Privacy Policy

Effective date: March 15, 2026

This policy explains how Bizlocal.ca (Profitell Directory) collects, uses, shares, and protects data when you use our directory.

1) Controller and scope

Bizlocal.ca operates a business directory primarily focused on Quebec. This policy applies to the public site, search pages, listing report forms, add-listing forms, and DMCA/removal requests.

2) Data we collect

• Technical and security data: IP address, user agent, visited pages, request timestamp, anti-abuse and anti-scraping data.
• Data you provide voluntarily: name, phone, email, website, address, and details submitted in forms (add listing, report listing, DMCA/removal).
• GPS location (optional): used only after explicit action for immediate local searches. It is not used to build an individual marketing profile.
• Cookies and consent signals: essential cookies, language preference, and analytics/ads consent state.

3) Why we process data

• to provide the service (search, maps, listings, FR/EN languages);
• to protect the platform (security, fraud prevention, abuse/rate limiting);
• to handle legal and compliance requests (DMCA, privacy, listing correction/removal);
• to measure audience and improve the service when you consent;
• to display ads through Google AdSense according to your consent choices and applicable rules.

4) Legal bases (EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland and applicable jurisdictions)

• Consent: for non-essential cookies/technologies (e.g., analytics, ad personalization) through Google CMP where required.
• Legitimate interest: security, service integrity, abuse prevention, technical logging, and moderation.
• Legal obligations: handling legal requests and regulatory obligations.

5) Data sharing and processors

• Google: AdSense, Funding Choices (CMP), Google Analytics (if accepted).
• OpenStreetMap: map tile display and visual geolocation.
• Hosting and security: technical infrastructure required to run the site.
• Authorities: only when required by law.

We do not sell your personal data.

6) International transfers

Some providers (e.g., Google) may process data outside your province/country. Such processing is subject to their contractual commitments and applicable compliance mechanisms.

7) Data retention

• Preference/consent cookies are kept for up to 12 months (or until manually cleared).
• Technical logs and anti-abuse data are retained as long as necessary for security, auditing, and legal obligations.
• Form submissions (reports, DMCA, etc.) are retained for operational follow-up, compliance, and auditability.

8) Your rights and choices

• manage your cookie/consent choices on /cookie-settings;
• request access, correction, or deletion of data related to a listing or submission via /dmca-request;
• withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent;
• depending on your jurisdiction, lodge a complaint with your competent data protection authority.

9) Children

The service is not intended for children under 13. If you believe a minor has provided personal data inappropriately, contact us via the DMCA/removal page.

10) Security

We apply reasonable technical and organizational safeguards (HTTPS, application protections, admin access controls, abuse rate limiting). No transmission/storage method is completely fail-safe.

11) Policy updates

We may update this policy to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. The effective date is shown at the top of this page.

12) Privacy contact

For any privacy, personal data, or listing removal/correction request, use the official form: /dmca-request