A Note from Mister Olsen:

Trust is the foundation of any good relationship, including the one between a writer and a reader. This document explains, in plain English, how your personal information is collected, used, and protected when you subscribe to The Silicon. My approach to privacy is the same as my approach to creativity: intentional, respectful, and with a focus on quality.

1. Who We Are

The Silicon is a publication written by Mister Olsen. For the purposes of data protection law, I am the “data controller” of the personal information you provide. This publication is hosted on the Substack platform, which acts as our “data processor.”

2. The Information We Collect

We only collect information that is essential to provide you with this newsletter and its services.

• Information you provide directly:

  • Your email address: This is required when you subscribe to receive the newsletter.

  • Your name and payment information: If you choose to become a paid subscriber, this is collected and processed securely by Substack’s payment partner, Stripe. We do not see or store your full credit card information.

• Information collected automatically:

  • Usage data: Like most digital publications, we collect information on how you interact with the newsletter, such as which emails you open and which links you click. This helps us understand what content is most valuable to you. This data is provided to us in an aggregated form by Substack.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes, based on a clear legal basis:

• To send you the newsletter: This is the primary reason we collect your email address. (Legal basis: your consent).

• To process your paid subscription: To manage your account and provide you with the premium content you have paid for. (Legal basis: performance of a contract).

• To improve the publication: By analysing usage data, we can better understand what topics and formats resonate with our readers. (Legal basis: legitimate interest).

• To communicate with you: To respond to your comments or inquiries.

We will never sell your personal information to third parties.

4. Your Rights Under GDPR

As you are protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to:

• Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Rectification: You can request that we correct any inaccurate information.

• Erasure: You have the “right to be forgotten” and can request that we delete your personal data.

• Withdraw Consent: You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of every email. This withdraws your consent for us to contact you.

• Object to Processing: You can object to our processing of your data for reasons of legitimate interest.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

To operate The Silicon, we rely on a few trusted third-party services:

• Substack: Our publishing platform, which handles email delivery and analytics. You can read Substack’s Privacy Policy here.

• Stripe: Our payment processor for paid subscriptions. You can read Stripe’s Privacy Policy here.

Your data may be processed in countries outside of the European Union (e.g., the United States). These transfers are protected by legal frameworks such as Standard Contractual Clauses, ensuring your data is handled with the same level of care as it is within the EU.

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as you remain a subscriber or as needed to provide you with our services. If you unsubscribe, your information will be deleted in accordance with Substack’s standard procedures.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify you via the newsletter. The most current version will always be available on this page.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please do not hesitate to contact me.