Effective date: September 30, 2026
Last updated: September 30, 2026

Whatnow Media Group Inc. (“Whatnow,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) publishes Whatnow.com, a local news publication covering restaurant, retail and real estate openings in cities across the United States and Canada. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard personal information when you visit whatnow.com and its city editions, subscribe to our newsletters, contact us, or otherwise interact with us online (together, the “Services”). Please read it together with our Terms of Use.

By using the Services, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy. Where the law requires your consent, for example for certain cookies or for marketing emails, we ask for it separately, and you can withdraw it at any time.

1. Information We Collect

Information you give us

  • Contact details, such as your name, email address, phone number, company and job title, when you subscribe to a newsletter, send us a tip, register for an event, ask about our partner programs, or contact us.
  • Newsletter preferences, such as the cities and topics you choose to follow.
  • Submissions and correspondence, such as news tips, press releases, photos, correction requests and other messages you send us.
  • Billing information, if you purchase a partner program, sponsorship or event ticket from us. Payment card details are handled by our payment processors; we do not store full card numbers.

Information collected automatically

  • IP address and the approximate location (city or region) derived from it
  • Browser type, device type, operating system and language settings
  • Pages viewed, links clicked, referring and exit pages, time on page, scrolling and similar interactions
  • Search terms you enter in site search
  • Cookie identifiers, advertising identifiers and similar online identifiers
  • Newsletter engagement, such as whether you open an email or click a link in it

Information from third parties

Our advertising, analytics and data partners may provide us, or Raptive on our behalf, with information such as inferred interests, general demographic information, or confirmation that a hashed email address matches one they already hold (see Section 4).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, operate and maintain the Services, including our city editions and site search
  • Send the newsletters and other communications you request and, where permitted by law, tell you about our events and partner programs
  • Review and respond to tips, questions, correction requests and partnership inquiries
  • Understand how readers use the Services so we can improve our reporting, design and performance
  • Show advertising, including interest-based advertising, and measure how well it performs
  • Process transactions for partner programs, sponsorships and events
  • Detect, prevent and respond to security incidents, fraud, abuse and technical problems
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use and other policies

3. Cookies, Consent and Similar Technologies

We and our partners use cookies, pixel tags, local storage, scripts and similar technologies. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help a website remember your preferences and understand how it is used. We use them to keep the Services working and secure, to remember your choices, to measure readership and site performance, and to deliver and measure advertising.

Consent management. We use a consent management platform provided by Raptive, our advertising partner. Depending on where you are, it may ask for your consent before non-essential cookies are set, or give you the choice to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information and of targeted advertising. You can review or change your choices at any time using the privacy settings link (for example, “Privacy Settings” or “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information”) shown in the consent banner or at the bottom of the Site. Where required by law, we treat a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a request to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information.

Browser controls. Most browsers let you block or delete cookies. If you do, some parts of the Services may not work as intended. Because there is no common industry standard for “Do Not Track” browser signals, we do not respond to them, but we honor GPC signals as described above.

4. Advertising

This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a Raptive (“Raptive”) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Raptive will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Raptive’s data usage, click here: https://raptive.com/creator-advertising-privacy-statement/

Cookies, pixels and third-party tracking. Whatnow and its third-party partners may use cookies, pixel tags and similar technologies to collect data from your device or web browser. These cookies do not directly contain personally identifiable information. However, in some cases our business partners may be able to combine this cookie data with other information, including data you have voluntarily shared with us such as your email address, to recognize or infer identifiable details about you. For example, we may share a hashed, non-human-readable version of your email address with trusted partners, who can then associate it with demographic or behavioral information for marketing purposes. Subject to the choices described in this policy and the rights you have under applicable law, Whatnow and its partners may store, combine, analyze or otherwise use both (i) de-identified data we share and (ii) personal information they may lawfully derive as described above.

These technologies help us and our partners connect information such as your IP address, browser type and site interactions (like opening emails or viewing content) with your broader online activity. This data may be used to customize content, deliver relevant advertisements, and improve your experience across platforms. Our partners may also use cookies and similar tools to deliver personalized marketing emails based on your browsing behavior, including visits to advertiser websites.

In addition to the consent tools described in Section 3, you can manage personalized advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out, the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out and, in Canada, YourAdChoices.ca. Opting out does not stop all advertising; you will still see ads, but they may be less relevant to you.

5. Analytics, Search, Email and Hosting Providers

  • Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4. We use Google Tag Manager to load site tags and Google Analytics 4, provided by Google LLC, to understand how readers find and use the Services. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar identifiers to collect information such as pages viewed, device and browser details and approximate location. We do not send your name or email address to Google Analytics. Learn more at How Google uses information from sites that use its services, or opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
  • Microsoft Clarity. We partner with Microsoft Clarity and Microsoft Advertising to capture how you use and interact with our website through behavioral metrics, heatmaps and session replay to improve and market our products and services. Website usage data is captured using first- and third-party cookies and other tracking technologies to determine the popularity of products and services and online activity. Additionally, we use this information for site optimization, fraud and security purposes, and advertising. For more information about how Microsoft collects and uses your data, visit the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
  • Algolia. Site search is provided by Algolia, Inc. When you search, your search terms and technical information such as your IP address and browser details are sent to Algolia to return results. See Algolia’s privacy policy.
  • Mailchimp. Our newsletters are sent using Mailchimp, a service of Intuit Inc. Your email address, name (if provided) and newsletter preferences are stored in Mailchimp, which uses pixels and tracked links to tell us whether emails are delivered, opened and clicked. See the Intuit Global Privacy Statement.
  • WordPress and hosting. Our articles are managed in WordPress and the Services are delivered by third-party hosting, content delivery and security providers. They process server logs, such as IP address, browser details, requested pages and timestamps, to deliver the Services and protect them against attacks and abuse.

6. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information to third parties for money. We may disclose personal information to:

  • Service providers who help us run the Services and our business, such as hosting, content management, email delivery, site search, analytics, payment processing and customer support providers, who may use it only to perform services for us
  • Advertising partners, including Raptive and its advertising partners, which receive cookie and device identifiers, IP address, browsing activity and, in some cases, hashed email addresses for interest-based advertising and measurement. Under some U.S. state laws, this may be considered a “sale” of personal information or “sharing” for cross-context behavioral or targeted advertising; see Section 10 for how to opt out
  • Legal authorities and others when we believe disclosure is required by law, subpoena or court order, or is necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of Whatnow, our readers or others
  • A successor or acquirer in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization or sale of all or part of our business
  • Other parties with your consent or at your direction

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you.

7. Data Retention

We keep personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes described in this policy. Newsletter subscriber information is kept until you unsubscribe, after which we keep your email address on a suppression list so we do not email you again. Correspondence and submissions are kept for as long as needed to respond, for our editorial records, and to meet legal obligations. Analytics and advertising data is kept according to the retention settings of the relevant provider. We may keep information longer where the law requires it or to resolve disputes and enforce our agreements.

8. Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect it. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Choices

  • Newsletters. Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link, or you can email info@whatnowmediagroup.com. We act on unsubscribe requests promptly and in any case within 10 business days. We may still send you non-promotional messages about a transaction or request you have made.
  • Cookies and advertising. Use the privacy settings link described in Section 3, your browser settings, and the industry opt-out tools listed in Section 4.
  • Analytics. Use the Google Analytics opt-out add-on listed in Section 5 or block cookies in your browser.

10. U.S. State Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and other U.S. states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws, you may have the right to:

  • Know or access the personal information we have collected about you, and receive it in a portable format
  • Correct inaccurate personal information
  • Delete personal information we have collected from you
  • Opt out of the sale of your personal information, the sharing of your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, and the processing of your personal information for targeted advertising
  • Opt out of profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects (we do not engage in such profiling)
  • Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising these rights

How to exercise your rights. To opt out of sales, sharing and targeted advertising, use the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” or privacy settings link on the Site, or enable Global Privacy Control in your browser. For all other requests, email info@whatnowmediagroup.com with the subject line “Privacy Request” and tell us your state of residence. We will verify your request by matching the information you provide with the information we hold, and we respond within the time required by law (generally 45 days, which may be extended where permitted). You may use an authorized agent to submit a request on your behalf; we may ask the agent for proof of authorization and ask you to verify your identity directly.

Appeals. If we decline to act on your request, you may appeal by replying to our decision or emailing info@whatnowmediagroup.com with the subject line “Privacy Appeal.” We will respond to your appeal within the time required by law. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may contact your state attorney general.

California notice at collection. In the past 12 months we have collected the following categories of personal information: identifiers (such as name, email address, IP address and cookie identifiers); customer records (such as phone number and billing contact information); commercial information (such as purchases of partner programs or event tickets); internet or other electronic network activity; approximate geolocation; professional information (such as company and job title); and inferences drawn from the above. We collect this information from you, from your device, and from our service providers and advertising partners, for the purposes described in Section 2, and we retain it as described in Section 7. We disclose each of these categories to service providers for business purposes. We “sell” or “share” identifiers, internet activity, approximate geolocation and inferences with advertising partners as described in Section 4. We do not collect sensitive personal information for the purpose of inferring characteristics about you, and we do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 years of age. California residents may also request information about our disclosures of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes under California Civil Code § 1798.83.

11. Privacy Rights in Canada

Whatnow reports on Montreal, Toronto and other Canadian markets. We handle the personal information of readers in Canada in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws, including Quebec’s Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector.

  • Consent. We collect, use and disclose personal information with your knowledge and consent, which may be express or implied depending on the sensitivity of the information and your reasonable expectations. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Where required by law, including in Quebec, cookies and similar technologies that can identify, locate or profile you are activated only with your consent, which you can manage using the privacy settings link described in Section 3.
  • Access and correction. You may ask to access the personal information we hold about you and to have it corrected. Where applicable law provides them, you may also ask how your information is used and disclosed, request that it be communicated to you or to another organization in a structured, commonly used technological format, and request that we stop disseminating it.
  • Cross-border processing. We are based in the United States, and our service providers may process personal information in the United States and other countries. Personal information processed outside Canada is subject to the laws of those countries and may be accessible to their courts, law enforcement and national security authorities.
  • Commercial electronic messages. In accordance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), we send newsletters and other commercial electronic messages only with your express or implied consent. Each message identifies us, includes our mailing address, and contains an unsubscribe mechanism that we give effect to within 10 business days.
  • Privacy Officer. Our Privacy Officer is responsible for the protection of personal information at Whatnow, and can be reached at info@whatnowmediagroup.com or by mail at the address in Section 16.
  • Complaints. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or, in Quebec, the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec.

12. Readers Outside the United States and Canada

The Services are operated from the United States and your information will be processed there. If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, we process personal information on the basis of your consent (for example, for non-essential cookies and marketing emails), our legitimate interests in operating, securing and improving the Services, the performance of a contract with you, or compliance with legal obligations. Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to our processing of your personal information, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. To exercise these rights, email info@whatnowmediagroup.com.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at info@whatnowmediagroup.com.

14. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites and embedded content such as maps, videos and social media posts. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties, and embedded content may set its own cookies. We recommend that you read the privacy policies of any third-party websites and services you visit.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, if the changes are material, provide additional notice, such as a notice on the Site or an email to newsletter subscribers. Please review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

Whatnow Media Group Inc.
Attn: Privacy Officer
931 Monroe Dr. NE, STE A102 #635, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
Email: info@whatnowmediagroup.com

For news tips, press releases and other editorial matters, email contact@whatnow.com or see our Contact page.