Yew Tree Media Limited (“we”, “us”, or “the Company”) is a digital media production company based in Ireland. We are committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of our contributors, subscribers, and digital audience in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
In processing your personal data, Yew Tree Media acts as a Data Controller.
1. HOW WE COLLECT YOUR DATA
We collect personal data primarily through your direct interactions with us:
- Participation: When you take part in our podcasts or other productions.
- Subscriptions: When you join as a “Club Member” of our Patreon podcast and written content service.
- Direct Contact: When you correspond with us via email, post, or social media.
- Digital Interaction: Information collected via our website (e.g., cookies and IP addresses).
2. TYPES OF DATA WE PROCESS
- Identification & Contact: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address.
- Production Material: Audio recordings, video footage, and photographs in which you appear.
- Transaction Data: Records of subscriptions or merchandise purchases (typically managed by our processors).
- Sensitive Data: Information regarding racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, or health data, but only where explicit consent is provided or where permitted under Section 43 of the Data Protection Act 2018 for journalistic purposes.
- Automated Decision-Making: Yew Tree Media does not use automated decision-making or profiling processes that produce legal effects or similarly significantly affect our subscribers or contributors.
3. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING
Under Irish and EU law, we rely on the following legal grounds:
- Journalistic Exemption: Under Section 43 of the Data Protection Act 2018, certain data processing for journalistic purposes is exempt from standard GDPR rules to protect freedom of expression and information.
- Contractual Necessity: To provide the services and content you pay for via Patreon or other platforms.
- Legitimate Interests: We process data to produce, broadcast, and market media content. We have conducted a Legitimate Interests Assessment (LIA) to ensure these interests are balanced against your individual privacy rights, particularly regarding our community management and promotional activities.
- Consent: Specifically for electronic direct marketing (newsletters) and non-essential cookies.
- Legal Obligation: To comply with Irish statutory requirements, such as Revenue tax records or broadcasting regulations.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS & PATREON
Yew Tree Media does not host its own subscription database or process payments directly. All paid-for services are managed via Patreon.
- Data Controller: Patreon is the primary controller of your account information, payment details, and tier selection.
- Our Access: We receive limited “Patron Data” from Patreon (username, email, and pledge level) solely to deliver your benefits, such as access to the RSS feed.
- Privacy Promise: In line with Patreon’s “Creator Privacy Promise,” we will not use your data for any purpose outside of fulfilling your subscription or as required by law.
5. DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES
We do not sell your data. We share it only with:
- Patreon & Discord: Platforms used for memberships, community engagement, and content delivery.
- Acast: If you use the Acast integration to listen to our subscriber-only podcasts.
- Revenue Commissioners: Where necessary to comply with Irish tax law.
6. DATA RETENTION
- Journalistic/Archive Material: Production footage and credit information may be kept indefinitely for archival purposes in the public interest or for future broadcast.
- Administrative Data: Subscription and contact data are kept for as long as necessary to manage your account or satisfy Irish Revenue requirements (typically 6 years for financial records).
7. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS
Some of our service providers (including Patreon and Discord) are headquartered outside the European Economic Area (EEA), primarily in the United States. Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we ensure a similar degree of protection is afforded to it by ensuring at least one of the following safeguards is implemented:
- Transferring data to countries deemed to provide an adequate level of protection by the European Commission.
- Using specific Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission which give personal data the same protection it has in Europe.
8. DATA BREACHES
In the event of a personal data breach that is likely to result in a high risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the Data Protection Commission (DPC) without undue delay and, where feasible, within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.
9. YOUR RIGHTS
As a data subject in Ireland, you have the following rights under the GDPR:
- Access & Rectification: The right to access your data and correct inaccuracies.
- Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): The right to have your data deleted, subject to journalistic and legal retention requirements.
- Restriction of Processing: The right to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
- Data Portability: The right to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Objection & Withdrawal of Consent: The right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or withdraw consent for marketing.
- Lodge a Complaint: The right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
8. USER GENERATED CONTENT & COMMENTS
Our platforms (including Patreon and Discord as well as MFT) allow you to post comments or content using either your real name or an anonymised handle.
- Your Responsibility: If you choose to include personal information (e.g., email or phone number) within a public comment, you do so at your own risk. This information becomes public; Yew Tree Media is not responsible for how other users may use that information.
- Moderation: We reserve the right to remove comments that breach our community guidelines or contain third-party personal data, but we are not obligated to “scrub” data you have voluntarily made public.
9. CONTACT & COMPLAINTS
Contact: Please address all data queries by email to privacy@mft.ie.
Address: Yew Tree Media Limited, New Street, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, F31 YH77
DPO Status: Given the nature and scale of our processing, Yew Tree Media has determined that the appointment of a formal Data Protection Officer (DPO) is not legally required. However, our data privacy lead can be reached at the email above for any concerns.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) at www.dataprotection.ie.
This policy was last updated in March 2026. We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in Irish law or our internal practices.