General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
We're sorry to have to bother you but we need your help over something to do with data protection. It applies to all organisations in Europe that store data electronically and it's probably a good idea even for us, but it's a pain all the same.
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation comes into force across Europe on 25th May 2018. Even if you live outwith Europe, Friday Flash Fiction is based in Europe so this affects everyone. Sorry.
The new regulation requires us to do two things. First of all we need your express permission to send you our emails and to store your information – it can't be hidden away somewhere in the terms and conditions any more. We also can't leave it there indefinitely until you unsubscribe from us – although you've always been able to unsubscribe from our emails at any time. It's not clear how long we can retain your details for without renewing consent, but let's assume that the consent lasts for 5 years unless specifically renewed.
Secondly, we need to tell you what we information store about you, and how we use that data. Finally, we need to tell you who we share that data with. In our case that's not very much, but we still need to tell you what it is.
What information does Friday Flash Fiction collect about you?
First of all, every time you submit a story or poem, we collect your first and last name, and your email address. We also, of course, collect the story itself, its title and the word count. In addition, our webhoster Weebly collects two pieces of technical information, the timestamp of the submission, and your IP address (the meaningless collection of 4 groups of numbers that I think is unique to your computer). We have no control over those last two, which might even be a security requirement for all data handling companies anyway.
What does Friday Flash Fiction do with your information?
Under no circumstances will we pass on your details to any third party. Nothing in Friday Flash Fiction is currently saved to any local drive, although ironically we might now have to keep a record somewhere of who's given consent.
In no way does this affect Friday Flash Fiction's standard policy regarding publication of stories and poems. By submitting your story to us, you retain copyright but we are allowed to continue to publish it. It will not normally be removed at the author's request: a published story under an author's name is not private data.
How will we obtain your consent?
Either of these methods will be deemed to be "giving consent" to store your data.
*Amongst the clever things that SurveyMonkey uses that IP address for is to ensure that nobody can cheat in votes by voting twice.
© Friday Flash Fiction December 2021
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation comes into force across Europe on 25th May 2018. Even if you live outwith Europe, Friday Flash Fiction is based in Europe so this affects everyone. Sorry.
The new regulation requires us to do two things. First of all we need your express permission to send you our emails and to store your information – it can't be hidden away somewhere in the terms and conditions any more. We also can't leave it there indefinitely until you unsubscribe from us – although you've always been able to unsubscribe from our emails at any time. It's not clear how long we can retain your details for without renewing consent, but let's assume that the consent lasts for 5 years unless specifically renewed.
Secondly, we need to tell you what we information store about you, and how we use that data. Finally, we need to tell you who we share that data with. In our case that's not very much, but we still need to tell you what it is.
What information does Friday Flash Fiction collect about you?
First of all, every time you submit a story or poem, we collect your first and last name, and your email address. We also, of course, collect the story itself, its title and the word count. In addition, our webhoster Weebly collects two pieces of technical information, the timestamp of the submission, and your IP address (the meaningless collection of 4 groups of numbers that I think is unique to your computer). We have no control over those last two, which might even be a security requirement for all data handling companies anyway.
What does Friday Flash Fiction do with your information?
- First of all, we post your story, which means that we make public the story, its title, the word count and your name public on the Friday Flash Fiction website.
- Second, we transfer your name and email address to our mailing list on (currently) Mailchimp.
- Third, if we use SurveyMonkey* or any other similar online voting system, we may post the results on the Friday Flash Fiction website.
- Finally, the advert we currently carry at present is for our sponsor, Comely Bank Publishing and its imprint Dean Park Press. They have the right to publish your story to advertise your work as part of its own publicity, but it may not store your email address.
Under no circumstances will we pass on your details to any third party. Nothing in Friday Flash Fiction is currently saved to any local drive, although ironically we might now have to keep a record somewhere of who's given consent.
In no way does this affect Friday Flash Fiction's standard policy regarding publication of stories and poems. By submitting your story to us, you retain copyright but we are allowed to continue to publish it. It will not normally be removed at the author's request: a published story under an author's name is not private data.
How will we obtain your consent?
- First of all, for every submission you will be asked to check a box giving your consent to store the above data. It should take only a moment of your time.
- Secondly, Friday Flash Fiction will also send out one or more emails specifically asking for such consent.
Either of these methods will be deemed to be "giving consent" to store your data.
*Amongst the clever things that SurveyMonkey uses that IP address for is to ensure that nobody can cheat in votes by voting twice.
© Friday Flash Fiction December 2021
