Privacy Policy

Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism (FGDB) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use this Website and related services (the "Service").

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use our Service.

Information We Collect

User Account Information. When you create an account with us, we may collect: name (first and last), email address, username, password, gender, country, education background (optional).

Usage and Search Data. To improve our Service, we collect search queries and terms looked up, pages visited and time spent on each page, device and browser information, date and time of visits.

Personal Information in Content. We provide replication, backup and data storage features, certain content that is backed up, stored or hosted using our Service may contain personal information.

Technical and Session Records. To provide security and maintain the quality of service, we gather data on connection information, including session date and times, Device Internet Protocol ("IP") address, browser type, Device name and/or identification number, and other interactions with the Service.

Cookies. We use "cookies" to collect information. We use cookies to enable certain features of the Service, to better understand how you interact with the Service and to monitor aggregate usage and web traffic routing on the Service. We save your registration ID and login password for future logins to the Service. The cookies are used solely for identifying user sessions and do not store any personal information regarding the user. You can instruct your browser, by changing its options, to stop accepting cookies or to prompt you before accepting a cookie from the websites you visit. If you do not accept cookies, however, you may not be able to use all features of the Service.

Third-Party Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with the Service. Information collected and processed by Google Analytics includes the user's IP address, network location, and geographic location. Google Analytics uses cookies to gather this information. FGDB does not share any information it collects with Google, and Google Analytics does not collect any personal information such as names, contact information, social security numbers, or financial information. If you prefer, you can opt out by disabling cookies through your browser settings.

Use of Personal Information

We use your personal information to provide you with convenient access to the Service, to improve the content, functionality, and usability of the Website, and to personalize your experience and enhance the performance of the Service. In addition, we use your personal information to keep you up to date on the latest announcements and other information we think you'd like to hear about.

We may also disclose personal information as required by law and to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure hosting infrastructure
• Regular data backups

While we strive to use industry-standard safeguards to protect your data, please note that no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to:

• Provide and maintain our services
• Comply with applicable legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

User account information is retained until you delete your account. Usage data and analytics are typically retained for up to 2 years. You may request deletion of your personal information at any time, subject to applicable legal or contractual requirements.

Manage Your Personal Information

You have the right to access, update, and request limitations on the use and disclosure of your personal information. To request access to the personal information, please contact: info@foguangdictionary.org and provide your full name, contact information and a clear description of the request being made.

We may ask you to complete additional verification steps or observe specific formalities required under applicable law to ensure the security and proper handling of your request.

GDPR Compliance

In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws, individuals (especially EU residents) have the right to:

• Access their personal data
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate information
• Withdraw consent for certain data uses
• Lodge complaints with a supervisory authority

If you wish to exercise any of these rights or raise concerns about our data processing, please contact: info@foguangdictionary.org

Privacy Policy Updates

We may review and update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. Any modifications will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

By continuing to access or use the Website after changes have been made, you acknowledge and accept the revised Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically to ensure that you are familiar with the most current version.