Privacy & Security

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Black Lens 2.0 Legal

Privacy & Security Policy

Effective Date: September 2026 · Last Reviewed: September 23, 2026

Short version: We collect minimal data, share nothing with third parties for commercial purposes, protect source identities as an absolute editorial obligation, and do not sell any user information. This platform exists to serve journalism — not data harvesting.

1. Who We Are

Black Lens 2.0 (blacklens25.com) is an independent investigative journalism platform operated by Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh. This policy governs all data collected through this website and its associated services.

2. Information We Collect

Automatically collected: When you visit this site, standard server logs record your IP address, browser type, referring URL, and pages visited. This data is retained for a maximum of 30 days and used solely for security and operational analysis.

Voluntarily submitted: If you submit a tip, comment, contact form, or newsletter subscription, we collect the information you provide (name/alias, contact method, message content). This is used only to respond to you or follow up on a tip.

Cookies: We use essential cookies for site functionality (login sessions, dark mode preference). We do not use third-party advertising cookies or cross-site tracking. Analytics, if active, use anonymized data only.

3. Source & Whistleblower Protection

🔒 Source Protection is Non-Negotiable

The identity of any person who provides information to Black Lens 2.0 in confidence is protected as an absolute editorial obligation. We will not disclose source identities to any party — including law enforcement — unless a court order specifically and lawfully compels disclosure, and only after we have exhausted all available legal defenses.

Sensitive tips received via Signal or encrypted email are handled on air-gapped devices where possible.
Source metadata (contact details, communication logs) is not retained after a story is published unless the source consents.
We operate under Bangladesh’s Press Council framework and international journalist privilege principles.

4. How We Use Your Information

To respond to tip-offs, editorial correspondence, and reader queries
To send newsletters or dispatches, only to users who opt in explicitly
To detect and prevent security threats, spam, or malicious access attempts
To improve site performance and user experience

We do not sell, rent, trade, or share personal data with advertisers, political entities, government agencies, or any third party for commercial purposes.

5. Third-Party Services

This site may embed content from or link to third-party services (YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps). Embedded content from these platforms may collect data independent of this site. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party service you interact with.

Hosting: Our server infrastructure is provided by a Bangladesh-based cPanel hosting provider. All data processing occurs within the server environment subject to their infrastructure terms.

6. Secure Communications

For sensitive tip-offs or source communications, we strongly recommend using:

Signal: The safest method for real-time sensitive communication. Contact details available on our Secure Tip-Off page.
Encrypted Email: PGP-compatible encrypted email for document transfer.
Secure Tip Form: Our tip-off form uses HTTPS and minimal metadata collection.

Do not use standard SMS, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or unencrypted email to submit sensitive source information.

7. Data Retention

Server logs: 30 days. Newsletter subscriber data: retained until you unsubscribe. Tip-off submissions: retained only as long as editorially necessary, then securely deleted. We do not archive user data beyond operational necessity.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to request access to any personal data we hold about you, request correction of inaccurate data, request deletion of your data, or opt out of newsletter communications at any time. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@blacklens25.com.

9. Children’s Privacy

This site is not directed at persons under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has submitted information to this site, contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in law, technology, or our practices. Material changes will be noted at the top of this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of the site after such changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

Privacy inquiries: privacy@blacklens25.com
General editorial contact: editor@blacklens25.com
Secure tips: blacklens25.com/secure-tip-off/