This Privacy Policy explains what information GridNow collects, how it is used, and the choices you have. By using GridNow you agree to this policy.
1. Information We Collect
Account information
When you register, we collect your display name, email address, and a hashed password. You may optionally link your Second Life avatar UUID and username. We do not store your real name, postal address, or payment card details.
Content you submit
Posts, event listings, images, and other content you submit to GridNow are stored and displayed publicly according to your submission settings.
Second Life identity
When you interact with the GridNow in-world HUD, your avatar UUID and avatar display name are sent to our servers via the HUD login URL. This is used solely to authenticate you and link your SL identity to your GridNow account.
Usage data
We collect standard server logs including IP addresses, browser user-agent strings, pages visited, and timestamps. These are used for security, debugging, and aggregate analytics. We do not sell or share log data with third parties.
Cookies
GridNow uses session cookies to keep you logged in and preference cookies to remember display settings (such as dark mode). We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To authenticate you and maintain your account session.
- To display your posts, events, and profile to other users.
- To send in-world Second Life instant messages for event reminders and subscription confirmations (requires a linked avatar).
- To send transactional emails (password resets, email verification). We do not send marketing emails unless you explicitly opt in.
- To moderate content and enforce our Community Guidelines.
- To analyse aggregate, anonymised usage trends to improve the platform.
3. Information Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers: We use Railway (hosting), Cloudflare R2 (image storage), and similar infrastructure providers. These providers process data on our behalf and are contractually bound to protect it.
- Legal requirements: We will disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal process.
- Safety: We may share information to protect the rights, property, or safety of GridNow, its users, or the public.
4. Public Content
Posts and events you publish on GridNow are public by default and may be indexed by search engines or accessed by anyone. Your display name is shown alongside your content. Your email address is never shown publicly.
5. Data Retention
We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your profile and posts are removed within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate moderation purposes (e.g. records related to a policy violation).
6. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction you may have rights to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate data.
- Request deletion of your account and associated data.
- Object to or restrict certain processing.
- Data portability (receive a copy of your data in a machine-readable format).
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the address below. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Security
Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and never stored in plain text. Connections to GridNow are encrypted via HTTPS. We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, but no system is perfectly secure — please use a strong, unique password and keep it confidential.
8. Children's Privacy
GridNow is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
9. Third-Party Links
GridNow may display links to external websites and Second Life destinations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their policies separately.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date at the bottom of this page reflects the last revision. Continued use of GridNow after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. For significant changes we will post a notice on the site.
Contact
For privacy-related questions or requests, send an in-world IM to the GridNow support avatar or use the contact form in the site footer.