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Privacy Policy

Effective October 22, 2026.

Who this policy covers

This policy explains how Start Biting (“we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information through startbiting.org and our general contact address, info@startbiting.org. Start Biting is the public name of the initiative described on our About page. Our team is responsible for handling inquiries addressed to us. This policy does not describe the separate practices of linked support organizations.

Read resources without telling your story

You do not need to create an account, disclose an experience of abuse, or provide personal information directly to Start Biting to read our public pages. Our website shares general information and links to independent support services; it is not a confidential survivor-intake, counseling, or emergency channel. Please do not send abuse histories, identification documents, precise locations, medical records, or another person’s private information by ordinary email or public comments.

Information you choose to send

When you email us, we receive your email address, the name you use, your message, attachments you include, and associated message details. Volunteer-interest and collaboration inquiries may include the skills, availability, organization information, or contact preferences you choose to share. We use this information to consider and respond to the inquiry, handle corrections or accessibility requests, and maintain relevant correspondence. Send only what is necessary and tell us a safe way to reply.

Website hosting and statistics

WordPress.com, operated by Automattic, hosts this site. Hosting, security, and site statistics can involve technical data such as IP address, browser and device information, requested pages, referring pages, and access times. Jetpack Stats is used to understand visits and how the website is used. The current site settings do not contain a Google Analytics measurement ID.

Automattic processes information under its visitor privacy notice. Its Jetpack Stats documentation describes the data used and how reports are shown to site owners. See our Cookie Notice for cookies and similar technologies. Browsing this site is not anonymous to every hosting, network, or device provider.

WordPress interactions and public information

If you choose to use a WordPress.com feature such as following a site, liking content, or commenting where available, the platform may process your account information and interaction. Public comments, likes, profile names, or other information you make public may be visible to others. Do not use these features to disclose sensitive information. Ordinary contact with us does not automatically subscribe you to promotional emails.

Providers, access, and disclosure

Our website hosting provider and our email provider, Titan Professional Email, process information needed to operate their services. See Titan’s privacy policy. Relevant Start Biting team members may access inquiries to handle their subject matter. We limit use of inquiry information to the purposes described here and do not sell inquiry messages or use them for targeted advertising.

Information may be disclosed when required by applicable law or valid legal process, or when lawfully necessary to address a security incident or protect someone’s safety. We cannot promise absolute confidentiality, legal privilege, or anonymity. This notice does not override protections or duties that may apply under law.

How long information is kept

We retain inquiry correspondence while handling the request and for relevant follow-up, organizational recordkeeping, security, or legal obligations. The appropriate period depends on the inquiry, whether it remains active, and whether records are needed to document actions or resolve a dispute. Information that is no longer needed for those purposes should be deleted. You may request deletion using the contact below. Provider logs, backups, and copies held by recipients may follow separate retention schedules; deletion from an active inbox does not necessarily remove every backup immediately.

Your choices and privacy requests

You can read the site without emailing us and can control cookies through your browser. Depending on the law that applies to you, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of personal information, or to object to or restrict certain uses. Email info@startbiting.org with the subject “Privacy request,” describe your request, and provide a safe response method. We may ask for proportionate information to verify that the request concerns you. Please do not send identification documents unless a necessary and appropriate verification method has been agreed.

Requests are handled subject to applicable law, including any lawful retention obligations or limits on what we can delete from an independent provider’s records. You may also contact the provider directly about its own data practices. Where applicable, you may raise a concern with the relevant privacy authority.

Young visitors and international processing

Young people can read public resources without providing personal information to Start Biting. We do not ask children to submit sensitive information through this website. If you believe a child has sent personal information that should be removed, contact us without repeating unnecessary sensitive details.

Our website and email providers may process information in countries other than your own. Their notices describe their processing and protections. Using this website does not establish eligibility for a service in any particular country or location.

Safety, security, and changes

No internet service can guarantee complete security. Use a device and contact method you consider safe, and read our safety information. Quick exit does not erase browsing history or prevent monitoring. We will update this policy and its effective date when our practices change, and provide any additional notice or choice required by applicable law. New donation, account, or direct-service features will require information appropriate to those activities before launch.

For nonurgent inquiries: info@startbiting.org. This inbox is not a crisis service. Please do not send sensitive personal information or details of abuse by email.

Quick exit does not erase browsing history or prevent device monitoring. Read our safety information.