Privacy

Who we are

Guffwatch is a UK-based publication. This notice covers information used to operate the Guffwatch website, measure its use and respond to messages.

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, contact [email protected].

Visiting the site

Our hosting and technical services process request information needed to deliver and protect the site. This can include your IP address, the requested address, request time, browser information and technical errors. We use this information to provide the service, diagnose problems and prevent misuse, relying on our legitimate interests in running a reliable and secure site.

Your browser also stores your appearance preference, analytics choice and information needed to restore story lists. These features are explained in the Cookies notice.

Optional Google Analytics

With your consent, we use Google Analytics 4 to understand visits and improve the site. Information can include browser identifiers, pages and referring addresses, approximate location, device and browser details, scrolling, external-link clicks, searches, downloads and supported video or form interactions. These events only arise where the relevant interaction is present on the site.

Google processes this information to provide analytics. Google Analytics uses an IP address to derive approximate location, but does not log or store the individual IP address for UK and EU traffic. Analytics identifiers and usage information can still be personal information.

Our Analytics settings also allow Google to combine data with that of other websites and apps for modelling, industry benchmarks and business insights. Google aggregates this information so it cannot identify Guffwatch or individual users. Google technical support can access Analytics data to help resolve technical issues.

You can refuse analytics without losing access to the site, and withdraw consent through Cookie Preferences in the footer. Withdrawal applies to future collection and does not make earlier consent-based processing unlawful.

Read how Google uses information from sites that use its services and our Cookies notice.

Google explains these uses in its Analytics data-sharing documentation.

Guffwatch Search Reporting

Guffwatch Search Reporting is a private local tool used by Guffwatch's owner to review the website's Google Search visibility. With the owner's authorisation, it reads Google Search Console indexing information and aggregate search-performance reports, including clicks, impressions, click-through rates and average position, with date, search-query, page and country breakdowns.

The tool requests Google's read-only Search Console permission. That permission can cover properties accessible to the authorised Google account, but this tool restricts its requests to guffwatch.com. It does not change Search Console settings or submit URLs for indexing.

The collector stores reports locally for review and comparison. Its Google authorisation credentials are stored in protected local files outside the source repository. Reports or selected findings may be reviewed using OpenAI's Codex to assist analysis and recommendations. Credentials are not included in those reports. The tool adds no visitor tracking and does not publish raw reports on the website or send them to advertising services.

Local reports remain until the owner deletes them. The owner can revoke access through their Google Account and delete local credentials and reports. Revoking access stops future authorised collection; it does not delete reports already saved locally. Questions can be sent to [email protected].

Messages and requests

If you email us, we receive your email address, your message and any information or attachments you choose to send. We use these to respond, investigate a reported issue and keep an appropriate record of the correspondence. Our lawful basis is our legitimate interest in handling enquiries and maintaining accurate coverage, or a legal obligation where we must deal with a data-rights request.

Please send only information relevant to your enquiry. We do not need identity documents with an initial request. If we need information to confirm your identity before handling a rights request, we will explain what is needed.

Advertising and remarketing

The analytics choice offered on this site is for audience measurement and site improvement. It does not enable advertising or remarketing.

We may introduce advertising, advertising measurement or remarketing later. Before introducing a new use, we will explain the relevant providers, data and purposes in our notices and consent controls. Where consent is required, those features will remain off until you give the relevant consent. An existing analytics choice will not be treated as permission for a new advertising purpose.

Service providers and overseas processing

We use service providers for hosting, security, email and optional Google Analytics. They receive the information needed for their role. Information may also be disclosed where required by law or necessary to handle a legal claim.

Some providers process information outside the UK. Applicable protections depend on the service and destination, including approved destinations and contractual safeguards. You can contact us for information about the safeguards relevant to your data.

Google describes its processing commitments and transfer safeguards in its data protection terms.

How long information is kept

Google Analytics is configured to retain event-level data for two months and user-level data for 14 months. The user retention period restarts when the user is active again. These controls do not determine how long Google retains aggregated reports. Cookie durations are explained separately in the Cookies notice.

We keep messages and supporting records for as long as they are needed to deal with the enquiry, maintain a record of a correction or meet an applicable legal requirement. Service and security records are kept according to the time needed to operate the service, investigate faults and protect it. The nature of an incident or ongoing dispute may affect that period.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, you can ask for access to your personal information, correction, deletion, restriction of its use or a portable copy. You can withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent.

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. Tell us which use you object to and why, so that we can consider the request.

You can raise a concern with us or complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. If you are in the EU, you can also contact your local data-protection authority.

Other sites and changes to this notice

Our source links take you to other websites, whose privacy notices and settings apply when you visit them. We update this notice when the service or its use of information changes. The date above shows the latest revision.