This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website [Your Website URL] (“Site”). This policy applies only to information collected through the Site and does not apply to any third-party websites or services linked to from our Site.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner, in compliance with the following regulations:
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – applicable to users in California, USA
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 – applicable to users in the United Kingdom
- Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) – applicable to users in Australia
By using our Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Data We Collect
We collect the following types of data when you interact with our website:
Information You Provide
Comments: When you leave a comment, we collect your name (if provided), email address, IP address, and browser user agent to assist with spam detection.
Contact Forms (if any): Any information you submit voluntarily, such as your name, email, and message content.
Automatically Collected Information
Using tools like Burst Statistics, we collect anonymous usage data such as:
- Anonymized IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on site
- Referrer URL
This data is stored in aggregate and cannot be used to personally identify you.
Cookies and Tracking Data
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to personalize your experience and serve ads (via Google AdSense). See Section 4 for detailed information on cookies.
Use of Collected Data
We use the data we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate and maintain the website
- To improve user experience and website performance
- To monitor and analyze usage with Burst Statistics
- To prevent spam and fraud (e.g., in comment sections)
- To serve contextual and/or personalized ads via Google AdSense
- To comply with legal obligations under applicable laws
- We do not use your information for profiling or automated decision-making.
- We do not sell personal data to third parties.
Legal Bases for Processing (UK GDPR & Australia)
For users in the United Kingdom and Australia, we rely on one or more of the following legal bases for processing your personal data:
a) Consent
You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for a specific purpose, such as accepting cookies or submitting a comment.
b) Legitimate Interests
We process certain information (e.g., anonymized analytics) because it is in our legitimate interest to understand user behavior and improve our services, provided this does not override your rights and freedoms.
c) Legal Obligation
We may process or retain certain information to comply with applicable laws and regulations (e.g., tax laws, data retention rules).
d) Contractual Necessity (where applicable)
If you enter into a contract with us (e.g., for services), we may need to process your data to fulfill that contract.
In Australia, we also comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as required under the Privacy Act 1988.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze site traffic, and serve advertisements.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites remember your preferences and improve user experience. They can be:
- Session cookies – temporary, deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies – remain until deleted manually or expire
- First-party cookies – set by our website
- Third-party cookies – set by external services like Google AdSense
Types of Cookies We Use
Type Purpose
- Essential Required for core site functionality (e.g., comment form)
- Analytics Anonymously measure traffic and interactions (via Burst)
- Advertising Show personalized or contextual ads (via Google AdSense)
- Preferences Remember your settings and choices
Your Choices
You can manage or delete cookies via your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- Block all cookies
- Delete existing cookies
- Notify you when cookies are used
- Disabling cookies may affect functionality.
In the UK and EU/UK GDPR jurisdictions, we request your explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies.
Advertising: Google AdSense Compliance
Our website uses Google AdSense to display ads. This service uses cookies and similar technologies to:
Serve personalized ads based on your interests and browsing behavior
Serve non-personalized ads if you have not given consent or are in a jurisdiction that requires it
What Google Collects
Google may collect:
- IP address
- Browser and device information
- Pages viewed
- Approximate location
We have implemented Google’s EU User Consent Policy, which ensures users from the UK and EEA are prompted for cookie and ad tracking consent before ads are served.
User Control and Opt-Out
You can manage your preferences using:
- Google Ad Settings: https://www.google.com/settings/ads
- YourAdChoices (US): https://optout.aboutads.info/
- ICO Cookies Guide (UK): https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/online/cookies/
- OAIC Information (Australia): https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/your-privacy-rights/
For more information, see:
Google Privacy & Terms
How Google uses data
Analytics: Burst Statistics Compliance
We use Burst Statistics, a privacy-friendly analytics plugin for WordPress, to collect anonymized data for internal usage analysis.
What Burst Collects
- Anonymized IP addresses (not traceable to individuals)
- Page views
- Browser type and version
- Referring URLs
- Time spent on pages
Privacy Compliance
Burst Statistics is GDPR- and privacy-compliant by design:
- No tracking cookies are used
- Data remains on our servers and is not shared with third parties
- IP addresses are anonymized (truncated) to prevent identification
Your Control
You can opt out of analytics tracking by blocking non-essential cookies via your browser or cookie banner (if implemented).
Data Sharing and Disclosure
We take your privacy seriously and do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. However, in limited circumstances, we may share certain data with trusted third parties to help operate our website, ensure its security, and comply with the law. For example, Google may receive limited data through AdSense for the purpose of serving advertisements, and anti-spam services may process your IP address and browser information when you submit a comment. All third-party services we use are vetted to comply with relevant privacy regulations, including the GDPR, CCPA, and Australian Privacy Principles. Where legally required, we ensure appropriate contractual safeguards are in place with service providers that process personal data on our behalf.
We may also disclose information if required to do so by law or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect and defend our rights or property, prevent fraud, or act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users or the public.
International Data Transfers
Because our website may be accessed from around the world and uses services like Google AdSense, your data may be transferred and processed outside of your country of residence, including in the United States and other jurisdictions that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country. If you are located in the United Kingdom or Australia, we ensure that such transfers are made in compliance with the UK GDPR and the Australian Privacy Act, respectively. This may involve using standard contractual clauses approved by regulatory bodies or relying on data processing agreements with adequate protections.
Where required, we will inform you of international transfers and obtain your consent when necessary. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy regardless of where it is processed.
Your Rights (by Jurisdiction)
Your rights over your personal data vary depending on the country or region in which you reside, and we are committed to respecting those rights in full. If you are located in California, you have the right under the CCPA to request access to the personal data we hold about you, to ask for it to be deleted, and to opt out of any sale of your data (though we do not sell personal data). If you are in the United Kingdom, you have rights under the UK GDPR including access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection to processing. Australian users, under the Privacy Act 1988, also have the right to access and correct their personal information and to make a complaint if they believe their data has been mishandled.
To exercise any of these rights, you may contact us using the information in the Contact section below. We will verify your identity before processing any request and will respond within the timeframes required by law. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. For example, when you leave a comment on our site, the comment and its associated metadata are stored indefinitely to allow us to recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically. Data collected for analytics purposes through Burst Statistics is anonymized and retained for statistical reporting only, without any ability to personally identify users. If you contact us via email or other means, we may retain that correspondence for a reasonable period for reference and legal compliance. Once data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with industry best practices and legal requirements.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is not intended for or directed toward children under the age of 13 in the United States, under 16 in the United Kingdom and EU, or under 15 in Australia. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have unintentionally collected personal data from a child without verified parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete that information. Parents or legal guardians who believe that their child has provided us with personal information without consent are encouraged to contact us so we can take appropriate action in compliance with applicable child privacy laws, including COPPA in the U.S., the UK GDPR, and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Security Measures
We take reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include restricting access to personal data to only those personnel and third-party service providers who need the information to perform their duties. We also rely on the built-in security features of our hosting platform and plugins like Burst Statistics, which are designed to minimize data risk through anonymization and local processing. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we detect a data breach that could potentially compromise your rights or freedoms, we will notify you and the appropriate supervisory authorities as required by law.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites that are not operated or controlled by us. These third-party sites may have their own privacy policies and terms of use, which we encourage you to review. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, data collection, or content of these external websites. Clicking on third-party links or engaging with third-party services is done at your own discretion and risk. We do not endorse or make any representations about third-party websites or their policies, and your use of such sites is governed solely by their respective privacy statements.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, our data practices, or the services we offer. When we make material changes to this policy, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of the page and, where required by law, provide you with appropriate notice. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal data. Your continued use of the website after any changes to the policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes.