You agree to the privacy policy below, and the Privacy Policy for Substack, the technology provider.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: November 2025
At The 831, your privacy matters.
We’re a small, independent journalism collective serving California’s Central Coast — Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties — and we treat every reader’s information with the same care we give our own.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have when you read, subscribe, or interact with us.
1. Who We Are
The 831 publishes through the Substack platform and process payments through Stripe.
When you use our site or subscribe to our newsletter, both Substack and Stripe handle parts of your data in accordance with their own privacy policies:
Substack Privacy Policy
2. Information We Collect
a. Information You Provide to Us
Email Address – collected when you subscribe or comment.
Name or Display Name – optional; appears with your comments or profile.
Payment Information – handled securely by Stripe when you purchase a paid plan.
Submissions or Comments – any text, media, or feedback you choose to post or send.
Contributor Information – for writers and collaborators who submit or publish work with The 831.
b. Automatically Collected Information
Substack automatically collects limited analytics such as:
IP address and general location (city/region level only)
Device type and browser
Open rates, link clicks, and subscription activity
This helps us understand what readers connect with — not to profile you.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use information only to:
Deliver newsletters and updates you’ve subscribed to
Manage subscriptions and payments
Moderate comments and maintain community safety
Improve our reporting, design, and reader experience
Respond to tips, questions, or contributor inquiries
Comply with legal or platform obligations
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal data. Ever.
4. Sharing Information
We share limited data only with:
Substack – for hosting, analytics, and email delivery
Stripe – for secure payment processing
Service providers – such as email or file-storage tools used internally by the editors
Law enforcement – only if legally required
Each partner is bound by its own privacy and security standards.
5. Cookies and Tracking
Substack uses cookies to keep you logged in, remember preferences, and measure engagement.
You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features (like commenting) may stop working.
We don’t use third-party advertising or behavioral tracking cookies.
6. Email Communications
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletters from The 831.
You can unsubscribe anytime using the link at the bottom of any email or by visiting your account settings.
When you unsubscribe, your email remains on file only to respect your opt-out preference.
7. Data Retention and Deletion
We retain basic subscriber information as long as your account is active or as needed to comply with obligations (tax, legal, security).
You can request deletion of your personal data at any time by emailing LocalNews@The831.info — we’ll confirm once it’s removed from our records and Substack’s system.
8. Security
We rely on Substack’s and Stripe’s encrypted systems to protect subscriber and payment data.
Internally, only authorized editors have access to subscriber lists, and all use secure, password-protected devices.
9. Children’s Privacy
The 831 is intended for readers aged 16 and older. We don’t knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe a minor has subscribed or submitted information, contact us at LocalNews@The831.info so we can remove it.
10. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction or deletion
Withdraw consent to receive emails
Request a copy of your data
To exercise these rights, email LocalNews@The831.info and include “Privacy Request” in the subject line.
11. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or our practices. The “Last Updated” date at the top always shows the current version.
Material updates will be announced via newsletter or a notice on our site.
12. Contact Us
Questions or concerns about privacy?
📧 LocalNews@The831.info
The 831 — Independent journalism for California’s Central Coast.
No algorithms. Just people telling the truth about where they live.