Meghan and Prince Harry have been branded part of the “out of touch celebrity elite” who care about protecting their privacy but are willing to share other people’s information when it comes to their work. Eric Schiffer, Chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, lashed out at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the wake of the publication of Archewell’s privacy policy.
He told Express.co.uk: “Their privacy policy is right out of the book of out-of-touch celebrity elite who want privacy but then are willing to share people’s details in their possession to third parties.
“It shows they want to have their cake and eat it too.”
Mr Schiffer conceded Meghan and Harry’s brand is not the first one to warn its subscribers it could share data they submit with other organisations.
However, he added, Archewell’s notice clashes with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s fight to protect their own privacy.
He said: “It counters how they are trying to present themselves as these stewards of privacy.”
A representative for Archewell has been contacted for comment.
The Archewell website represents the three branches the Sussexes are now focusing their work – charity, TV and audio production.
After the website went live in October only presenting its name, a brief description of its meaning and the possibility to sign up for a newsletter, Archewell’s online platform was updated in late December.
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Now it presents a more in-depth description of what the Archewell Foundation stands for and its ongoing partnerships as well as details of Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions.
In the privacy notice shared on the website, the Sussexes say every user is welcomed to subscribe to the Archewell community and share their story.
They added: “Please know that any information you choose to share will not be sold for marketing, and will be protected by the Archewell privacy policy.
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“Safeguarding your digital information is of the utmost importance to us.”
In the section regarding information sharing, however, people are warned information that have been voluntarily given to Archewell through its website may be shared with other parties.
The notice reads: “We may share the information we collect with other parties, including the following: with third-party service providers who process data on our behalf, such as email service providers; with other charitable, nonprofit, and for-profit ventures associated with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex that exist now or may be established in the future; as part of a prospective or completed sale, merger, or acquisition, or other transfer of all or part of our assets, including in the event of a bankruptcy proceeding; pursuant to a subpoena, court order, governmental inquiry, or other legal process or as otherwise required or permitted by law (which may include lawful access by foreign courts, law enforcement or other government authorities in the jurisdictions in which we or our authorised third-party service providers operate), or to protect our rights or the rights of third parties; or with your consent or as otherwise disclosed at the time of data collection or sharing.
“We may share information that has been de-identified or aggregated without limitation.”
Archewell makes it clear to its subscribers there is the possibility to opt out of email marketing received after the subscription to the website.
The privacy policy’s section called ‘your choices’ reads: “To opt out of our email marketing, please use the link provided at the bottom of each marketing message.
“Even if you opt out, we may continue to send you emails related to our relationship or transactions with you.”
Meghan and Prince Harry have been fiercely defensive of their privacy and the one of their 19-month-old child Archie.
Meghan is involved in a privacy lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday over the publication of extracts of a letter she penned and sent to her estranged father in August 2018.
The Duchess has also recently settled a claim against a picture agency over claims her privacy had been breached when she was photographed on a walk with Archie and her dogs in Canada in January last year.
The couple have also been careful with the information they released on their son, letting the public know he was born only hours after they had already returned from the hospital or refusing to disclose the names of Archie’s godparents.
