GDPR & U.S. Compliance

Last Updated: January 2025

Welcome to Matrix Recipes (www.matrixrecipes.com). Your privacy is important to us, and we are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and share information in compliance with:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 (for European users).
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) & California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).
• Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) & Other U.S. State Privacy Laws.

If you have any questions, contact us at:
📩 Email: [email protected]

1. Information We Collect

We collect different types of personal data depending on how you interact with our website.

A. Categories of Data Collected

For California residents, these categories align with CCPA/CPRA-defined personal information.

2. How We Use Your Data

We process your data for the following purposes:

• ✅ To provide our services (e.g., website functionality, recipes).
• ✅ To personalize content and ads (where consent is given).
• ✅ To analyze and improve our website.
• ✅ To comply with legal obligations.
• ✅ For security and fraud prevention.

Under GDPR, we process data based on:

• Consent (for cookies, marketing).
• Legitimate Interests (analytics, improving services).
• Legal Compliance (where required by law).

Under CCPA/CPRA, we ensure:

• Transparency about how data is collected and used.
• Opt-out options for data sharing.

3. User-Generated Content

Submitting recipes, comments, or reviews on our website may be publicly visible to other users. By submitting content, you grant us permission to display, modify, and distribute it on our platform. If you want your content removed, contact us at [email protected].

4. Third-Party Affiliate Links & Sponsored Content

Our website may contain affiliate links to third-party websites, including online retailers. If you click these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Please review the privacy policies of third-party websites before making purchases.

5. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13 years old, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us at [email protected], and we will remove it.

6. Personalized Recipe Suggestions & AI Recommendations

We may use AI or machine learning algorithms to suggest recipes based on your browsing history or preferences. This feature is optional, and you can clear your preferences by deleting cookies or adjusting browser settings.

7. Dietary Preferences & Recipe Customization

Suppose you voluntarily provide dietary preferences (e.g., vegetarian, keto, gluten-free) to customize your recipe experience. In that case, this data is stored only as long as necessary and can be deleted upon request.

8. Social Media & Email Subscriptions

If you subscribe to our email newsletter, we collect your email address to send recipe updates and promotions. You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails. We may use social media tracking (e.g., Facebook Pixel, Pinterest Tags) to analyze traffic and improve marketing efforts. You can adjust your ad settings on these platforms.

9. Your Privacy Rights (EU & U.S.)

Your privacy rights vary depending on your location.

A. GDPR Rights (For EU/EEA Users)

• ✔ Right to Access – Request a copy of your personal data.
• ✔ Right to Correction – Fix inaccurate data.
• ✔ Right to Deletion (“Right to be Forgotten”) – Request data removal.
• ✔ Right to Object – Stop certain types of data processing.
• ✔ Right to Data Portability – Transfer data to another service.
• ✔ Right to Withdraw Consent – At any time.

B. U.S. Privacy Rights (CCPA, CPRA, VCDPA & Other States)

• ✔ Right to Know – What personal data we collect and share.
• ✔ Right to Delete – Request removal of personal data.
• ✔ Right to Opt-Out – Of data sales or sharing (if applicable).
• ✔ Right to Correct – Fix incorrect personal information.
• ✔ Right to Non-Discrimination – We won’t deny services based on privacy choices.

How to Exercise Your Rights

Email us at [email protected].
For GDPR requests: We respond within 30 days.
For U.S. requests: We respond within 45 days (as required by CCPA/CPRA).

10. How We Share & Protect Your Data

We do NOT sell your personal data. However, we may share data with:

• Service Providers – Hosting, analytics (Google Analytics), and email marketing.
• Advertising Partners – If you consent to personalized ads.
• Legal Authorities – If required by law.

For California residents, we comply with CCPA’s “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” rule.

11. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and tracking technologies to improve user experience.

Your Choices:

• 🔹 EU Users (GDPR) – You can manage cookies via our cookie consent banner.
• 🔹 U.S. Users (CCPA/CPRA) – Opt-out of tracking using the “Do Not Sell My Personal Data” link.

You can also disable cookies in your browser settings.

12. Data Transfers (GDPR Compliance)

If your data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure:

• ✔ EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
• ✔ Adequate protection measures.

13. Data Security & Retention

🔒 We implement security measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access.
⏳ We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy.

14. U.S. Compliance: CCPA, CPRA, VCDPA & Other Laws

We comply with all relevant U.S. state privacy laws, including:

• California (CCPA/CPRA) – Data transparency, opt-out options, and deletion rights.
• Virginia (VCDPA) – GDPR-like privacy rights for residents.
• Other U.S. States – We will update this policy accordingly as new laws emerge.

Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

We currently do not respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) browser signals.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Please review it regularly.

16. Contact Information

📩 Email: [email protected]