Last Updated: 07.03.2025
Thank you for visiting Sthala.design. Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website https://sthala.design (the “Site”). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Site, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we collect on the Site includes:
1.1 Personal Data
Personally identifiable information, such as your name, email address, location, and professional details, which you voluntarily give to us when you register on the Site, create or edit your profile, submit projects, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us. You are under no obligation to provide us with personal information of any kind, however, your refusal to do so may prevent you from using certain features of the Site.
1.2 Derivative Data
Information our servers automatically collect when you visit the Site, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, access times, and the pages you have viewed directly before and after accessing the Site. This data helps us understand user behavior and improve our Site.
1.3 Financial Data
We do not currently collect financial information as Sthala.design is a free platform for showcasing projects. However, if in the future we introduce features that require payment (e.g., premium services), we will update this policy to detail what financial data we collect and how it is processed. Any financial transactions will be processed by secure third-party payment processors.
1.4 Data from Contests, Giveaways, and Surveys
Personal and other information you may provide when entering contests or giveaways and/or responding to surveys. Participation in these is completely voluntary and you have a choice whether or not to disclose information.
1.5 Third-Party Data
Information from third parties, such as social media platforms, if you choose to connect your social media accounts to the Site. This may include your name, your social media username, profile picture, and contacts associated with that account. You can control the information we receive from third parties via the privacy settings on the third-party platform.
1.6 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies on the Site to help customize the Site and improve your experience. When you access the Site, personal information is not collected through the use of tracking technology. Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can remove or reject cookies in your browser’s settings. Please be aware that such action could affect the availability and functionality of the Site.
2. Use of Your Information
Having accurate information about you permits us to provide you with a smooth, efficient, and customized experience. Specifically, we may use information collected about you via the Site to:
- Administer your account and provide you with access to the Site.
- Enable user-to-user interactions.
- Personalize your experience and deliver content and offerings relevant to your interests, including Indian architecture and design.
- Process project submissions and display them on the platform.
- Send you newsletters, updates, and promotional materials related to Sthala.design.
- Monitor and analyze usage and trends to improve the Site’s functionality and user experience.
- Respond to your inquiries and offer support.
- Request feedback and contact you about your use of the Site.
- Resolve disputes and troubleshoot problems.
- Assist law enforcement and respond to legal processes.
- Compile anonymous statistical data and analysis for use internally or with third parties.
- Prevent fraudulent transactions, monitor against theft, and protect against criminal activity.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We may share information we have collected about you in certain situations. Your information may be disclosed as follows:
3.1 By Law or to Protect Rights
If we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person, violations of our Terms of Service or this Privacy Policy, or as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.
3.2 Third-Party Service Providers
We may share your information with third-party service providers that perform services for us or on our behalf, such as data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, customer service, and marketing assistance. These third parties are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
3.3 Marketing Communications
With your consent, or where permitted by law, we may share your information with third parties for marketing purposes, as permitted by law.
3.4 Interactions with Other Users
When you interact with other users of the Site, such as by contributing to project pages or blog comments, other users may see details of your profile and your activity.
3.5 Business Transfers
We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.
3.6 Affiliates
We may share your information with our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy.
3.7 Other Third Parties
We may share your information with advertisers and investors for the purpose of conducting general business analysis. We may also share your information with such third parties for marketing purposes, as permitted by law.
4. Security of Your Information
We use administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your personal information. While we have taken reasonable steps to secure the personal information you provide to us, please be aware that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and no method of data transmission over the internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Any transmission of personal information is at your own risk.
5. Data Retention
We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. This may include retaining your information even after you have deactivated your account, if reasonably necessary to comply with our legal obligations (including law enforcement requests), meet regulatory requirements, resolve disputes, maintain security, prevent fraud and abuse, enforce our Terms of Service, or fulfill your request to “unsubscribe” from further messages from us.
6. Your Rights
Depending on your location and applicable data protection laws, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal information.
- The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal information, under certain conditions.
- The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information, under certain conditions.
- The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information, under certain conditions.
- The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
The Site may use “cookies” and similar tracking technologies to personalize and enhance your online experience. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.
We use cookies for purposes such as:
- Essential Cookies: To make our Site work.
- Performance and Analytics Cookies: To analyze how our Site is used and to improve performance.
- Functionality Cookies: To remember your preferences and settings.
- Advertising/Targeting Cookies: To deliver advertisements that are more relevant to you and your interests.
You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the Sthala.design Site.
8. Third-Party Websites
The Site may contain links to third-party websites and applications of interest that are not affiliated with us. Once you have used these links to leave the Site, any information you provide to these third parties is not covered by this Privacy Policy, and we cannot guarantee the safety and privacy of your information. Before visiting and providing any information to any third-party websites, you should inform yourself of the privacy policies and practices (if any) of the third party responsible for that website, and should take those steps necessary to, in your discretion, protect the privacy of your information. We are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of any third parties, including other sites, services or applications that may be linked to or from the Site.
9. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated policy on the Site and update the “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed of how we are protecting your information. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise your rights regarding your personal information, please contact us at:
Sthala Design
info@sthala.design
Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu, India