How we handle your information.

The International Tamil Film & Music Association (ITFMA) operates itfma.org, a global media platform for Tamil film and music. This policy explains what information we collect when you use our website and services, why we collect it, how we use and store it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. By using itfma.org you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information we collect

Newsletter subscriptions. When you subscribe, we store your name, email address, and, if you choose to provide it, your phone number. We use this to send our monthly newsletter and to notify you of important updates. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email.

Contact and sponsorship messages. When you write to us through the contact form, we receive your name, email address, and the message you send. We use it to respond to you and, where relevant, to follow up on sponsorship and submissions.

Account and directory profiles. If you create an account or join the ITFMA Directory, we store the information you provide, including your name, email address, profession, skills, city and country, and any photos or links you upload. You choose what is publicly visible, what is visible only to other members, and what stays private. You can edit, hide, or remove your profile at any time.

Google account connection. Studio team members can optionally connect their Google Calendar so that recording sessions appear on their own calendar. This happens only with your explicit consent through a Google sign-in screen. With that consent, we receive permission to create, update, and delete events on your calendar, and we store a secure access credential on our servers, never in your browser. You can disconnect it at any time from the Studio, which deletes the stored credential and stops all further access.

Technical information. Like most websites, our hosting providers may automatically record standard technical details such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited, for security and operational purposes.

2. How we use information

We use the information above only to operate and improve our services: delivering the newsletter you asked for, responding to your messages, publishing and administering directory profiles you create, and syncing Studio recording sessions to the calendars of team members who connected Google Calendar. We do not use your information for advertising profiles, and we do not use Google user data for any purpose other than providing the calendar sync feature you turned on.

3. Google user data

The ITFMA web application at itfma.org, operated by the International Tamil Film & Music Association, offers an optional Google Calendar connection to members of the ITFMA Podcast Studio team. This section explains exactly how the ITFMA application accesses, uses, stores, shares, retains, and deletes Google user data.

Data accessed. When a team member chooses to connect, we request permission to manage events on their Google Calendar (the Google Calendar events scope) and to see the email address and basic profile (name and picture) of the connected Google account. We do not request access to Gmail, Google Drive, contacts, or any other Google service.

How we use it. We use this access only to create, update, and delete calendar events for recording sessions and meetings that the team member schedules or is assigned to in the ITFMA Podcast Studio. The connected email address is shown to the team member so they know which calendar is linked. We do not read, list, or analyze other events on your calendar.

How we store it. We store the access credential Google issues to us in encrypted form on our servers, along with the identifiers of the events we created, so we can update or remove them later. Credentials are accessible only to our server systems and are never sent to browsers or other users.

How we share it. We do not share, sell, or transfer Google user data to any third party. It is never used for advertising, never used to build user profiles, and never used to train artificial intelligence or machine learning models. No person at ITFMA reads your Google data, except with your explicit permission for support, when required for security purposes, or when required by law.

Retention and deletion. Google user data is kept only while your Google Calendar remains connected. When you click Disconnect in the Studio, we immediately delete the stored credential and stop all access. You can also revoke access at any time from your Google Account at myaccount.google.com/permissions, or email itfmaconnect@gmail.com to request deletion of any related data.

Limited Use. ITFMA's use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

4. What we do not do

We do not sell your information. We do not share it with advertisers. We do not send marketing email beyond the newsletter and service updates you asked for. We do not track you across other websites.

5. Who we share information with

We share information only with the service providers that help us run the site: our hosting and database provider, our email delivery provider, and, for team members who opt in, Google, solely to place events on their own calendar. These providers process information only to provide their service to us. We may also disclose information if required by law. We do not otherwise share your information with third parties.

6. Cookies

We use only the cookies and browser storage needed to keep you signed in and to make the site function. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

7. Data storage and security

Your information is stored on secure servers provided by our hosting partners. Access credentials for connected services such as Google Calendar are stored in encrypted form and are accessible only to our server systems, never to browsers or other users. While no method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, we apply industry-standard measures to protect your information.

8. Data retention

We keep your information only for as long as needed to provide the service you signed up for. Newsletter subscriptions are kept until you unsubscribe. Directory profiles are kept until you hide or delete them. Google Calendar connection credentials are deleted the moment you disconnect.

9. Your rights and choices

You may request a copy of the information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, edit or remove your directory profile at any time, and disconnect your Google Calendar at any time. Write to us and we will act on the request promptly.

10. Children's privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

11. International visitors

We serve a global audience. By using itfma.org, you understand that your information may be processed in the countries where our hosting providers operate, which may have different data protection laws than your own.

12. Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we will post the updated version on this page with a new effective date. Significant changes will be highlighted on the site or sent by email where appropriate.

13. Contact

Questions about this policy can be sent to itfmaconnect@gmail.com or through our contact page.

Last updated: October 15, 2026.