Privacy Policy – The Business Side

Effective Date: 25 October 2026

Welcome to The Business Side (TBS), accessible at https://thebusinessside.africa.

At The Business Side, we respect your privacy and are committed to handling personal information responsibly, transparently and securely.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect and share information when you visit our website, interact with our content, contact us, subscribe to our communications or use services associated with The Business Side, including our internal news automation system, TBS Story Radar.

By using our website or voluntarily providing your personal information, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy. Where consent is required by law, we will request it separately.

1. Who We Are

The Business Side is an independent business and financial news platform focused on business developments, financial markets, entrepreneurship, technology, economic policy and corporate activity, with particular attention to Nigeria and the wider African economy.

Our mission is to make business news and economic developments understandable, accessible and relevant to our audience.

Website: https://thebusinessside.africa
Contact Email: thebizside.com@gmail.com
Location: Nigeria

For questions concerning this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us using the email address above.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information in the following categories:

Information you provide voluntarily

This may include:

Your name and email address when you contact us.
Information you submit through contact forms or correspondence.
Your email address and communication preferences if you subscribe to a newsletter or email notification service.
Comments, feedback or other information you choose to share with us.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected by our hosting provider, website software or enabled analytics and security services. This may include:

IP address.
Browser type and device information.
Operating system.
Pages visited and referring websites.
Dates and times of visits.
Technical information required for website security and performance.

We do not intentionally request sensitive personal information from visitors unless there is a legitimate and clearly communicated reason.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process personal information for purposes connected with operating and improving The Business Side.

These purposes may include:

Delivering news, articles and other website content.
Responding to inquiries, feedback and requests.
Sending newsletters or updates where you have subscribed or otherwise requested them.
Maintaining the functionality, security and performance of our website.
Understanding website usage and improving the reader experience.
Detecting spam, abuse and unauthorized activity.
Managing editorial operations and internal communications.
Complying with applicable legal obligations.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with those described in this policy without providing appropriate notice and obtaining consent where required.

4. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential functionality, remember visitor preferences, maintain security and understand how visitors interact with our content.

Where analytics or advertising technologies are enabled, these may collect additional information about visits and interactions.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect some website features.

Where applicable law requires consent for non-essential cookies, we will provide an appropriate mechanism for obtaining and managing that consent.

5. Email Communications and Newsletters

If you subscribe to our email communications, we may use your email address to send news updates, newsletters, publication announcements or other communications related to The Business Side.

You may withdraw your consent to promotional email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism provided, where available, or by contacting us directly.

We do not sell subscriber email addresses or personal contact information to third-party marketers.

6. TBS Story Radar and Google API Integration

TBS Story Radar is an internal news discovery and editorial automation system operated by The Business Side.

It is designed to support our editorial workflow by identifying relevant business news, organizing information, assisting with content preparation and delivering automated editorial updates through approved communication channels.

6.1 Google Account Authorization

TBS Story Radar uses Google’s OAuth 2.0 authorization system to connect an authorized Google account to selected Google services, including the Gmail API.

Authorization is granted by the Google account holder through Google’s consent process.

The system does not require users to provide their Google account passwords directly to The Business Side.

6.2 Google Data Access

For its automated email delivery function, TBS Story Radar is intended to use Gmail API permissions to send editorial notifications, news summaries and workflow-related messages from an authorized account.

Depending on the OAuth permissions configured, information available to the application may include:

The email address or basic account identification associated with the authorized Google account.
Information necessary to authenticate and maintain an authorized Gmail connection.
Email recipient addresses, subject lines and message contents prepared for delivery.
Message metadata or identifiers returned by Google when emails are sent.

The scope of actual access is determined by the permissions granted through Google OAuth and the Gmail API operations configured within the automation.

TBS Story Radar is not intended to read, analyze or delete personal inbox messages as part of its news delivery function.

If its functionality or requested permissions change, this policy will be updated to disclose any additional use of Google account data.

6.3 How Google Data Is Used

Information obtained through Google APIs is used only for the functionality for which access has been authorized.

This includes authenticating the connected account, sending automated editorial communications, recording relevant workflow results and diagnosing delivery failures.

Google user data is not used by The Business Side to develop, improve or train generalized artificial intelligence or machine learning models.

We do not sell Google user data, use it for unrelated advertising purposes or disclose it to third parties for their independent marketing activities.

6.4 Data Storage and Security

TBS Story Radar uses workflow automation software, including n8n, to manage authorized integrations and automate selected editorial processes.

OAuth credentials and related authentication information are handled through the credential management capabilities of the configured automation environment.

Workflow records, message content and execution information may be stored within that environment according to its configuration.

Access to the automation and its credentials is restricted to authorized administrators.

We take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access, misuse or disclosure of authentication information and other personal data.

6.5 Google API Limited Use Compliance

The Business Side’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Google user data obtained through restricted or sensitive API permissions will be used only to provide or improve the authorized, user-facing functionality, where applicable.

Such information will not be transferred to third parties except where necessary to provide the authorized service, comply with applicable law, protect against security threats, or where the user has expressly consented, and only as permitted by Google’s policies.

Human access to Google user data will be limited to circumstances permitted by Google’s Limited Use requirements, including where necessary for security, troubleshooting, legal compliance or with the user’s affirmative consent.

6.6 Revoking Google Access

An authorized Google account holder may revoke TBS Story Radar’s access through Google’s account security settings.

To manage or remove access, visit:

https://myaccount.google.com/connections

Revoking access prevents further API operations requiring that authorization. Information already retained in relevant system logs or records will be handled according to the retention and deletion provisions of this policy.

7. Third-Party Services

The Business Side may rely on external service providers to operate the website and its supporting systems.

These may include:

Website hosting and infrastructure providers.
WordPress and approved website plugins.
Google services, including Gmail and Google OAuth.
Workflow automation services, including n8n.
Email delivery and communication services.
Website security, analytics and performance services.

These providers may process limited information when necessary to deliver their services.

We aim to work with providers that maintain appropriate data protection and security standards.

Each external provider may also have its own privacy policy governing information it collects independently.

8. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Information

Where applicable, we process personal information under recognized legal grounds, including:

Consent: Where an individual voluntarily subscribes to communications or authorizes a particular use of personal information.

Legitimate interests: Where processing is reasonably necessary for operating, securing, administering and improving our publication, provided these interests do not override the individual’s rights.

Contractual necessity: Where information is necessary to provide a service requested by an individual.

Legal obligations: Where processing is necessary to comply with applicable laws or regulatory requirements.

We seek to ensure that personal information is processed in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and other applicable data protection requirements.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including operational, security, administrative and legal requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the category of information and the purpose for which it is processed.

For example, correspondence may be retained while an inquiry remains relevant, while technical and security logs may be retained for appropriate operational periods.

Information that is no longer required will be deleted, anonymized or otherwise securely disposed of, subject to applicable legal obligations.

10. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell personal information.

We may disclose information to trusted service providers where reasonably necessary for website hosting, communications, analytics, security or other authorized operational purposes.

We may also disclose information where required by applicable law, valid legal process or legitimate regulatory requests.

Where personal information is shared with a service provider acting on our behalf, we seek to limit disclosure to the information necessary for the relevant purpose.

11. International Data Transfers

Some technology services used by The Business Side may operate infrastructure outside Nigeria.

As a result, personal information may be processed or stored in other jurisdictions.

Where international transfers occur, we seek to apply appropriate safeguards and comply with relevant data protection requirements.

12. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, misuse or disclosure.

These measures may include access controls, secure authentication, software maintenance, credential protection and administrative restrictions.

However, no internet-based service or digital storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

13. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and relevant exceptions, individuals may have the right to:

Request access to personal information held about them.
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
Request deletion of information where legally appropriate.
Withdraw consent where processing depends on consent.
Object to certain processing activities.
Request restriction of processing in appropriate circumstances.
Request transfer of personal information where applicable.
Raise a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission or another competent authority.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address provided in this policy.

We may need to verify your identity before responding to requests involving personal information.

14. Children’s Privacy

The Business Side publishes general business, financial and economic information and is not specifically directed toward children.

We do not knowingly solicit personal information from children in circumstances requiring parental or guardian authorization without obtaining appropriate consent.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us so we can review the matter.

15. Links to External Websites

Our articles and other content may contain links to third-party websites, publications and services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of websites operated independently of The Business Side.

We encourage readers to review the privacy policies of external services before providing personal information.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, legal requirements or data processing practices.

Any revised version will be published on this page with an updated effective date.

Where a material change requires additional notice or consent under applicable law, we will take appropriate steps before implementing the relevant processing.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns or requests relating to this Privacy Policy, the processing of your personal information or the use of Google APIs by TBS Story Radar, please contact:

The Business Side (TBS)

Website: https://thebusinessside.africa

Email: thebizside.com@gmail.com

Location: Nigeria

We will review privacy-related inquiries and respond within applicable legal timeframes.