**Last updated:** February 3rd 2026

Daily Book Choice (“we”, “our”, or “the site”) respects your privacy. This policy describes what personal data we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your rights. It applies to the Daily Book Choice website and services.

—

## 1. Who is responsible for your data

The data controller for the personal data we process is the operator of the Daily Book Choice website. You can contact us using the details at the end of this policy (e.g. a contact form or email linked from the site).

—

## 2. Data we collect and why

We collect and use data only where we have a legal basis: to perform our contract with you (e.g. account and services), with your consent (e.g. newsletter, cookies where required), or for our legitimate interests (e.g. security, analytics, improving the site) where those interests are not overridden by your rights.

### 2.1 Account and profile

If you register and use an account we store:

– **Identity and contact:** username, email address, display name, and (if you set one) profile picture.

– **Profile details:** occupation/recommendation categories you choose, and any other profile fields you fill in.

– **Authentication:** WordPress stores a hashed password; we do not store your plain password.

– **Login and activity:** we record login dates and timezone to support features such as login streaks and XP; we may store a limited activity log (e.g. recent actions like posting a review, commenting, adding to a shelf, or using affiliate links) for your use and for site features.

We use this to provide and secure your account, show your profile to other members where you have chosen to be public, and to run features like streaks, XP, and activity feeds.

### 2.2 Comments and discussions

When you comment we store:

– Your comment text, the post or review it relates to, and (if you are logged in) your user ID; if commenting as a guest we may store the name and email you provide.

– Comment vote data (e.g. up/down) linked to your account or (where used) to a cookie so we can enforce one vote per user/device.

– If you report a comment we store the report (comment ID, your user ID or IP address, reason, and status) for moderation and abuse prevention.

We use this to display comments, run voting, prevent abuse, and comply with our Terms of Use. Comment data may be checked by our anti-spam provider (e.g. Akismet).

### 2.3 Reviews and ratings

When you post a book review we store the review content, the book and author you linked it to, and your user ID. We also store review vote data (up/down) linked to your account or (where used) to a cookie, and may limit how many reviews you can vote on per day. We use this to show reviews, run voting, and improve recommendations.

### 2.4 Bookshelves and reading activity

We store the bookshelves you create (e.g. “Want to Read”, “Currently Reading”, custom shelves), the books you add to them, and visibility settings you choose (e.g. public or private). We may store which other members’ shelves you follow. We use this to provide shelves, reading stats, and activity feeds (e.g. “a friend added a book”).

### 2.5 Friends and follows

We store your friends list, pending friend requests (sent and received), and who you follow or who follows you. We use this to show friend/follow actions, activity feeds, and to send relevant notifications.

### 2.6 Notifications

We store in-app notifications (e.g. friend request accepted, comment on your post, reply, mention) and whether they have been read. We may send some notifications by email; we record whether an email was sent and when. We use this to deliver notifications and to avoid duplicate emails.

### 2.7 Newsletter

If you subscribe to our newsletter we collect the name and email you provide and send them to our email service provider (Mailchimp). Subscription is voluntary and we rely on your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in our emails or by contacting us.

### 2.8 Search and analytics

– **On-site search:** we may log search terms, result counts, approximate time, and (if you are logged in) your user ID, and we may use a cookie to throttle repeated searches. We use this to improve search, show trending searches, and (in aggregate) to fix zero-result queries. Logs are retained for a limited period (e.g. 90 days) and then deleted.

– **Analytics:** we may use services such as Google Analytics or Google Site Kit to understand how visitors use the site (e.g. pages visited, device type). This can involve cookies and similar technologies. Where required by law we obtain consent before using non-essential analytics cookies.

### 2.9 Security and anti-spam

– **Login:** we may use reCAPTCHA (Google) on the login form to prevent automated abuse. Google’s privacy policy applies to reCAPTCHA.

– **Comments:** we may send comment content and metadata to an anti-spam service (e.g. Akismet) to detect spam.

– **Logs:** our hosting and security tools (e.g. Wordfence) may log IP addresses and other technical data for security and abuse prevention.

### 2.10 Affiliate links

When you click on book purchase or affiliate links we may log that click (e.g. book ID and vendor) in our activity system for internal statistics. We do not share this with the affiliate partner as personal data; see our [Sponsorship](/sponsorship/) page for how we use affiliate links.

### 2.11 Social login

If you sign in with Facebook (or another social provider we offer), that provider will share with us the data you allow (e.g. name, email, profile picture). We use it to create or link your account. The provider’s privacy policy applies to their processing.

—

## 3. Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

– **Strictly necessary:** session and login (WordPress), security, and cookie consent (e.g. Cookie Law Info).

– **Functionality:** e.g. remembering your cookie preferences, search throttling (e.g. DBC Search Insights session cookie).

– **Analytics and marketing:** only where we have obtained your consent (e.g. via our cookie banner).

Details of the main cookies we use, their purpose, and duration are in our [Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy/).

You can change your cookie choices at any time via our cookie settings (e.g. “Cookie Settings” or “Manage consent” in the footer or banner).

—

## 4. Who we share your data with

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with:

– **Service providers** who process data on our instructions: e.g. hosting, email (Mailchimp), anti-spam (Akismet), analytics (e.g. Google), and (if you use it) social login (e.g. Facebook). Each has their own privacy policy and, where they are outside your country, we ensure appropriate safeguards (e.g. standard contractual clauses) where required by law.

– **Legal and safety:** if we are required by law, or to protect our or others’ rights, safety, or property.

– **Other users:** your public profile (e.g. display name, avatar, public shelves) and your public content (e.g. reviews, comments) are visible according to the visibility options you choose.

—

## 5. How long we keep your data

– **Account and profile:** for as long as your account exists. After you delete your account we may retain some data where required by law (e.g. tax) or for legitimate interests (e.g. anonymised analytics, resolving disputes) for a limited period.

– **Comments and reviews:** retained while the content exists; if you delete content we remove or anonymise it in line with our systems.

– **Comment reports and moderation:** retained as long as needed for moderation and then deleted or anonymised.

– **Search logs:** deleted after the retention period set in our settings (e.g. 90 days).

– **Activity and notifications:** we keep a limited number of recent activity items per user; older ones are deleted. Notifications may be retained for a short period after read/delete.

– **Newsletter:** we keep your subscription data in Mailchimp until you unsubscribe or ask us to remove it.

– **Cookies:** as stated in our Cookie Policy; session cookies when you close the browser, others as per the banner/settings.

—

## 6. Your rights

Depending on where you live (e.g. EU/EEA/UK or California), you may have the right to:

– **Access:** receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

– **Rectification:** have inaccurate data corrected.

– **Erasure:** have your data deleted (subject to legal or legitimate need to retain).

– **Restriction:** limit how we use your data in certain cases.

– **Portability:** receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

– **Object:** object to processing based on legitimate interests or (where applicable) to marketing.

– **Withdraw consent:** where we rely on consent (e.g. newsletter, optional cookies), you can withdraw it at any time.

– **Complain:** lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g. in your country of residence).

To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within the time required by applicable law. For account data you can also use “My Account” to view and update profile details and, where we offer it, to request an export or deletion.

If you are in the EU/EEA/UK, our legal basis for processing is typically: contract (account and services), consent (newsletter, optional cookies), or legitimate interests (security, analytics, improvement of the site), and we will only process where we have a valid basis.

—

## 7. Children

Our services are not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us and we will delete it.

—

## 8. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page and change the “Last updated” date. If changes are significant we may notify you by email or a notice on the site. Continued use of the site after the change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy where permitted by law.

—

## 9. Contact

For privacy-related requests, to exercise your rights, or for any questions about this policy:

– Use the contact method provided on our website (e.g. contact form or email), or

– Write to us at the address published on the site.

We will handle your request in line with applicable data protection law.