Privacy and cookies
The short version: we count headline clicks so the good stuff floats up. We don't sell anything, and we don't track you around the web.
What we collect
If you say yes to the banner, we use Google Analytics to count visits and which headlines get clicked. That tells us what readers actually find useful, and it feeds back into how stories are ranked on the front page.
For each click we record the story, its source and its topic, plus the usual analytics details: roughly where you are (country or region), what kind of device and browser you're using, and which pages you looked at. We don't ask for your name or email, and we don't try to work out who you are.
Cookies and storage
- Google Analytics cookies (they start with
_ga): set only if you accept. They tell Google Analytics that repeat visits come from the same browser. - ch-consent: remembers whether you said yes or no, so we don't keep asking. It lives in your browser's local storage.
- ch-theme: remembers whether you prefer the light or dark theme. Also local storage, and nothing to do with tracking.
If you say no
Fine by us. Google Analytics is set up so that nothing is stored on your device and no analytics cookies are set until you accept. The site works exactly the same either way. Because of how Google's consent mode works, a small amount of anonymous, cookie-free information may still be sent to Google, for example that a page was loaded. It isn't tied to you.
Changing your mind
Use the Cookie settings link in the footer to reopen the banner and pick again. You can also clear this site's data in your browser to start fresh.
Who sees it
The analytics data is held by Google on our behalf, and only we can see the reports. We don't sell it, we don't use it for advertising, and we don't pass it to anyone else. Google keeps analytics data for a limited period, which we configure in our account.
When you click through
Every headline takes you to the original publisher's site. Once you're there, their own privacy and cookie rules apply, and we have no say in them.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you can ask what we hold about you, and ask us to correct or delete it. In practice the analytics data isn't linked to your identity, so there's rarely anything to look up, but you're welcome to ask: hello@chargerhead.com. If you're unhappy with how we've handled things, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.