MoldovaLive.md respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information of visitors, readers, subscribers, contributors, and other users of our website.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit or interact with MoldovaLive.md, including its webpages, newsletter, online services, forms, and other features available through the website (collectively, the “Website”).

MoldovaLive.md is an English-language news and information platform covering political, economic, social, cultural, tourism, European integration, and other developments concerning the Republic of Moldova. The Website is part of the Realitatea Press Group.

By using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with the Website, we may collect different categories of information.

1.1. Information You Provide Directly

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:

subscribe to our newsletter;
contact us by email or through an online contact form;
create or use an account on the Website;
submit information, comments, feedback, or other content;
request information or services;
participate in promotional, media, editorial, or commercial activities;
communicate with us through social media or other communication channels.

Depending on the interaction, this information may include:

name;
email address;
username;
contact details;
information contained in your message or correspondence;
information you voluntarily provide in connection with a request or submission.

You are not generally required to create an account or provide personal information in order to read publicly available news articles on MoldovaLive.md.

1.2. Information Collected Automatically

When you access the Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our servers, hosting provider, security systems, analytics tools, cookies, or similar technologies.

This information may include:

IP address;
browser type and version;
operating system;
device type;
language and regional settings;
referring website or webpage;
pages visited;
links or buttons clicked;
date and time of access;
approximate geographic location derived from technical information;
information about how you interact with the Website;
technical information necessary for website security, performance, and troubleshooting.

This information is generally used in aggregated or pseudonymized form where possible.

2. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information for the following purposes:

to provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Website;
to publish and distribute news and informational content;
to send newsletters and other communications that you have requested;
to respond to inquiries, requests, complaints, and correspondence;
to manage user accounts and authentication functionality;
to maintain the security and integrity of the Website;
to prevent fraud, abuse, unauthorized access, and other harmful activity;
to understand how visitors use the Website and improve its content and functionality;
to monitor website performance and technical reliability;
to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations;
to protect our rights, property, users, employees, and business interests;
to administer commercial, media, advertising, promotional, or partnership activities where applicable;
for other purposes disclosed to you at the time information is collected.

We do not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purposes described in this Privacy Policy unless permitted or required by applicable law.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable, we process personal information on one or more of the following legal bases:

Consent

We may process information based on your consent, for example when you voluntarily subscribe to a newsletter or consent to certain categories of cookies or similar technologies.

You may withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

Performance of a Contract or Provision of a Service

We may process information where it is necessary to provide a service or respond to a request you have made.

Legitimate Interests

We may process information where this is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided that such interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

These interests may include:

operating and improving MoldovaLive.md;
ensuring website and information security;
preventing abuse and fraudulent activity;
understanding audience engagement;
maintaining technical infrastructure;
communicating with users and business partners;
protecting our legal rights and interests.

Legal Obligations

We may process personal information when necessary to comply with applicable laws, court orders, regulatory requirements, or other lawful requests from competent authorities.

4. Newsletter and Email Communications

MoldovaLive.md may offer users the opportunity to subscribe to a newsletter.

If you subscribe, we may collect and process your email address and, where applicable, your name or other information voluntarily provided during subscription.

We use this information to:

send newsletters;
provide news and editorial updates;
communicate information related to MoldovaLive.md;
manage newsletter subscriptions;
measure newsletter performance where permitted by applicable law.

You may unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.

According to the information published by MoldovaLive.md, the newsletter may be distributed to international media organizations, diplomats, international organizations, governmental institutions, members of the diaspora, and other interested individuals.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

MoldovaLive.md may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the Website, remember preferences, analyze website usage, improve performance, and support certain website functions.

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.

Types of Cookies We May Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Website.

They may support functions such as:

security;
authentication;
session management;
navigation;
basic website functionality.

These cookies generally cannot be disabled through the Website where they are essential for providing the requested service.

Functional Cookies

These cookies may allow the Website to remember choices and preferences made by visitors.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

We may use analytics technologies to understand how visitors interact with MoldovaLive.md, including information about page views, traffic sources, device types, and website performance.

Analytics information helps us improve the Website and its content.

Third-Party Cookies

Certain third-party services integrated into or linked from the Website may place cookies or use similar technologies.

These services may include analytics providers, social media platforms, embedded media providers, advertising partners, security providers, or other technology providers.

The exact cookies and technologies used on the Website may change from time to time.

You can manage or restrict cookies through your browser settings and, where available, through the Website’s cookie consent mechanism.

Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the Website.

6. Analytics and Website Measurement

We may use third-party analytics and measurement technologies to understand how visitors use MoldovaLive.md.

These technologies may collect information such as:

IP address or an abbreviated/pseudonymized version thereof;
device and browser information;
pages viewed;
time spent on pages;
traffic sources;
interactions with website elements;
approximate geographic information;
technical information about website performance.

Analytics data is used primarily to understand audience behavior, improve editorial and technical performance, and maintain the Website.

Where required by law, non-essential analytics technologies will only be activated after obtaining the appropriate consent.

7. User Accounts and Authentication

Certain features of the Website may allow or require users to create or access an account.

Where account functionality is available, we may process information such as:

username;
email address;
password credentials in securely stored form;
account-related technical information;
login and security information.

Passwords should never be transmitted to us in plain text. Where technically supported, passwords are stored using appropriate security mechanisms such as hashing.

Users are responsible for keeping their account credentials confidential and should notify us if they believe that their account has been accessed without authorization.

8. Contact Forms and Communications

If you contact MoldovaLive.md by email, through a contact form, or through another communication channel, we may process the information you provide in order to:

respond to your inquiry;
provide requested information;
address complaints or requests;
communicate with you regarding editorial, commercial, media, or other matters;
maintain records of correspondence where necessary.

The information may include your name, email address, telephone number, organization, and the contents of your communication, depending on what you choose to provide.

We ask users not to submit sensitive personal information through ordinary contact forms unless it is specifically requested and necessary.

9. Social Media

MoldovaLive.md maintains or may maintain profiles and channels on third-party social media platforms, including platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, and other social networks.

MoldovaLive.md may also include social media buttons, widgets, links, embedded content, or sharing functionality on the Website.

When you interact with third-party social media services, your information may be processed directly by the relevant platform in accordance with that platform’s own privacy policy and terms of service.

MoldovaLive.md does not control how independent social media platforms process personal information.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of the relevant social media providers before interacting with their services.

10. Third-Party Websites and External Links

MoldovaLive.md may contain links to third-party websites, services, platforms, organizations, advertisers, partners, or other external resources.

These websites operate independently from MoldovaLive.md and may have their own privacy policies and terms of use.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites.

You should review the privacy policy of any external website before providing personal information.

11. Embedded Content

Articles and webpages on MoldovaLive.md may contain embedded content from third-party services, such as videos, social media posts, maps, images, audio, or other interactive material.

Embedded content may behave in the same way as if you had visited the third-party website directly.

Such third parties may collect information about your interaction with the embedded content, use cookies, and process information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

Where applicable, your interaction with third-party embedded content may therefore be subject to the privacy practices of the relevant provider.

12. Patreon and Support Services

MoldovaLive.md may provide links allowing visitors to support the publication through third-party services, including Patreon.

If you choose to use a third-party support or payment service, the transaction and associated personal information are processed by that third-party provider.

MoldovaLive.md does not receive or store payment card details solely because you visit a support link.

Any payment or financial information submitted through a third-party service is subject to that provider’s terms, privacy policy, and security practices.

The current Website includes a “Support Us” link directing users to Patreon.

13. Advertising and Commercial Communications

MoldovaLive.md may display advertising, sponsored content, promotional materials, commercial announcements, or other forms of paid or partnership content.

Advertising and promotional technologies may involve third-party providers.

Where third-party advertising technologies are used, those providers may collect or receive certain technical information about visitors, subject to applicable law and the provider’s own privacy practices.

Where required, we will obtain consent before using non-essential advertising cookies or similar technologies.

14. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell your personal information as a commodity.

We may disclose personal information to third parties where reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:

hosting and infrastructure providers;
website and IT service providers;
cybersecurity providers;
analytics providers;
newsletter and email service providers;
technical support providers;
communication and social media platforms;
payment or support service providers;
professional advisers, including legal and accounting advisers;
competent governmental, regulatory, law enforcement, or judicial authorities where legally required;
business partners or service providers where necessary to provide a requested service.

Third-party service providers may process personal information only to the extent necessary to provide the relevant service, subject to applicable contractual, legal, and security requirements.

15. International Data Transfers

Because MoldovaLive.md serves an international audience and may use service providers located in different countries, personal information may potentially be processed or stored outside the Republic of Moldova or outside your country of residence.

Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers of personal information, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented.

These safeguards may include contractual protections, adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, or other legally recognized mechanisms.

16. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention periods may depend on:

the purpose for which the information was collected;
the nature of the information;
our legal and regulatory obligations;
legitimate business and security requirements;
the resolution of disputes or claims.

For example, newsletter subscription information may generally be retained while you remain subscribed, unless a longer retention period is required for legal or legitimate purposes.

Technical and security logs may be retained for periods appropriate to maintaining website security and investigating technical incidents.

17. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against:

unauthorized access;
unauthorized disclosure;
alteration;
loss;
destruction;
misuse.

Security measures may include access controls, secure authentication mechanisms, server and website security measures, monitoring, backups, and other appropriate technical safeguards.

However, no website, online service, or method of electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should therefore understand that transmission of information over the Internet always involves some level of risk.

18. Children’s Privacy

MoldovaLive.md is a general-audience news and information website.

The Website is not specifically directed at children and we do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children through features that are not intended for them.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate authorization, please contact us so that we can review the situation and take appropriate action where required by law.

19. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.

These rights may include:

the right to know whether we process your personal information;
the right to request access to personal information we hold about you;
the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
the right to request deletion of personal information in applicable circumstances;
the right to request restriction of processing;
the right to object to certain processing activities;
the right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
the right to receive certain information in a portable format where applicable;
the right to unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter communications;
the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority.

These rights are subject to applicable legal limitations and conditions.

To exercise a privacy right, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

20. Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we process your personal information on the basis of consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

You may withdraw consent by:

using the relevant unsubscribe function;
changing available cookie preferences;
contacting us directly.

21. Do Not Track and Browser Signals

Some browsers and devices provide “Do Not Track” or similar privacy signals.

Because there is currently no universally accepted technical standard for interpreting all such signals, the Website may not respond to every browser-based Do Not Track setting.

Where legally required, we will comply with applicable privacy preference signals and consent requirements.

22. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

MoldovaLive.md does not generally use personal information to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects on individuals through automated decision-making.

Where third-party services use automated processing, personalization, advertising, or profiling technologies, such processing may be governed by the privacy policies of those third parties.

23. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

changes to the Website;
changes to our services;
changes in technology;
changes in third-party services;
changes in applicable legal requirements;
improvements to our privacy practices.

When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

24. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about how your personal information is processed, you may contact us at:

MoldovaLive.md

Email: contact@moldovalive.md

Additional contact: contact@realitatea.md

MoldovaLive.md’s public “About Us” information identifies these email addresses for contact and collaboration purposes.

When contacting us regarding personal information, please provide sufficient information for us to understand and respond to your request. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests in order to protect personal information from unauthorized disclosure.

25. Complaints and Data Protection Authorities

If you believe that your personal information has been processed unlawfully, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can attempt to resolve your concern.

You may also have the right to submit a complaint to the competent data protection authority in the country or jurisdiction where you live, work, or where you believe that a violation of applicable data protection law has occurred.

26. Acceptance of This Privacy Policy

By using MoldovaLive.md, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with the practices described in this Privacy Policy, please discontinue use of the Website or contact us regarding your concerns.

Privacy Policy