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Privacy policy
Last updated August 14, 2026. SMMScout is a directory and measurement site: its product is public data, so this policy is short and specific about the private data we actually touch.
The short version
- No user accounts, no passwords, no profiles.
- Panel data, scores and risk scores are public by design.
- We store only what a feature needs: claim emails, review submissions, payment records and probe telemetry.
- No advertising cookies, no cross-site tracking, no data sold to anyone.
What we collect and why
| Data | Where it lives | Why | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel ownership claims: slug, domain, contact email, token code | Database (D1) | The verification system: proving domain ownership for the +25 bonus | Kept for the life of the listing; email deletable on request |
| Public reviews: name, rating, text | Database (D1) | Moderated public reviews on panel pages | Kept while published; deleted with the review |
| Sponsored placement payments | Database (D1) + Stripe | Processing and recording placements | Required for financial records |
| API tester telemetry: endpoint host, action, key, user agent, timestamp | Database (D1) | Operational insight into which providers get tested | Rolling; deletable on request |
| Probe results (domain, latency, timestamp) | Database (D1) | The live API health page | Public measurement data |
| Newsletter email | Buttondown | Monthly market notes | Until you unsubscribe |
Analytics and logs
We run privacy-respecting analytics with no advertising cookies and no cross-site tracking. Standard server logs (IP address, user agent, requested page) are kept briefly for security and abuse prevention, then rotated. Outbound panel links carry a utm_source=smmscout parameter so panel owners can see referral traffic in their own analytics.
Local storage in your browser
Three features store data locally in your browser: the compare shortlist (smmscout.favs), optional API-tester settings (smmscout.api.settings), and the A/B editor's pick assignment for the session (smmscout.pick). All of it stays in your browser and is cleared with the buttons provided or by clearing site data.
Third parties
- Stripe : payment processing for sponsored placements. Your payment details go to Stripe, never to us.
- Buttondown : the newsletter delivery provider.
- Cloudflare : hosting, CDN and the database.
Cookies
We set no advertising or tracking cookies. Essential storage (localStorage entries above, and session storage for the pick) is used only for features you are actively using. No third-party marketing cookies are loaded.
Your rights
These commitments track the standards of the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection.
You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal data we hold about you at contact@smmscout.com. We respond within 30 days. This applies regardless of where you live; we aim to meet the standards of the GDPR and similar regimes.
Changes
If this policy changes materially, the date at the top updates and the change is noted in the directory updates log.
Reviewed by the SMMScout data team · updated 2026-08-14 · methodology · editorial policy · disclosure