For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Bangali.Network” refers to Bangali Network, the registered entity operating under the stylised public name Bangali.Network.
Bangali.Network respects the privacy of its readers, contributors, participants, voters, commenters, event attendees and other visitors.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how and why we process it, when information may be published or shared, how long it may be retained and what choices are available to the individuals concerned.
Bangali Network is the registered entity operating under the stylised public name Bangali.Network. Throughout this Privacy Policy, “Bangali.Network”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Bangali Network and the websites, publications, contests, events, community features and digital initiatives operated by it.
By using our website, submitting content, participating in an initiative, voting, commenting, contacting us or otherwise providing personal information, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. Where consent is required, we will request it through an appropriate affirmative action, such as a checkbox, submission declaration or parental/guardian confirmation.
This Privacy Policy applies across Bangali.Network, including:
websites and webpages operated by Bangali.Network;
web magazines and editorial publications;
writing, artwork, photography, audio and video submissions;
contests, awards and audience-voting initiatives;
participant and contributor profiles;
comments and reader-interaction features;
events, invitations and recognition programmes;
contact forms, help desks and copyright-reporting systems;
newsletters, announcements and opt-in communications;
official Bangali.Network social-media activities; and
present or future initiatives administered through Bangali.Network.
A particular form, contest or activity may display an additional privacy notice explaining requirements specific to that activity. Where an additional notice is provided, it should be read together with this Privacy Policy.
Third-party websites, applications and services linked from Bangali.Network are governed by their own privacy policies.
The information collected depends on how a person interacts with Bangali.Network.
3.1 Identity and contact information
We may collect information such as:
name;
email address;
telephone or WhatsApp number;
postal address or PIN code;
age or confirmation of age;
nationality, country or place of residence where relevant;
gender where required for a specific recognition or administrative purpose;
parent or legal guardian details;
contributor, participant or contestant number; and
other information necessary to verify identity or eligibility.
We do not request sensitive information unless it is genuinely necessary for a clearly stated purpose. Individuals should not submit identity documents, financial information, medical information or other sensitive records unless Bangali.Network has specifically requested them through an authorised channel.
3.2 Submitted content and profile information
We may receive:
articles, stories, poems and other written works;
photographs, artwork and illustrations;
audio and video recordings;
performance recordings;
display images and profile photographs;
biographies and contributor introductions;
captions, titles and descriptions;
declarations concerning originality, copyright and consent;
information about the creator or participant; and
related correspondence or supporting material.
Some of this information is collected specifically for publication and will therefore become public if the submission is selected, accepted or published.
3.3 Comments and reader participation
When a visitor leaves a comment or uses another reader-interaction feature, we may collect:
the name supplied by the commenter;
email address, where requested;
website address, where voluntarily supplied;
the content of the comment or response;
the associated page or publication;
date and time;
IP address;
browser and user-agent information; and
moderation, spam-detection and abuse-prevention signals.
An IP address may be used to enforce participation limits, detect coordinated or repetitive behaviour, prevent spam and investigate abuse. It is not ordinarily displayed publicly.
3.4 Voting and audience-response information
When a visitor votes, applauds, reacts or otherwise supports a participant or publication, we may collect or generate:
the selected participant, work or response;
date and time of the interaction;
IP address or a cryptographic representation of it;
locally generated browser or device identifiers;
browser and technical information;
response counts;
referral information;
patterns relevant to fraud or manipulation detection; and
internal audit records relating to voting integrity.
These records help us enforce voting limits, prevent automated or purchased responses, identify suspicious activity and maintain a fair process.
A displayed vote or response total may be provisional until the relevant activity has been validated.
3.5 Technical and usage information
Our website, hosting infrastructure, security systems and service providers may automatically process technical information such as:
IP address;
browser type and version;
device and operating-system information;
requested pages and files;
date, time and approximate session duration;
referring webpage;
server and security logs;
cookie or local-storage identifiers;
errors and performance information;
bandwidth and resource usage; and
interactions with site features.
This information may be used for site operation, security, troubleshooting, audience measurement, performance improvement and abuse prevention.
General analytics ordinarily help us understand matters such as how many people visited a page, which content was viewed and how visitors reached the website. Where information can reasonably identify or distinguish a visitor, we treat it in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
3.6 Communication records
When someone contacts Bangali.Network, we may retain:
the sender’s name and contact information;
the contents of the message;
attachments;
dates and times;
our response;
internal notes needed to resolve the matter; and
related correspondence through email, telephone, WhatsApp, forms or other authorised channels.
Calls may be noted for administrative purposes. We will not record telephone calls without appropriate notice where such notice or consent is required.
3.7 Event, award and delivery information
When someone is invited to an event, selected for a recognition or requires delivery of a certificate, trophy, medal or other item, we may collect:
attendance confirmation;
invitee and permitted accompanying-person information;
postal address and telephone number;
delivery instructions;
acknowledgment of receipt;
photographs or recordings from the event; and
information necessary to arrange access, seating, presentation or delivery.
We may collect information: directly from an individual; from a parent or legal guardian; through submission, contact, voting, comment or registration forms; when content or files are uploaded; through correspondence and support interactions; automatically through the website, server, cookies and technical systems; through official social-media interactions; from service providers acting on our behalf; from publicly available sources when verification is reasonably necessary; or from a person authorised to act for the individual concerned. Individuals providing information about another person must have the authority to do so.
We may process personal information to:
receive and evaluate submissions;
verify age, identity, authorship or eligibility;
publish selected content and participant profiles;
administer contests, awards and reader initiatives;
assign participant or contestant numbers;
operate voting and audience-response systems;
detect duplicate, automated, purchased or manipulated activity;
moderate comments and prevent spam or abuse;
communicate about submissions, selections, publication, voting, results, events or delivery;
contact first-time contributors or participants for verification;
arrange judging, editorial review or administrative assessment;
publish announcements, results and recognitions;
create participant pages, sharing cards and promotional materials;
operate, secure and improve the website;
investigate technical failures, complaints, copyright concerns and rule violations;
maintain records necessary for legal, security and administrative purposes;
organise events and deliver physical recognitions;
respond to enquiries and grievances;
establish, exercise or defend legal rights;
comply with applicable law and lawful directions; and
send updates or promotional communications where the recipient has consented or may otherwise lawfully receive them.
We seek to use personal information only for a stated or reasonably connected purpose. If we wish to use non-public information for a materially unrelated purpose, we will seek further consent where required.
Certain information is collected specifically for publication. Depending on the activity, public information may include:
name or approved public name;
profile or Display Image;
biography;
submitted writing, photograph, artwork, audio or video;
title, caption and description;
participant, contributor or contestant number;
city, state or other general location where the form states that it will be shown;
voting or audience-response total;
selection, ranking or recognition;
public comments and replies; and
photographs or recordings from an event.
Public information may appear on:
Bangali.Network websites;
individual contributor or participant pages;
archives and galleries;
sharing cards;
official social-media accounts operated by Bangali.Network or an associated initiative;
result announcements;
event displays and presentations;
promotional posts, reels, stories, shorts and videos;
printed or digital certificates and recognition materials; and
contest-related or event-related materials carrying sponsor or partner branding.
Publishing submitted material does not ordinarily transfer its copyright to Bangali.Network. Copyright and publication permissions are governed by the applicable submission terms, contest rules or contributor agreement.
Private contact information is not made public merely because an individual submits or publishes content.
Where an individual submits content for a contest, publication or public initiative, Bangali.Network may use the approved public information and submitted material to administer, present, promote and document that activity.
Such use may include organic and paid promotion through the official websites and social-media accounts of Bangali.Network and its initiatives.
Promotional material may carry the name or branding of a presenting partner, title partner, sponsor, media partner or other official partner. This does not, by itself, authorise that partner to use a participant’s identity or material independently for an unrelated product endorsement or standalone advertisement.
Bangali.Network does not sell private participant or contributor contact information to sponsors or advertisers. Any materially separate commercial use requiring additional permission will be addressed separately where necessary.
For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, a child is a person below 18 years of age.
Where an activity is intended for or permits participation by children:
submission must be completed by a parent or legal guardian;
the parent or guardian must provide the required information and consent;
communication will ordinarily take place through the parent or guardian;
the parent or guardian is responsible for ensuring that submitted information is accurate and that they are authorised to provide it;
Bangali.Network may take reasonable steps to verify that the person providing consent is an identifiable adult and is the child’s parent or lawful guardian;
only information reasonably necessary for participation, publication, communication, results, recognition or delivery will be requested; and
a child’s private contact details will not be published.
A child’s name, image, voice, artwork, photograph, video or other submitted work may be published only under the applicable participation terms and with the required parental or guardian authorisation.
Bangali.Network does not knowingly use children’s personal information for targeted advertising, behavioural profiling or unrelated promotional databases.
Parents or legal guardians may contact Bangali.Network regarding information submitted on behalf of a child. A removal request will be considered in light of the original consent, the nature of publication, archival integrity, legal obligations and copies already distributed or shared beyond our direct control.
Audience voting and response systems require safeguards against manipulation.
We may use IP addresses, hashed IP information, browser identifiers, local device tokens, timestamps and behavioural patterns to:
limit the number of permitted responses;
remember whether a browser has already responded;
identify automated or repeated activity;
compare voting patterns;
investigate complaints;
validate published counts; and
enforce contest or publication rules.
These systems do not necessarily identify a person by name. However, because technical identifiers may distinguish a device, browser or connection, we handle them as protected information where applicable.
We may retain the details of anti-abuse systems confidential where disclosure would make manipulation easier.
A participant will not automatically be penalised merely because suspicious activity appears in connection with the participant. Available evidence and relevant circumstances may be reviewed before an administrative decision is made.
Bangali.Network and its service providers may use cookies, local storage or similar technologies.
These may be used to:
remember comment information where the visitor chooses that convenience;
retain necessary session or security information;
preserve consent or interface preferences;
remember voting or response activity;
protect forms against abuse;
support website functionality;
measure traffic and performance; and
detect suspicious or automated behaviour.
Some information is stored by the browser on the visitor’s device, while related records may also be processed by our website or server.
Visitors can clear or restrict cookies and local storage through browser settings. Doing so may affect comments, voting, form submission, login, preferences or other website functions.
Bangali.Network uses WordPress and may use services, plugins or infrastructure that support:
site hosting;
content delivery;
traffic measurement;
spam filtering;
security monitoring;
media processing;
backups;
email delivery;
form operation; and
performance optimisation.
These systems may process technical information necessary to provide their services.
Analytics information may be aggregated or pseudonymised, but no online measurement system should be understood as guaranteeing complete anonymity in every circumstance.
We review our use of plugins and service providers periodically, but their processing may also be governed by their own privacy documentation and contractual terms.
Bangali.Network does not sell or trade personal information.
We may disclose limited information where reasonably necessary to:
hosting, infrastructure, security, backup or technical service providers;
email, messaging or communication providers;
judges, editors, moderators or authorised reviewers;
event venues, production teams or authorised event personnel;
couriers or delivery providers;
professional advisers, accountants or legal representatives;
official partners performing a defined operational role;
service providers supporting analytics, spam prevention or website functionality;
rights holders or authorised representatives in connection with a credible copyright complaint;
law-enforcement authorities, regulators, courts or government bodies where disclosure is legally required; or
another entity involved in a lawful restructuring, transfer or continuation of Bangali.Network, subject to appropriate protection of the information.
Each recipient should receive only the information reasonably required for its role.
Judges and reviewers do not need access to private contact information unless it is operationally necessary and appropriately controlled.
Couriers may receive a recipient’s name, address and telephone number for delivery. Sponsors do not receive private participant databases merely because their branding appears on contest or event materials.
Content published through official social-media accounts is also processed by the company operating the relevant platform.
Interactions such as likes, shares, comments, messages and follows may be visible to Bangali.Network and processed according to the platform’s own privacy policy.
Once public material has been shared, downloaded, reposted, indexed or cached by another person, search engine or platform, Bangali.Network may not be able to remove every copy.
Visitors should not send confidential or sensitive personal information through public comments or social-media replies.
Some technology, social-media, communication or infrastructure providers may process or store information outside India.
Where international processing occurs, we seek to use established services and take reasonable steps appropriate to the nature of the information and applicable legal requirements.
Public content is accessible internationally by its nature.
We retain different categories of information for different periods, depending on their purpose.
15.1 Published and archival material
Published writing, photographs, artwork, audio, video, biographies, participant pages, comments, results and event records may remain available as part of the editorial, cultural or contest archive unless removed under an applicable policy or lawful request.
15.2 Unpublished or unsuccessful submissions
Unpublished submissions and associated information may be retained while selection, verification, moderation, complaint handling or administrative review remains pending. They may subsequently be deleted or retained for a limited period where necessary to maintain submission records, prevent duplicate participation, resolve disputes or comply with law.
15.3 Contest and voting records
Voting, eligibility, integrity and audit records may be retained through the contest, result-verification period, award presentation and any reasonable complaint or review period. Certain security and system logs may be retained for the minimum period required by applicable law or legitimate cybersecurity needs.
15.4 Contact and correspondence records
Correspondence may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to respond, maintain continuity, document consent, resolve a complaint or protect legal rights.
15.5 Award, event and delivery records
Recognition, attendance and delivery records may be retained for administrative, accounting, historical or legal purposes.
15.6 Technical logs
Security, access and server logs may be retained for operational and cybersecurity purposes and for any period required under applicable Indian law or lawful direction.
15.7 Backups
Deleted information may remain temporarily in encrypted or access-controlled backups until those backups are overwritten through the normal retention cycle.
We may retain information for a longer period where necessary to comply with law, investigate fraud or abuse, resolve a dispute, establish legal rights or preserve a legitimate public or editorial record.
Bangali.Network uses reasonable administrative, technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or misuse.
Measures may include:
access restrictions;
password and account controls;
encrypted connections;
server and software updates;
backups;
security monitoring;
spam and abuse controls;
limited access to private submission information;
integrity checks; and
deletion or anonymisation where appropriate.
No website, transmission method or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Individuals should use trusted devices and networks, protect any codes supplied to them and avoid sharing confidential information unnecessarily.
If we become aware of a personal-data breach, we will investigate it and take reasonable action, including notification to affected individuals or authorities where required.
Individuals should provide accurate, current and complete information.
A person submitting information about someone else—including a child, participant, co-creator or person visible in a photograph—must have the authority and necessary permissions to do so.
Bangali.Network may request clarification or verification where information appears inconsistent, incomplete, impersonated or unauthorised.
Subject to applicable law and reasonable identity verification, an individual may request:
confirmation of whether we process their personal information;
access to relevant information about such processing;
correction of inaccurate information;
completion or updating of information;
erasure of information that is no longer required;
withdrawal of consent where processing depends on consent; or
grievance redressal concerning the handling of personal information.
A request may be limited or declined where retention or continued processing is necessary for:
compliance with law;
cybersecurity and fraud prevention;
establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims;
protection of another person’s rights;
an unresolved transaction, contest, complaint or delivery;
a legitimate editorial, historical or archival record; or
another purpose authorised by applicable law.
Withdrawal of consent does not invalidate processing already undertaken lawfully. It may also make continued participation, publication, delivery or use of a requested feature impossible.
A request to remove published material will be considered individually.
Removal from the Bangali.Network website does not guarantee removal from:
search-engine caches;
social-media platforms;
previously shared posts;
screenshots;
downloaded files;
printed material;
third-party archives; or
copies outside our control.
Where appropriate, Bangali.Network may retain a minimal internal record showing that material existed, was removed or was subject to a request or complaint.
Bangali.Network may send necessary communications concerning:
a submission;
verification;
publication;
contest administration;
voting or results;
event attendance;
recognition or delivery;
copyright or moderation;
security; or
a request initiated by the recipient.
These operational communications are distinct from optional promotional updates.
Marketing, newsletter or general-update communications will be sent where the recipient has consented or where otherwise permitted. A recipient may use the provided unsubscribe method or contact Bangali.Network to withdraw from optional communications.
Some outcomes may rely partly on structured systems, such as:
eligibility rules;
submission deadlines;
duplicate-entry detection;
audience-response totals;
voting limits;
ranking calculations; and
technical integrity checks.
Bangali.Network may review, validate or correct automated totals and system-generated results where necessary to preserve fairness, address an error or investigate manipulation.
Artistic, editorial and judging decisions may involve human assessment according to the applicable published process.
Where Bangali.Network receives a credible copyright, privacy, impersonation, abuse or legal complaint, we may preserve and review information connected with the disputed material.
Relevant information may be shared with the complainant, contributor, participant, rights holder, authorised representative, professional adviser or lawful authority only to the extent reasonably necessary to investigate, respond or comply with legal obligations.
We may temporarily restrict access to disputed material while a complaint is reviewed.
Bangali.Network may link to websites, forms, media players, social networks or services operated by others.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of an independent third-party service. Visitors should review the relevant provider’s privacy policy before supplying information.
Bangali.Network may update this Privacy Policy to reflect:
changes in law;
new website features;
new publication or contest formats;
changes in service providers;
security requirements; or
improvements in our privacy practices.
The updated policy will be published on the official Bangali.Network website with a revised “Last updated” date.
Where a change materially affects how already-collected personal information will be used, we will provide additional notice or seek further consent where required.
Continued use of the website after an update does not override any right or consent requirement provided by applicable law.
If you have any questions, privacy-related requests or concerns, or wish to request the correction or removal of your information, please write to us at support@bangali.network. We will be happy to help.
To protect personal information, we may request reasonable verification before acting on a request. A request concerning a submission, comment, vote, participant or contributor should include sufficient information to locate the relevant record, such as:
submitted or published name;
email address or telephone number used;
relevant page or content URL;
participant, contestant or submission number, where available; and
a clear description of the requested action.
Individuals should not send passwords, full financial information or unnecessary identity documents with an initial request.
Bangali.Network will examine the request and respond within a reasonable period, subject to applicable law, the nature of the request and any verification required.
This Privacy Policy is governed by applicable Indian law.
Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict any privacy or data-protection right that cannot lawfully be restricted.