This policy explains what information Circuit Bulletin collects when you visit us, why we collect it, and what rights you have over it. The short version: we collect as little as we reasonably can, we don't sell your data to anyone, and we don't use hidden web beacons or sneaky tracking to follow you around. Circuit Bulletin is based in the United States, and we aim to meet the standards of the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for all our visitors, wherever you are.
What we collect
We keep data collection to a minimum. In practice, the information we handle falls into a few simple categories:
- Technical logs. Like most websites, our servers record basic technical details such as your IP address, browser type, and the pages you request. We use these logs for legitimate security and reliability purposes: spotting abuse, blocking attacks, and keeping the site running.
- Analytics. With your consent, we use Google Analytics to understand roughly how many people visit and which articles are read. We only load analytics if you agree to it.
- Things you send us. If you email us or leave a comment, we hold the information you choose to provide, such as your name and email address, so we can respond or display your comment.
Analytics and consent
We won't switch on analytics tracking until you've said yes. When you first visit, you can choose whether to allow analytics cookies. If you decline, Google Analytics simply isn't loaded, and you can change your mind at any time through our cookie settings. Analytics data helps us see what's popular and how the site is performing; it isn't used to build advertising profiles of you.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored by your browser. We use a small number of them:
- essential cookies that make the site work and remember your privacy choices;
- analytics cookies, only if you've consented to them.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some essential features may not work properly without them.
Security and Cloudflare
We use Cloudflare to help protect and deliver the site. Cloudflare sits in front of our servers to guard against attacks, filter malicious traffic, and speed up page loading. To do this it processes technical information such as your IP address on our behalf. We log IP addresses ourselves for the same reasons: keeping the site secure and available. We don't use this information to track your browsing for marketing.
What we don't do
- We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. Ever.
- We do not use hidden web beacons, tracking pixels, or other covert techniques to monitor you.
- We do not build advertising profiles from your visits.
Third parties
A few trusted providers process data so that we can operate the site, currently our hosting provider, Cloudflare, and (with your consent) Google Analytics. Each handles data only for the purpose of providing their service to us. We don't share your information with anyone else except where we're legally required to, for example in response to a valid legal request.
How long we keep data
We keep information only as long as we need it. Security and server logs are retained for a limited period and then deleted or anonymised. Comments and correspondence are kept for as long as they remain relevant, and we'll remove them on request.
Your rights
Under GDPR and similar laws, you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, to have it corrected, and to have it deleted (the "right to be forgotten"). You can also object to or restrict certain processing, and withdraw consent for analytics at any time.
To make any of these requests, email us at [email protected]. We'll respond without undue delay and in any event within one month of receiving your request. If a request is especially complex, we may extend this by up to two further months, in which case we'll let you know within the first month and explain why. The same address is the place to raise any question or concern about your privacy.
Children
Circuit Bulletin is intended for a general, adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we'll delete it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time as our practices or the law change. When we do, we'll revise the text on this page, so it's worth checking back occasionally. If you have any questions in the meantime, get in touch at [email protected].
