Privacy Policy

We may collect information that you provide directly, including your email address when you subscribe, your name and contact details when you make an enquiry, and the information and files you include in an editorial or Troubleshooter submission.

We also collect limited technical information needed to operate and protect the website. This can include IP address, browser and device information, security and server logs, cookie-consent choices and a non-identifying browser token used to prevent duplicate poll votes. If you consent to analytics, Google Analytics may collect information about visits, pages viewed, approximate location derived from IP address, device type and referral source.

We use subscription details to send the newsletter you requested. Our lawful basis is consent. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in an email.

We use enquiry and submission information to respond, consider material for editorial use, verify facts and rights, and administer our relationship with contributors and advertisers. Depending on the context, our basis is taking steps at your request, performing a contract, or our legitimate interests in operating an independent trade publication.

We use necessary storage, logs and security information to deliver and protect the site. Our basis is our legitimate interests in providing a secure and reliable service. We use optional analytics only after consent, to understand aggregate readership and improve coverage and navigation.

We may use automation and AI-assisted tools to help classify source material, prepare editorial drafts, check structure and administer the approval workflow. Editorial decisions remain subject to human review. Do not include confidential, export-controlled, legally privileged or special-category personal information in a submission unless we have agreed in advance that it is necessary and can be handled appropriately.

This website uses storage and access technologies. Necessary storage remembers cookie preferences and may support security, forms and the reader poll. If you choose to allow analytics, Google Analytics may set or read analytics cookies. Analytics remains disabled until you opt in. You can reject optional analytics or change your choice using the cookie control displayed on the site.

We do not currently use behavioural-advertising or cross-site profiling cookies. Advertising positions on the site do not by themselves mean tracking is active. If that changes, we will update this policy and request any consent required before activating the relevant technology.

Any automatically generated statement elsewhere on the site saying that no cookies are used is outdated and does not describe the current setup. This section is the controlling description of our present cookie use.

We use providers for website hosting and forms, email and document storage, workflow automation, editorial administration, analytics, consent management, image sourcing and AI-assisted editorial processing. Current services include Webflow, Google Workspace, Google Analytics, AppSheet, Make and Enzuzo. The particular AI provider used in an editorial workflow may change; only information needed for the task should be submitted.

Some providers may process information outside the UK. Where required, we rely on an adequacy regulation or appropriate contractual safeguards. You can ask us for further information about the safeguards applying to a particular service.

We do not sell personal information. We may share it with service providers that help us operate the publication, professional advisers where necessary, a purchaser or successor if the publication is reorganised, or an authority where disclosure is required by law. Material submitted for publication may become public after editorial agreement; we will not treat a submission as permission to publish private contact details.

Newsletter details are kept until you unsubscribe, after which we may retain the minimum information needed to honour the opt-out. General enquiries and unsuccessful editorial submissions are normally retained for no more than 24 months after the last meaningful contact, unless a longer period is needed for a dispute, legal obligation or agreed continuing relationship.

Published editorial records and evidence supporting accuracy, rights and provenance may be retained for the life of the publication and an appropriate archival period. Consent and security records are retained for as long as needed to demonstrate choices, protect the service and meet legal obligations. Analytics information is retained according to the configured Google Analytics retention period and is reviewed periodically.

Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct or erase your information, restrict or object to processing, receive portable information, and withdraw consent. Withdrawing consent does not make earlier processing unlawful.

To exercise a right, use the Contact page and state that your request concerns personal data. We may need to verify your identity and aim to respond within one month. You may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk. We would appreciate the opportunity to address a concern first.