Website: thefreestatepress.com (the “Site”)
Publisher: The Free State Press (“we,” “us,” “our”)

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how it may be shared, and the choices you have when you use the Site.

1) Information We Collect

A. Information you provide to us
You may provide information to us when you:

  • Contact us through the Site
  • Subscribe to any email updates (if offered)
  • Submit a tip, question, correction, or other message
  • Comment on stories (if comments are enabled)
  • Participate in promotions (if offered)

This information may include your name, email address, and anything you choose to include in your message.

B. Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information, including:

  • IP address
  • Device identifiers and browser type
  • Operating system
  • Pages viewed, links clicked, time spent, and referring/exit pages
  • Approximate location (derived from IP address)
  • Performance and diagnostic data (such as errors)

2) Cookies and Similar Technologies

We and our partners use cookies, pixels, tags, local storage, and similar technologies to:

  • Operate and maintain the Site
  • Remember preferences
  • Measure traffic and site performance
  • Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
  • Deliver and measure advertising (including interest-based advertising where permitted)

You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where available, consent tools shown on the Site. If you disable cookies, some Site features may not function properly.

3) Advertising, Ezoic, and Interest-Based Ads

The Site uses third-party advertising and site-optimization services, including Ezoic. Ezoic and its partners may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Deliver ads
  • Personalize ads where permitted
  • Measure ad performance and frequency
  • Detect fraud and invalid traffic
  • Improve user experience through testing and optimization

Ezoic-specific privacy information:
https://g.ezoic.net/privacy/thefreestatepress.com

Ads you see on the Site may be based on information collected about your activity on this Site and other sites over time, depending on your settings, your location, and whether you have opted out of interest-based advertising.

4) Third-Party Partners and How Data May Be Shared

We may share information, or allow information to be collected, in the following ways:

Service providers
We use vendors to help operate the Site (for example: hosting, security, analytics, email delivery if offered, and advertising/optimization). These vendors may process information on our behalf to provide services.

Advertising and measurement partners
Our advertising partners may collect information through cookies or similar technologies for ad delivery, reporting, measurement, frequency capping, and fraud prevention.

Legal and safety reasons
We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect rights, safety, property, or the integrity of the Site.

Business transfers
If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5) Your Choices (Opt-Outs and Controls)

A. Browser controls
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you clear cookies, you may need to reset your preferences.

B. Interest-based advertising opt-outs (United States)
You can opt out of certain interest-based advertising from participating companies here:

C. Google ad controls (if Google ads are served)
Google’s ad settings: https://adssettings.google.com/

Opt-outs are typically device- and browser-specific and may rely on cookies. They do not stop advertising; they may stop certain personalized ads from participating companies.

6) How We Use Information

We use information to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve the Site
  • Respond to inquiries, tips, corrections, and feedback
  • Understand how the Site is used and improve content and performance
  • Protect against fraud, spam, abuse, and security threats
  • Support advertising and measurement (including troubleshooting and reporting)
  • Comply with legal obligations

7) Data Retention

We keep information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to operate the Site, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and maintain security. Server logs and analytics/advertising data may be retained according to our vendors’ retention practices and our operational needs.

8) Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

9) U.S. State Privacy Notice

Certain U.S. state privacy laws may provide residents with additional rights regarding their personal information (such as rights to access, delete, correct, or opt out of certain processing, depending on the state and circumstances).

Categories of information that may be collected:
Identifiers (such as IP address), internet or network activity (such as pages viewed and interactions), approximate geolocation (derived from IP), and device/browser information.

Purposes:
Operating the Site, analytics and performance, security, advertising/measurement, and communications.

Sharing:
With service providers and advertising/measurement partners as described in this policy.

If you want to make a privacy request, use the contact method below.

10) International Visitors

If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that information may be processed and stored in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate, which may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

11) Security

We use reasonable safeguards designed to protect information. However, no website, transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

12) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the effective date at the top when changes are made. Your continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.

13) Contact

For privacy questions or requests, contact us through the Site’s contact page:
https://thefreestatepress.com/contact/