Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 06/06/2025

At HopeString (“we,” “our,” or “us”), accessible from https://www.hopestring.com, your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you interact with our platform.

1. Information We Collect

a. Personal Information

• Name
• Email address
• Location (city/state)
• Age or birth year (optional)
• Relationship to neurodiverse individuals (e.g., parent, caregiver)
• Profile content, comments, and uploaded media
• Condition-related information (optional and only if provided voluntarily, with consent)

b. Technical Data

• IP address
• Browser and device info
• Usage patterns (pages visited, time spent)

c. Comments

When visitors leave comments, we collect data shown in the comment form, plus the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string for spam detection.

An anonymized hash of your email may be shared with the Gravatar service. See their policy at automattic.com/privacy.

d. Media

If you upload images, avoid including location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may be able to download and extract location data from posted media.

e. Cookies

• Comment cookies: Store name, email, and site info (1 year)
• Login cookies: 2 days (or 2 weeks with “Remember Me”)
• Screen preference cookies: 1 year
• Post-edit cookies: 1 day

f. Embedded Content

Articles may contain embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles) from third-party websites, which may collect data, use cookies, and track interactions.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To manage your account
• To enable peer-matching and community participation
• To send transactional or optional emails (based on your settings)
• To improve platform performance
• To moderate and protect the community

3. Peer Matching and Community Connection

With your explicit consent, we may use shared profile data (location, tags, posts) to suggest private peer matches. You can opt out at any time in your profile settings.

4. Email Communication

a. Transactional Emails

• Registration confirmation
• Password reset
• Platform or security updates

b. Optional Emails

• Community updates or newsletters (if subscribed)
• Peer match notifications (if opted in)

c. Email Privacy

• No spam or resale of your email
• Easy and prompt unsubscribe options

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

• Trusted service providers (under contract and with security commitments)
• Legal authorities when required
• In the event of sale, merger, or transfer (with prior notice)

If you request a password reset, your IP address may be included in the reset email for security purposes.

6. User Responsibility for Health-Related Information

HopeString is not a healthcare provider and is not a covered entity under HIPAA. However, we respect the sensitivity of health-related information.

• You are responsible for any personal or health information you share.
• Do not share another person’s medical data without their explicit consent.
• Healthcare professionals must not post protected health information (PHI).
• We collect such data only with explicit user consent.

You can revoke your consent and delete such data at any time from your settings or by contacting us.

7. How Long We Retain Your Data

• Comments and metadata: Retained indefinitely
• Profile data: Retained as long as your account is active
• You may view, edit, or delete your data (except usernames)
• Administrators may access and manage data for support or moderation

8. Your Rights

• Access, correct, or delete your data
• Export your data
• Withdraw consent for optional features
• Object to processing (where applicable)

To exercise these rights, contact support@mg.hopestring.com.

9. Where Your Data Is Sent

Visitor comments and media may be processed through automated spam detection or secure third-party services.

10. Children’s Privacy

This platform is intended for adult users (e.g., parents, caregivers). We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 without verified parental consent.

11. Data Security

We use SSL encryption, access controls, secure data storage, and regular audits to protect your data. However, no system is 100% secure; please use caution when posting publicly.

12. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a breach, we will notify affected users and authorities as required by law.

13. GDPR and International Users

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom (UK):

• We process your data based on consent, legitimate interest, or other legal bases
• You may access, correct, delete, restrict, or port your data
• You may object to certain types of processing
• You may file a complaint with your local data protection authority

By using HopeString, you consent to transfer of your data to the United States.

14. FTC Compliance

We comply with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s privacy standards. We do not misrepresent how we collect or use data and prioritize transparency and user control.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. All changes will be posted with a revised “Effective Date.” Please review this page regularly.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions or privacy requests, contact:

HopeString
Email: support@mg.hopestring.com
Website: https://www.hopestring.com