can delete your account yourself at any time from your Account page, and leave the newsletter with the unsubscribe link in any newsletter email. For anything else, email ziotimes.info@gmail.com or use the Grievance Redressal Officer contact on our Grievance Officer page. We aim to respond within the statutory timeline.

7. Cookies

Our Cookie Policy lists every cookie and similar browser storage we use. Essential ones (language, sign-in, theme) are always on; analytics stay off until you accept them, and you can change that at any time from the Cookie preferences link in the footer.

8. Children

ZioTimes accounts are for adults. Reading needs no account; creating one, commenting, or joining the Digital Journalist Program requires you to be 18 or older, which you confirm when you sign in or sign up. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact ziotimes.info@gmail.com and we will delete it.

9. Changes to this policy

We'll update the "Last updated" date above and, for material changes, show a notice on the site.

10. Contact

ziotimes.info@gmail.com · +91 7989142775 · Kasim Complex, 1st Floor, Opposite Sparsha Hospital, Kamareddy, Telangana - 503111

For a formal grievance, use our Grievance Officer page instead.