Last updated: June 10, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Caffeinated Times (“Caffeinated Times,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you visit caffeinatedtimes.com (the “Site”) or interact with us — for example, by reading articles, leaving comments, subscribing to our newsletter, or contacting us.
Caffeinated Times is currently operated by an individual sole owner. If ownership is transferred to a registered business entity in the future, that entity will assume the role of data controller and this policy will be updated accordingly.
By using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with it, please do not use the Site.
Data controller / contact: Caffeinated Times — contact@caffeinatedtimes.com
1. The information we collect
We try to collect as little personal information as possible. Depending on how you interact with the Site, we may collect the following categories:
a) Information you provide to us
- Comments. When you leave a comment, we collect the name and email address you enter, the comment content, and — to help detect and prevent spam — your IP address and browser user-agent string.
- Contact form. When you use our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and the contents of your message.
- Newsletter subscription. When you subscribe to our email newsletter, we collect your email address (and any name you choose to provide) and a record of your consent (date, time, and the form used).
b) Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, our servers, caching/CDN provider, and analytics tools automatically collect certain technical information, including your IP address, approximate location (derived from IP), browser type and version, operating system and device type, referring URLs, the pages you view, links you click, and the dates and times of your activity (“Usage Data” and “Log Data”).
c) Cookies and similar technologies
We and our third-party partners use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies to operate the Site, remember preferences, measure traffic, and (where applicable) serve advertising. See Section 3 for details and your choices.
We do not intentionally collect special categories of personal data (such as health, biometric, or financial data), and we ask that you not submit such information through comments or our contact form.
2. How we use your information (purposes & legal bases)
| Purpose | Legal basis (GDPR / UK GDPR) |
|---|---|
| Operate, maintain, and secure the Site | Legitimate interests |
| Publish and moderate comments | Consent / legitimate interests |
| Respond to your messages and enquiries | Legitimate interests / steps prior to a contract |
| Send newsletters you requested | Consent |
| Measure and analyse Site usage to improve content | Consent (analytics) / legitimate interests |
| Display advertising and affiliate content | Consent (advertising cookies) |
| Detect and prevent spam, fraud, and abuse | Legitimate interests / legal obligation |
| Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms | Legal obligation / legitimate interests |
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.
3. Cookies and tracking technologies
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Required for the Site to function (security, caching). Cannot be switched off. | LiteSpeed/QUIC.cloud, security cookies |
| Functional | Remember your choices (comment details if you opt in, consent preference). | Comment cookies, consent cookie |
| Analytics / performance | Help us understand how visitors use the Site. | Google Analytics |
| Advertising / targeting | Deliver and measure ads, including personalised ads where enabled. | Google AdSense, affiliate cookies |
Managing cookies. Where required by law (EEA, UK, and certain US states), we present a cookie-consent banner that lets you accept or reject non-essential cookies, changeable at any time. You can also control cookies via your browser; disabling some may affect how the Site works.
For a detailed list of the specific cookies and trackers we use, please see our separate Cookie Policy.
4. Third-party services we use
To run the Site we rely on the services below. Each processes data under its own privacy policy; where an opt-out is available we have linked it.
- Google Analytics 4 (Google LLC) — website analytics. Privacy: policies.google.com/privacy. Opt-out: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
- Google Tag Manager (Google LLC) — a tag-management service we use to load and control other scripts on the Site, including Google Analytics. It may process technical data such as your IP address. Privacy: policies.google.com/privacy.
- Google Fonts (Google LLC) — serves the web fonts used for the Site’s typography. When a font is requested your IP address and browser information may be transmitted to Google. Privacy: policies.google.com/privacy.
- Google Search Console (Google LLC) — aggregated search-performance data.
- Google AdSense (Google LLC) — when advertising is enabled, serves and measures ads, possibly personalised. Privacy: policies.google.com/technologies/ads. Manage ads: adssettings.google.com.
- MailPoet / MailPoet Sending Service (Automattic) — newsletter delivery; email and engagement data. Privacy: automattic.com/privacy.
- Hostinger — web hosting and email; stores Site data and server logs. Privacy: hostinger.com/privacy-policy.
- Amazon Associates and other affiliate networks — affiliate-link attribution cookies.
- Akismet (Automattic) — comment-spam filtering; comment metadata including IP. Privacy: automattic.com/privacy.
- LiteSpeed Cache / QUIC.cloud — caching and content delivery.
- Gravatar (Automattic) — comment avatars.
5. How we share and disclose information
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioural advertising for money. We may disclose information to our service providers; to comply with the law or a lawful request; to protect our rights, users, or the public and prevent fraud; and in connection with a business transfer, where we will require the recipient to honour this policy.
6. International data transfers
We are based in the United States, and several providers operate in the US and other countries. If you access the Site from the EEA, UK, or elsewhere, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries whose laws differ from yours. Where required, providers use safeguards such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses.
7. Data retention
- Comments and metadata: retained until you ask us to remove them.
- Newsletter data: retained until you unsubscribe.
- Contact-form messages: up to 24 months after our last correspondence.
- Analytics data: per Google’s settings (typically up to 14 months), aggregate thereafter.
- Server/log data: a limited period for security and troubleshooting.
8. Your privacy rights
a) EEA / UK (GDPR & UK GDPR)
You may access, correct, erase, restrict, or object to processing of your data; request portability; and withdraw consent. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
b) California (CCPA / CPRA)
California residents may know what we collect, request deletion or correction, know whether we sell or share data (we do not), and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
- Categories collected: identifiers (name, email, IP), internet/network activity, and inferences.
- Sources: directly from you and automatically from your device and our providers.
- Sale/Sharing: we do not sell or share personal information under the CPRA.
- Global Privacy Control: we treat a GPC signal as a valid opt-out where applicable.
c) How to exercise your rights
Email contact@caffeinatedtimes.com. We may verify your identity first. You may use an authorised agent where the law allows.
9. Do Not Track
Because there is no common standard for “Do Not Track,” the Site does not currently respond to DNT signals, but we honour recognised opt-outs such as the Global Privacy Control where required by law.
10. Children’s privacy
The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children; if you believe a child has provided it, contact us and we will delete it.
11. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including a security/firewall plugin, HTTPS encryption, and access controls. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.
12. Links to other websites
The Site contains links to third-party websites, including affiliate links. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices, and encourage you to review their policies.
13. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted here with a revised “Last updated” date, and where required we will obtain renewed consent. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
14. Definitions and legal references
- Personal Data: information that directly or indirectly identifies a natural person.
- Usage Data: information collected automatically, such as IP addresses, device details, pages visited, and time stamps.
- User / Data Subject: the individual to whom Personal Data refers.
- Data Controller (Owner): who determines the purposes and means of processing — here, the owner of Caffeinated Times.
- Data Processor: a third party that processes data on the Controller’s behalf.
- Cookie: a small data file stored on your device.
- Tracker: any technology enabling tracking of Users.
- GDPR / UK GDPR: the EU General Data Protection Regulation and its UK equivalent.
- CCPA / CPRA: the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act.
This document should be read together with applicable data-protection laws and our Terms & Conditions.
15. Contact us
For any question about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact us at contact@caffeinatedtimes.com or via our Contact page.