Effective Date: April 21, 2026
The Rockport Pirate (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website, mobile application, and any associated social media pages or services (collectively, the “Service”) that provide local news, events, and community information for Rockport, Texas, and surrounding areas. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit or use the Service.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using the Service, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide, improve, and personalize the Service.
Personal Information Personal information is data that can identify you as an individual. We may collect:
Contact information (name, email address, phone number, mailing address) when you subscribe to newsletters, submit comments, contact us, or enter contests/giveaways.
Account information if you create an account (username, password).
Payment information (if you make a purchase, such as premium subscriptions or event tickets) — processed securely by third-party payment processors.
Location information (city-level or IP-derived) if you enable location services for local news alerts.
User-generated content (comments, photos, or posts you submit).
Non-Personal / Automatically Collected Information
Usage data (pages viewed, time spent, clicks, referring websites).
Device and browser information (IP address, device type, operating system, browser type).
Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 6 below).
Aggregated or anonymized data that does not identify you.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. See Section 8 for more details.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
To operate and maintain the Service, including delivering news, responding to comments, and managing subscriptions.
To personalize content and recommendations (e.g., local stories based on your location or interests).
To communicate with you (newsletters, alerts, administrative messages, or responses to inquiries).
To improve the Service through analytics and user feedback.
To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or abuse.
To comply with legal obligations or protect our rights.
For marketing and advertising (with your consent where required by law).
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in these limited circumstances:
With service providers (hosting providers, email services, analytics tools, payment processors) who are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
For legal reasons (court orders, subpoenas, or to comply with applicable laws).
In the event of a business transfer (merger, acquisition, or sale of assets), your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
With your explicit consent or when you publicly post content (e.g., comments visible to other users).
We may share aggregated, non-personal data with partners or advertisers for analytics purposes.
4. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to:
Remember your preferences and login details.
Analyze site traffic and usage.
Deliver relevant local advertising (we may use third-party ad networks).
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Note that disabling cookies may affect your experience on the Service. We also respect “Do Not Track” signals where required by law.
Third-party services embedded in the Service (e.g., Google Analytics, social media widgets) may set their own cookies. Their practices are governed by their respective privacy policies.
5. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location (including rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act or similar state laws), you may have the right to:
Access the personal information we hold about you.
Request correction or deletion of your data.
Opt out of the sale of your data (we do not sell data).
Opt out of certain targeted advertising.
Withdraw consent where we rely on it.
To exercise these rights, contact us using the information in Section 10. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe as required by law. We may ask for verification of your identity.
You may also unsubscribe from emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the message.
7. Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)
The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly. Parents or guardians may contact us if they believe their child has provided information.
8. International Users
The Service is hosted in the United States and primarily intended for users in the United States. If you access the Service from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on the Service and updating the “Effective Date” at the top. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
The Rockport Pirate
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 361.272.3159
We will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.
Thank you for trusting The Rockport Pirate with your information. We are dedicated to keeping your data safe while delivering the best local news and community updates for Rockport-Fulton/Coastal Bend Community.