1. Who We Are
This Privacy Policy applies to The Hillbilly Media, operated by TVOTT Hillbilly News LLC, including our websites, public pages, admin-powered tools, scanner systems, live maps, OBS/livestream overlays, contact forms, tip submissions, comments, ads, alerts, and related digital services.
In this policy, “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to The Hillbilly Media. “You” means visitors, readers, commenters, tip submitters, advertisers, community members, sources, and users of our platform.
2. Information We Collect
A. Information You Provide
We may collect information you choose to submit, including:
- Name, email address, phone number, or contact information
- Account or login information if user accounts are enabled
- Comments, messages, reports, correction requests, or right-to-reply requests
- Story tips, scanner tips, public safety information, and community submissions
- Photos, videos, screenshots, documents, recordings, or other uploaded files
- Advertising, sponsorship, classified, or business inquiry information
- Payment-related details handled through third-party payment providers
B. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit or use our platform, we may automatically collect:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages viewed
- Links clicked
- Time spent on pages
- Approximate location based on IP address
- Referral source
- Security logs and error logs
3. Scanner Alerts, Live Maps, and Public Safety Tools
The Hillbilly Media may operate scanner alert tools, live incident maps, OBS overlays, public awareness feeds, and automated newsroom systems.
These tools may process or display information such as:
- Incident type
- General location such as city, town, or area
- Latitude and longitude used for map pins
- Time and date of scanner traffic
- Agency category such as police, fire, EMS, or unknown
- Preliminary public safety descriptions
- Status such as active, closed, archived, or resolved
4. AI and Automation
We may use AI and automation tools to help organize information, format scanner alerts, assist with live map updates, generate draft captions, improve readability, moderate spam or abuse, support OBS/livestream tools, and speed up newsroom workflow.
AI is not treated as a source of truth. Human judgment remains responsible for publishing decisions, corrections, and editorial standards.
For more details, please review our AI Use Policy.
5. Cookies, Pixels, and Tracking
We may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, advertising tools, and similar technologies to help the site function, measure traffic, improve performance, detect abuse, and support sponsors or ads.
These tools may help us understand:
- What articles people read
- How users interact with the site
- Which ads or sponsor placements are viewed or clicked
- How livestream, map, or scanner tools are being used
- Whether bots, spam, or suspicious activity are hitting the platform
You may control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.
6. How We Use Information
We may use information to:
- Operate, maintain, and improve the platform
- Review tips, submissions, correction requests, and right-to-reply requests
- Publish reporting, scanner alerts, public safety updates, or community information
- Run live maps, OBS overlays, alert feeds, and newsroom automation
- Send email or SMS alerts when enabled
- Respond to messages, questions, or reports
- Moderate comments and community activity
- Detect scams, spam, threats, harassment, abuse, or security issues
- Track advertising, sponsor, and classified performance
- Comply with legal obligations or protect safety
7. SMS, Email, and Telnyx Alerts
If enabled, The Hillbilly Media may use communication services such as Telnyx, email providers, or webhook tools to send alerts, newsroom notices, account notices, scanner-related notifications, or platform updates.
If you provide a phone number or email address, it may be used for the purpose you submitted it for, such as tip follow-up, account notices, alerts, advertising communication, or newsroom contact.
Standard message and data rates may apply for SMS messages. You may request removal from non-essential communications by contacting us.
8. User Content and Public Visibility
Comments, public posts, classifieds, community submissions, or other public-facing content may be visible to other users.
Do not post private information you do not want made public.
By submitting comments, messages, photos, videos, screenshots, documents, reports, tips, or other materials, you grant The Hillbilly Media a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, display, distribute, archive, and reference that content in connection with our reporting, commentary, platform operations, livestreams, social media, and related media channels.
Users are responsible for what they submit. We may review, edit, withhold, remove, blur, crop, decline, or restrict submitted content when needed for accuracy, safety, legal risk, privacy, or editorial standards.
9. Sharing Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share information when necessary with:
- Hosting, database, security, and infrastructure providers
- Email, SMS, Telnyx, webhook, or notification providers
- Analytics and advertising measurement providers
- Payment processors for ads, donations, sponsorships, or services
- Moderation, spam prevention, or security tools
- Legal, safety, or compliance contacts when required
We may also disclose information if required by law, subpoena, court order, lawful government request, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of our platform, sources, staff, users, or the public.
10. Public Safety, Legal Compliance, and Threats
We may preserve, review, or disclose information related to threats, harassment, violence, fraud, scams, hacking attempts, doxxing, unlawful activity, or emergencies.
We may keep records related to moderation, public safety concerns, source communications, legal notices, correction requests, and editorial decisions.
11. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party services to operate, secure, measure, advertise, livestream, map, and improve the platform.
Examples may include:
- Google Analytics or other analytics tools
- Meta, Google, or other ad measurement tools
- Telnyx or SMS communication services
- Email delivery providers
- Hosting and database providers
- Security and spam prevention services
- Map providers
- Video, livestream, OBS, YouTube, Rumble, or social media embeds
- Payment processors such as Stripe, PayPal, Square, Cash App, or similar tools
These third parties may collect information under their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review those policies directly.
12. Advertising, Sponsors, and Classifieds
The Hillbilly Media may display advertisements, sponsor messages, classified listings, OBS scroller ads, live placement ads, article ads, and promotional content.
Ad systems may track impressions, clicks, dates, placement type, and performance metrics so we can prove value to sponsors and improve the platform.
Sponsored content or paid placements may be labeled where appropriate.
13. Data Retention
We retain information as long as needed for site operations, editorial purposes, legal compliance, public safety, moderation, fraud prevention, security, advertising records, and platform integrity.
Some information may be retained longer when needed to document editorial decisions, respond to legal requests, prevent abuse, preserve reporting records, or protect sources and the public.
14. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to help protect information.
No website, database, email system, SMS system, or online platform can guarantee 100% security.
15. Children
Our platform is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us so we can review and remove it where appropriate.
16. Your Choices
You may:
- Request access, correction, or deletion of your personal information where applicable
- Opt out of marketing emails using unsubscribe links when available
- Ask to stop non-essential SMS or email communications
- Disable cookies through your browser settings
- Contact us about privacy, correction, or data-related questions
17. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including access, correction, deletion, or opting out of certain uses.
To make a privacy-related request, contact: [email protected]
18. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” signals. Because there is no consistent industry standard, our platform may not respond to those signals.
19. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When changes are made, the “Last Updated” date may be revised.
20. Contact
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, email: [email protected]
You may also use our contact form.