Privacy Policy

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses "cookies" – small text files placed on your device – to help us analyze how users use the site.

What data is collected?

• Usage Data: Information about your activity on our website, such as pages viewed, time spent on pages, navigation paths, search queries, and interactions with website content.
• Technical Data: Your IP address (which we anonymize where possible), device type, operating system, browser type, and referrer URLs (the website you came from).
• Demographic and Interest Data: If enabled, Google Analytics may collect aggregated and anonymized demographic data (e.g., age range, gender) and interest categories based on your Browse behavior. This information helps us understand our audience better but is not personally identifiable to you.

Why do we collect this data?

We use Google Analytics data to:

• Understand Website Performance: Analyze website traffic, identify popular content, and see how users navigate through our site.
• Improve User Experience: Use insights from user behavior to enhance website design, content, and functionality.
• Optimize Our Services: Understand which features are most used and how we can better meet the needs of our visitors.

How does Google process this data?

The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States or other countries. Google will use this information on our behalf for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity, and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to us.

IP Anonymization: We have activated IP anonymization in Google Analytics. This means that your IP address will be truncated by Google within the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the United States. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the US and truncated there.

Your Choices regarding Google Analytics:

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: You can prevent Google from collecting and processing data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) by downloading and installing the browser add-on available at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
• Browser Settings: You can also configure your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some website features or services may not function properly without cookies.
• Cookie Consent Tool: If you have opted out via our cookie consent tool, Google Analytics cookies will not be set unless you explicitly consent.

We may use Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords) to display advertisements on our website. Google Ads uses cookies and similar technologies to show you ads that are relevant to your interests, based on your previous interactions with our website or other websites you have visited.

What data is collected?

• Advertising Identifiers: Anonymous identifiers are used to track your interactions with advertisements (e.g., clicks, impressions).
• Conversion Data: If you complete a specific action on our website (e.g., make a purchase, fill out a form) after clicking on a Google Ad, this information may be tracked as a "conversion" to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns. This data is aggregated and does not directly identify you.
• Audience Data: Google Ads may use data about your inferred interests (based on your Browse activity across various websites and apps within Google's ad network) to show you more relevant ads.

Why do we use Google Ads?

We use Google Ads to:

• Monetize our Website: Generate revenue by displaying advertisements.
• Provide Relevant Content: Show you ads that are more likely to be of interest to you, improving your Browse experience.
• Promote Our Services/Products: If applicable, we may use Google Ads to promote our own products or services to users who have shown interest in similar content.

How does Google process this data?

Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our sites and/or other sites on the Internet.

Your Choices regarding Google Ads:

• Google's Ad Settings: You can control the ads you see and opt-out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/
• Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): You can also opt-out of personalized advertising from many other ad networks through the NAI consumer opt-out page: https://optout.networkadvertising.org/
• Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): For users in the USA, the DAA provides a similar opt-out tool: https://optout.aboutads.info/
• European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA): For users in Europe, the EDAA provides an opt-out tool: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu/

Further Information:

For more details on how Google collects, uses, and processes data, please refer to Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

We use Hyvor Talk, a comment system provided by Hyvor (Private) Limited, to allow visitors to leave comments and interact with our content and other users.

What data is collected?

• Comment Content: The text of your comments, including any images, links, or other media you choose to include within your comment.
• User Profile Data: If you choose to log in or provide information when commenting, this may include your name, email address, IP address, and profile picture.
• Technical Data: Information about your device, browser type, operating system, and the referrer URL (the page you came from) to ensure the proper functioning and display of the comment section.
• Engagement Data: Information about your interactions with the comment section, such as likes, dislikes, replies, and shares.

Why do we use Hyvor Talk and what data do they collect?

Hyvor Talk collects this data to:

• Enable Commenting Functionality: To process and display your comments on our website and facilitate interaction between users.
• Spam and Abuse Prevention: To help detect and prevent spam, malicious content, and abusive behavior within the comment section.
• Improve Service Performance: To understand how the comment system is being used and to enhance its features, stability, and user experience.

Your Choices regarding Hyvor Talk:

• Anonymous Commenting: In many cases, Hyvor Talk allows for anonymous commenting. However, some features or functionalities might require providing certain information.
• Account Management: If you create an account with Hyvor Talk, you typically have control over your profile information and comment history through their platform.
• Browser Settings: While Hyvor Talk may use cookies for functionality, you can manage your browser's cookie settings to control or block cookies.

Further Information:

For a comprehensive understanding of how Hyvor Talk collects, uses, processes, and protects your data, please refer to their official Privacy Policy: Hyvor Talk Privacy Policy.

We use Mapbox, a location data platform, to power the interactive maps displayed on our website. Mapbox provides SDKs and APIs that enable us to integrate mapping functionalities.

What data is collected?

• Usage Data: Information about your interaction with the maps, such as map views, zoom levels, and navigation paths within the map.
• Technical Data: Device model, browser information, operating system, and contents of an API or SDK request.
• Geolocation Data: If you grant your browser or device permission, Mapbox may collect geolocation data, such as latitude, longitude, and altitude, to display your location on the map. This is typically an opt-in feature controlled by your browser or device settings.
• IP Address: When you access Mapbox services, your IP address is necessarily disclosed to Mapbox servers. IP addresses are retained for a limited time for billing and customer usage reporting, unless involved in an ongoing security investigation.

Why do we use Mapbox and what data do they collect?

We use Mapbox to:

• Provide Interactive Maps: To display dynamic and interactive maps that enhance your Browse experience.
• Show User Location (with Consent): If you explicitly allow it, to show your current location on the map for features like "locate me".
• Improve Map Services: Mapbox uses collected data to provide, test, maintain, secure, and improve its mapping services.

Your Choices regarding Mapbox:

• Location Permissions: You have control over your location permissions through your browser or device settings. You can choose to disable access to location data at any time. Disabling location access may affect the functionality of map features that rely on your precise location.
• Data Anonymization: Mapbox states it applies data minimization and anonymization principles to product development and operations. They also state that they do not sell personal data or track end-user activity across billing cycles to build targeted profiles.

Further Information:

For a comprehensive understanding of how Mapbox collects, uses, processes, and protects your data, please refer to their official Privacy Policy: Mapbox Privacy Policy.