The Origins of Special Operations Warfare

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to The Origins of Special Operation Warfare (TOSOW) Gaming Community. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy explains how TOSOW collects, uses, stores, protects, and shares information when you join, participate in, or interact with our community — including our forums, Discord servers, game servers, websites, voice channels, and any affiliated TOSOW platforms. By registering as a TOSOW member or using any TOSOW platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please refrain from participating in TOSOW platforms.

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SECTION 1 — INFORMATION WE COLLECT
[1.A] Information You Provide Directly:

• Username / Gamertag / Display Name
• Email address (for account registration and notifications)
• Date of birth (to verify age eligibility where required)
• Profile information such as biography, rank, and avatar
• Messages, posts, and content you submit in forums or chat
• Application or membership forms you complete

[1.B] Information Collected Automatically:

• IP address and general geographic location (country/region level only)
• Device type, browser type, and operating system
• Login timestamps and session activity logs
• Game server logs including match history, performance data, and connection records
• Forum activity including posts, threads, reactions, and private messages

[1.C] Information from Third-Party Platforms:

• If you link your Steam, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Battle.net account, we may receive your public profile data from those platforms
• Discord account data if you join our official TOSOW Discord server (governed additionally by Discord's Privacy Policy)
• Social media profile data if you authenticate via a third-party login provider

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SECTION 2 — HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
[2.1] To create and manage your TOSOW membership account and profile.
[2.2] To authenticate your identity and maintain secure access to TOSOW platforms.
[2.3] To enforce our Code of Ethics, community rules, and Terms of Service.
[2.4] To track bans, warnings, or disciplinary records associated with your account.
[2.5] To send important community announcements, event notifications, and policy updates.
[2.6] To organize tournaments, events, leaderboards, and team assignments.
[2.7] To improve community platforms, identify technical issues, and enhance user experience.
[2.8] To generate anonymized, aggregate statistics about community engagement and growth.
[2.9] To respond to reports, grievances, support requests, or appeals submitted by members.
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SECTION 3 — HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION
TOSOW does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share data only in the following limited circumstances:
[3.1] With TOSOW leadership and moderation staff who need access to carry out their official duties.
[3.2] With allied gaming communities or partner clans, strictly limited to username/gamertag for joint events — no personal data is shared.
[3.3] With platform service providers (e.g., web hosting, forum software) under strict data processing agreements.
[3.4] When required by applicable law, court order, or legal process — we will notify you where legally permitted.
[3.5] In response to credible safety threats — if we believe disclosure is necessary to prevent harm to any person.
[3.6] In the event TOSOW merges with or transfers operations to another gaming organization, you will be notified in advance.
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SECTION 4 — DATA SECURITY
[4.1] TOSOW implements reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure.
[4.2] Access to member data is restricted to authorized leadership and moderation personnel on a need-to-know basis.
[4.3] All staff with data access are bound by confidentiality obligations consistent with this Privacy Policy.
[4.4] In the event of a data breach that may affect your personal information, we will notify affected members promptly via our official communication channels.
[4.5] Despite our best efforts, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. Members are encouraged to use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where available.
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SECTION 5 — DATA RETENTION
[5.1] Active member account data is retained for as long as your membership remains active.
[5.2] Voluntarily deleted accounts will have personal data removed within 30 days, except where retention is required for disciplinary, legal, or security purposes.
[5.3] Disciplinary records (bans, warnings, reports) may be retained for up to 5 years to ensure community safety and prevent ban evasion.
[5.4] Server logs and activity records are retained for up to 12 months for security and moderation purposes.
[5.5] Anonymized, aggregated community statistics may be retained indefinitely as they contain no personally identifiable information.
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SECTION 6 — YOUR RIGHTS & CHOICES
As a TOSOW member, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
[6.1 — Access] You may request a copy of the personal information TOSOW holds about you.
[6.2 — Correction] You may request correction of inaccurate or outdated personal information in your profile.
[6.3 — Deletion] You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data, subject to retention exceptions in Section 5.
[6.4 — Portability] You may request an export of your profile data in a readable format.
[6.5 — Objection] You may object to certain uses of your data, such as receiving non-essential communications.
[6.6 — Withdraw Consent] Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without penalty to your standing membership.
To exercise any of these rights, submit a request to TOSOW leadership via the official Privacy Request channel or private message to an authorized officer.
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SECTION 7 — THIRD-PARTY PLATFORMS & LINKS
[7.1] TOSOW community platforms may contain links to external websites, game launchers, or partner servers. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those external services.
[7.2] Platforms such as Discord, Steam, Reddit, and YouTube have their own independent Privacy Policies. Please review them separately.
[7.3] Linking a third-party gaming account to your TOSOW profile is optional. You may unlink it at any time through your profile settings.
[7.4] TOSOW is not responsible for data practices of third-party game studios or publishers whose titles our community plays.
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SECTION 8 — CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
[8.1] TOSOW platforms are intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.
[8.2] If you are under 13, you must not register for a TOSOW account or submit any personal information.
[8.3] If we become aware that a member under the age of 13 has provided personal information, we will delete such data immediately and deactivate the account.
[8.4] Parents or guardians who believe their child has registered on TOSOW platforms should contact leadership immediately for prompt account removal.
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SECTION 9 — INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
[9.1] TOSOW is a globally accessible gaming community. By participating, you acknowledge that your data may be stored and processed in servers located outside of your country of residence.
[9.2] We handle international data transfers with appropriate safeguards and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
[9.3] Members located in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Contact leadership for more information.
[9.4] Members in California, USA may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Contact leadership to exercise these rights.
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SECTION 10 — CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
[10.1] TOSOW reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, platforms, or applicable law.
[10.2] Members will be notified of material changes via an announcement in official TOSOW communication channels at least 7 days before they take effect.
[10.3] Continued use of TOSOW platforms after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
[10.4] Archived versions of previous Privacy Policies will be maintained and made available upon request.
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SECTION 11 — CONTACT & PRIVACY REQUESTS
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out through the following official channels:

• Forum: Post in the support-help-desk (visible only to you and leadership)
• Discord: Submit a ticket in the support-tickets channel
• Direct Message: Contact the TOSOW Privacy Officer or Community Commander directly
• Response Time: All privacy requests will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 14 days

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