TOP STORIES Privacy Policy Effective date: 20 July 2026
About TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES is a technology news, analysis and commentary publication managed and independently edited by Barry Neethling. First Technology Group currently sponsors TOP STORIES and may provide administrative, technical and distribution support.
This policy explains how subscriber information is used to manage and distribute TOP STORIES.
Why you receive TOP STORIES
As a user of Microsoft and related business technologies, you may receive TOP STORIES to stay informed about important topics including:
- Microsoft licensing and price changes
- Product end-of-life and support dates
- Technical and product updates
- Cybersecurity notices
- Hardware, cloud and artificial intelligence developments
- Other relevant technology news and analysis
You may receive TOP STORIES because you subscribed, requested the publication, or have an existing professional or business relationship through which you have been receiving it. Every edition includes an unsubscribe link. You may stop receiving TOP STORIES at any time.
Information used
TOP STORIES may hold:
- Your name and email address
- Your organisation or job title, where provided
- Your subscription status and preferences
- Information about when or how you subscribed, where available
- Email delivery, opening and link-click information
- Enquiries, feedback or requests submitted by you
TOP STORIES does not intentionally collect sensitive personal information through its normal subscription process.
How information is used
Subscriber information may be used to:
- Send TOP STORIES and related editorial updates
- Provide access to archives, resources and subscriber services
- Send relevant invitations, briefings, surveys or publication updates
- Include relevant sponsored or commercial information within TOP STORIES
- Manage subscriptions, preferences and unsubscribe requests
- Measure readership and improve the publication
- Respond to enquiries, complaints and correction requests
- Arrange contact with an account manager or specialist where you request it
- Protect the publication and comply with legal obligations
Information will not be used for a materially unrelated purpose without an appropriate lawful basis.
Sponsorship and access to Information TOP STORIES is sponsored by First Technology Group (FTG), which may provide administrative, technical and distribution support. Subscriber information may be accessible to authorised personnel and service providers where reasonably necessary to operate, secure and distribute TOP STORIES. Sponsorship does not permit a sponsor, vendor or commercial partner to use the TOP STORIES subscriber list for its own unrelated marketing. Where you separately request contact from First Technology Group, submit information through an FTG form, or enter into a business relationship with FTG, First Technology Group’s own privacy notices will apply.
Constant Contact and service providers TOP STORIES uses Constant Contact to manage subscriptions and distribute emails. Constant Contact may process information relating to delivery, email openings, link clicks, devices and campaign engagement. Its own Data Notice appears in the footer of every TOP STORIES email. Microsoft and other service providers may also process information where reasonably necessary to operate and distribute the publication. Information may be processed outside South Africa or the European Economic Area, subject to applicable safeguards.
Retention and security Subscriber information is retained while you remain subscribed and for as long as reasonably required for administration, recordkeeping, security and legal compliance. Unsubscribe information may be retained on a suppression list to prevent accidental resubscription. Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect subscriber information. No electronic system can guarantee absolute security.
Your rights
You may:
- Unsubscribe from TOP STORIES
- Update your subscription preferences
- Ask what personal information is held about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Object to certain uses
- Request deletion where legally permitted
- Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent
Privacy notices should clearly explain the purpose of processing, the information used, recipients, retention and individual rights, while remaining concise and understandable.
Privacy enquiries Privacy questions or requests should be sent to: Barry Neethling editorial@barry.co.za
Sufficient information may be requested to confirm your identity and locate the relevant subscription record. You may also submit a complaint to the applicable data protection authority.
Changes to this policy This policy may be updated as TOP STORIES, its reader services, technology providers, sponsorship arrangements or legal obligations change. The effective date above will identify the latest material revision. |
