Privacy Policy — The Moat

Effective date: August 10, 2026
Last updated: August 10, 2026

The Moat (“The Moat,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit TheMoat.com or use our newsletters, memberships, accounts, events, directories, job listings, and other products or services that link to this Policy (collectively, the “Services”).

Please read this Policy carefully. By using the Services, you acknowledge the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide

We may collect information you provide directly, including:

Contact information, such as your name, email address, telephone number, company, job title, and mailing address.
Account information, such as your username, password or authentication credentials, profile details, preferences, and subscription status.
Payment and transaction information, such as billing details, purchase history, and subscription information. Payments may be processed by third-party payment processors. We generally do not receive or store complete payment-card numbers.
Communications, including messages sent through contact forms, emails, support requests, survey responses, and other correspondence.
Newsletter and marketing preferences, including the newsletters you request and whether you open or interact with our emails.
Content and submissions, such as comments, articles, pitches, event submissions, business or directory listings, job listings, photographs, biographies, and other materials you submit.
Event information, such as registration details, attendance information, accessibility requests, and event-related communications.
Other information you choose to provide.

Information collected automatically

When you use the Services, we and our service providers may automatically collect:

Device and browser information, including IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and language settings.
Usage information, including pages viewed, links clicked, referring and exit pages, dates and times of visits, search activity, and interactions with articles, advertisements, and emails.
Approximate location inferred from your IP address.
Cookie, pixel, local-storage, software development kit, and similar technology data.
Advertising and measurement information, including information used to measure campaigns, limit repeated ads, understand audiences, and, where permitted, personalize advertising.

Information from other sources

We may receive information from payment processors, authentication providers, event partners, advertisers, sponsors, analytics providers, social networks, public sources, business partners, directory or job-listing customers, and other third parties. We may combine this information with information collected through the Services.

2. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

Provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Services.
Create and manage accounts, memberships, subscriptions, purchases, listings, and event registrations.
Deliver newsletters, editorial content, products, services, and requested communications.
Process payments, renewals, cancellations, refunds, and other transactions.
Respond to inquiries, provide support, and communicate administrative or service-related messages.
Personalize content, recommendations, newsletters, and advertising where permitted.
Measure readership, website performance, newsletter engagement, advertising effectiveness, and audience trends.
Review, edit, publish, moderate, license, or otherwise manage content and submissions in accordance with our Terms of Service.
Market our Services and the products or services of selected partners, subject to applicable law and your choices.
Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of our terms.
Protect our rights, users, systems, and the public.
Comply with law, enforce agreements, resolve disputes, and exercise or defend legal claims.
Carry out another purpose disclosed when information is collected or with your consent.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We and third parties may use cookies, pixels, tags, local storage, and similar technologies to keep the site functioning, remember preferences, understand use of the Services, measure newsletter and advertising performance, and deliver or measure advertising.

These technologies may include:

Essential technologies required for security, authentication, payments, and core site functions.
Preference technologies that remember settings and choices.
Analytics technologies that help us understand traffic and improve the Services.
Advertising technologies that help select, deliver, limit, and measure advertisements and may support interest-based advertising.

You can control some technologies through our cookie settings, if available, and through your browser or device settings. Blocking certain technologies may affect site functionality. Where required by law, we will ask for consent before using nonessential cookies or similar technologies.

4. How We Disclose Information

We may disclose information to:

Service providers that support hosting, security, analytics, email delivery, customer support, authentication, payment processing, advertising operations, event management, and other business functions.
Advertising, analytics, and measurement partners that help us understand audiences, deliver advertisements, and measure performance. Depending on the technology and applicable law, this activity may be considered “selling,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising.
Sponsors and business partners when you request information, register for a jointly presented event, enter a promotion, consent to disclosure, or are otherwise told that information will be shared.
Other users and the public when you post comments, submit public profile information, publish listings, or otherwise choose to make information public.
Professional advisers, including attorneys, accountants, auditors, insurers, and financial advisers.
Authorities or other parties for legal and safety reasons when reasonably necessary to comply with law or legal process, protect rights and safety, investigate misuse, or enforce agreements.
Parties to a business transaction, such as an acquisition, merger, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of assets.
Others at your direction or with your consent.

We may disclose aggregated or deidentified information that cannot reasonably identify you, subject to applicable law.

5. Advertising, Affiliate Links, and Sponsored Content

The Services may include advertisements, affiliate links, sponsored content, and other commercial relationships. Advertising and affiliate partners may use cookies or similar technologies as described above. We may earn compensation when you view, click, purchase through, or otherwise interact with certain links or content.

We aim to identify sponsored or affiliate content clearly. A commercial relationship does not necessarily constitute an endorsement, and third-party products and services are governed by the third party’s own terms and privacy practices.

6. Email and Marketing Choices

You can unsubscribe from promotional or editorial emails by using the unsubscribe link in the message or contacting us. Even if you opt out of marketing, we may still send transactional, account, security, billing, or other service-related communications.

Email messages may contain pixels or tracked links that tell us whether a message was opened or a link was clicked. Where available, you may adjust these practices through your email settings or account preferences.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and subject to legal exceptions, you may have the right to:

Request access to or a copy of personal information we hold about you.
Request correction or deletion of personal information.
Request information about the categories and sources of information collected, the purposes for collection, and the categories of recipients.
Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, targeted advertising, or certain profiling.
Limit certain uses or disclosures of sensitive personal information.
Object to or restrict certain processing.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
Request data portability.
Appeal a decision concerning a privacy request.
Receive equal service and pricing without unlawful discrimination for exercising privacy rights.

To submit a request, contact us using the “Let’s Talk” form on TheMoat.com. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request. Where permitted, an authorized agent may submit a request on your behalf, but we may require proof of authority and identity verification.

To opt out of uses treated as sale, sharing, or targeted advertising under applicable law, contact us using the “Let’s Talk” form on TheMoat.com. Where legally required and technically supported, we will process recognized browser-based opt-out preference signals.

Residents of certain jurisdictions may contact their local data-protection authority or regulator. If an appeal process applies, instructions will be included in our response.

8. Legal Bases for Processing

Where laws require us to identify a legal basis, we process personal information as necessary to perform a contract with you, comply with legal obligations, pursue legitimate interests that are not overridden by your rights, protect vital interests, or with your consent. Legitimate interests may include operating and improving the Services, securing our systems, understanding readership, supporting our business, and communicating with users.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to provide the Services, maintain business and transaction records, comply with law, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and enforce agreements. Retention periods vary based on the nature of the information, our relationship with you, and legal or operational requirements. We may retain aggregated or deidentified information where permitted.

10. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and promptly notifying us of suspected unauthorized access.

11. International Data Transfers

The Moat may operate and use service providers in the United States and other countries. As a result, information may be processed in countries whose laws differ from those where you live. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers.

12. Children’s Privacy

The Services are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us using the “Let’s Talk” form on TheMoat.com so we can take appropriate action. Additional age restrictions may apply to accounts, purchases, submissions, or events.

13. Third-Party Sites and Services

The Services may link to third-party websites, products, advertisements, and services. We do not control and are not responsible for their privacy, security, content, or practices. Review the third party’s policies before providing information.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy periodically. We will post the revised version with a new “Last updated” date and provide additional notice when required by law. Your continued use of the Services after an update is subject to the revised Policy.

15. Contact Us

For questions or privacy requests, contact:

The Moat
Matrix Pin, Inc.
Contact: the “Let’s Talk” form on TheMoat.com
Website: https://themoat.com