Privacy Policy

Homestead Collective ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at automationstall.info and interact with our community platform for sharing settlement building strategies, seasonal adaptation stories, and multiplayer coordination knowledge.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our site. By accessing and using Homestead Collective, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways to provide and improve our community platform:

Information You Provide Directly

• Account Registration: When you create a community account, we collect your username, email address, and any profile information you choose to share (such as your experience level, preferred settlement building strategies, or region).
• Community Contributions: When you share base-building strategies, seasonal adaptation stories, gameplay evidence, player photos, or multiplayer coordination experiences, we collect and store that content along with metadata such as submission date and community engagement metrics.
• Contact Forms and Inquiries: If you contact us with questions, feedback, or partnership inquiries, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
• Community Builder Showcases: If you participate in our featured builder program, we may collect additional details about your building projects, design decisions, and before-after documentation.

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your interactions with our site, including pages visited, time spent, links clicked, search queries, and the types of content you engage with (such as which settlement building guides or player stories you view).
• Device Information: We collect information about the device you use to access our platform, including device type, operating system, browser type, and unique device identifiers.
• IP Address and Location: We collect your IP address and may infer general geographic location (such as city or region level) to understand our community distribution and improve localized content.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to recognize you, remember your preferences, understand how you use our platform, and deliver personalized content recommendations related to settlement building strategies and community knowledge.

2. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on Homestead Collective. These may include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality, such as maintaining your login session and remembering your account preferences.
• Analytics Cookies: We may use analytics tools to track how players interact with our platform, which guides are most helpful, and how our community knowledge content performs. This helps us improve the quality and relevance of settlement building resources.
• Preference Cookies: These remember your choices, such as your preferred content categories (e.g., seasonal adaptation stories, multiplayer coordination challenges) or display settings.

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your browser settings. You can choose to refuse cookies or be alerted when a cookie is being sent. However, blocking cookies may affect your ability to access certain features of our platform.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To create and maintain your community account and provide access to our settlement building knowledge platform.
• To display, manage, and promote your contributed content (strategies, stories, photos, builder showcases) within the community.
• To facilitate peer-to-peer learning by connecting players with relevant base-building strategies and seasonal adaptation experiences.
• To respond to your inquiries, provide customer support, and address technical issues.
• To understand how our community uses the platform and which types of settlement building knowledge are most valuable to players.
• To improve our site, content, and services based on user behavior and feedback.
• To send you occasional updates about new community features, featured builder showcases, or important platform announcements (you may opt out of non-essential communications).
• To prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access to our platform.
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

4. Sharing of Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share information in the following circumstances:

• Community Content: Any content you voluntarily share on our platform (strategies, photos, builder showcases, stories) is intended to be visible to other community members. This is the core function of our peer-driven knowledge platform.
• Service Providers: We may share necessary information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting analytics, hosting content, or providing customer support. These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
• Business Transfers: If Homestead Collective is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Specifically:

• Account information is retained as long as your account is active.
• Community content (strategies, stories, photos, showcases) is retained as long as it remains part of the community knowledge base, unless you request deletion.
• Usage and analytics data is typically retained for up to 24 months to help us understand trends and improve our platform.
• If you delete your account, we will remove your personal information within 30 days, though content you have shared may remain visible to the community unless you specifically request its removal.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

European Union and Hungary (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Union or Hungary, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right of Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal obligations or legitimate business interests).
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your information in certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your information in a portable, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: You can object to our processing of your information for certain purposes, such as marketing communications.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If we process your information based on your consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption for data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal information to those with a legitimate business need.
• Regular security assessments and updates to our systems.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

8. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to external websites, resources, or social media platforms. This Privacy Policy applies only to Homestead Collective. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites before providing your information.

9. Children's Privacy

Homestead Collective is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our site and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of Homestead Collective after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your request within 30 days or as required by applicable law. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.