Who we are
IST World is an independent editorial publication owned and operated by IST World LLC, a Texas limited liability company headquartered at 2412 W Loop 340 Ste C4, Waco, TX 76711, United States. For the purposes of the GDPR and UK GDPR, IST World LLC is the data controller for personal information processed through ist-world.com.
Information we collect
We collect information you give us directly, such as your email address when you subscribe to a newsletter, the name and message you submit through the contact form, and any account details you provide if you become a supporter member.
We also collect information automatically when you visit the site: your IP address, approximate location derived from that address, device type, browser, referring page, and the pages you view. This information is used in aggregate to understand readership.
We do not collect payment card numbers ourselves. Where a paid membership is offered, payments are processed by a PCI-compliant third-party payment processor and only a token identifier is returned to us.
How we use information
To deliver and improve editorial content, to send newsletters you have asked to receive, to reply to your messages, to prevent abuse and secure the site, to measure aggregate readership, to comply with legal obligations, and, where you have opted in, to personalise recommendations.
Legal bases (EU and UK readers)
We rely on the following legal bases under the GDPR and UK GDPR: consent (for newsletter subscription, non-essential cookies, and any optional analytics), contract (to deliver a paid membership you have purchased), legal obligation (to keep records required by tax or consumer-protection law), and legitimate interests (to secure the site, prevent fraud, and understand aggregate readership in a privacy-respecting way).
Cookies and analytics
We use a small number of first-party cookies for essential site functions and a privacy-respecting analytics tool to measure aggregate traffic. Where required, we ask for consent before setting non-essential cookies. Our Cookie Policy lists every cookie category, its purpose, and its retention period.
Advertising
Some pages carry advertising served through third-party networks. These networks may set cookies or use similar technologies. IST World does not share your name, email, or account information with advertisers. Advertising cookies are only set after consent where consent is legally required.
Sharing with third parties
We share personal information only with vendors that help us operate the publication: email delivery, analytics, ad serving, hosting, payment processing, and customer support tooling. Each vendor is bound by a written data processing agreement consistent with the GDPR, the UK GDPR, and applicable US state privacy laws.
We do not sell personal information. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising without opt-in consent where required by law.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or port the personal information we hold about you, to object to processing based on legitimate interests, and to withdraw consent at any time. Readers in the EU, UK, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and several other US states have specific statutory rights.
Requests can be sent to privacy@ist-world.com. We reply within 30 days (extendable by 60 days for complex requests). We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.
Data retention
Newsletter records are kept while your subscription is active and for 24 months after you unsubscribe, so that we can honour re-subscription and legal obligations. Correspondence is retained for up to 36 months. Analytics data is retained in aggregate form. Backups are rotated on a 90-day cycle.
International transfers
Data may be processed in the United States and in other jurisdictions where our vendors are established. For transfers out of the EEA, UK, and Switzerland, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses, the UK International Data Transfer Addendum, and, where available, adequacy decisions.
Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect personal information: TLS for data in transit, encryption at rest for sensitive fields, least-privilege access controls, and logging of privileged actions. No online service is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps and disclose confirmed incidents in line with applicable law.
Children
IST World is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided information to us, contact privacy@ist-world.com and we will delete the record.
California privacy notice
California residents may request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we hold, request deletion, and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information as that term is commonly understood, and we honour Global Privacy Control signals as an opt-out request.
Changes
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes are announced on this page with a new effective date, and, where required, by direct notice to subscribers.
Contact
Questions about this policy: privacy@ist-world.com. Postal mail: IST World LLC, 2412 W Loop 340 Ste C4, Waco, TX 76711, United States. Phone: +1 254-662-0459.