Cookies and Privacy Disclosure Notice
This site does not directly use cookies.
It is a simple collection of pages, text and images for some brief browsing pleasure.
However, there are a few third parties that do use sophisticated methods for targetting personalised ads and monitoring visit statistics.
These are the ones I know about.
There is also a contact form where I ask for an email address. The purpose of that is for replying to queries which seems the polite thing to do.
Any emails remain in my inbox until I tidy up every once in a while. They will never be sold on or used for targeting you with promotions.
You could email me to ask me to remove any emails from you.
That is the genius of these regulations.
My hope was when GDPR (new European Law) took effect in May 2018 the old cookie warning notice would no longer be required. Tracking, personalisation and cookie preferences would be in the user browser settings or for websites that do use and store your personal data.
Sadly that may not be the case.
It is a simple collection of pages, text and images for some brief browsing pleasure.
However, there are a few third parties that do use sophisticated methods for targetting personalised ads and monitoring visit statistics.
These are the ones I know about.
- Google Adsense – targeting advertising that may be relevant to you
- Google Analytics – recording visits for subsequent statistical analysis by me
- Amazon – targeting advertising and recording statistics
There is also a contact form where I ask for an email address. The purpose of that is for replying to queries which seems the polite thing to do.
Any emails remain in my inbox until I tidy up every once in a while. They will never be sold on or used for targeting you with promotions.
You could email me to ask me to remove any emails from you.
That is the genius of these regulations.
My hope was when GDPR (new European Law) took effect in May 2018 the old cookie warning notice would no longer be required. Tracking, personalisation and cookie preferences would be in the user browser settings or for websites that do use and store your personal data.
Sadly that may not be the case.
GDPR Update - April 2018
The European GDPR law is another level of pain for small businesses. It introduces user consent for a range of user data gathering especially for advertising and analytics.
Google Adsense are changing the way they store and use personal data for Europeans covered by the GDPR law.
Google Analytics are used by many website owners to monitor which pages get views, dwell times and bounce rates. That data is not sold by me or shared with anyone. Analytics are changing the levels at which they store data. This website uses the lowest level. Remarketing and Advertising Reporting are switched off.
My feeling is there is no need for a complex cookie warning process in order to run the basic level of Analytics or the compliant Adsense process.
As of 21st May 2018 Google AdSense ads on this site were switched to non-personalised for European users. That makes them less relevant to viewers and less financially useful to me.
Google Adsense are changing the way they store and use personal data for Europeans covered by the GDPR law.
Google Analytics are used by many website owners to monitor which pages get views, dwell times and bounce rates. That data is not sold by me or shared with anyone. Analytics are changing the levels at which they store data. This website uses the lowest level. Remarketing and Advertising Reporting are switched off.
My feeling is there is no need for a complex cookie warning process in order to run the basic level of Analytics or the compliant Adsense process.
As of 21st May 2018 Google AdSense ads on this site were switched to non-personalised for European users. That makes them less relevant to viewers and less financially useful to me.
Setting Your Requirements
You may see some sites asking you to confirm a whole range of complicated settings regarding advertising and tracking.
Those sites have data departments. Their business model needs to maximise advertising and information revenue. They are desperate for users to choose to allow personalised advertising so they wrap the questions up in a complex mass of garbage.
This site has chosen the lowest level of advertising and tracking from Google. There is nowhere lower to go without removing advertising and disabling Analytics. Those actions would make this site unviable and probably mean it closes.
I can't pay hosting fees and invest my time for no feedback or reward.
So there are no optional settings to choose.
Those sites have data departments. Their business model needs to maximise advertising and information revenue. They are desperate for users to choose to allow personalised advertising so they wrap the questions up in a complex mass of garbage.
This site has chosen the lowest level of advertising and tracking from Google. There is nowhere lower to go without removing advertising and disabling Analytics. Those actions would make this site unviable and probably mean it closes.
I can't pay hosting fees and invest my time for no feedback or reward.
So there are no optional settings to choose.
GDPR Update May 2018
The day before the new laws - 24th May 2018 - my Analytics for Europe stopped working.
It seems I can no longer see if European visitors are accessing my web pages. That means I can make no judgement as to the success or otherwise of those pages for that part of the world.
The effect of that is my focus will move to the States. The biggest market does not have the same laws as the Europeans. It prefers to do business rather than legislation. Hopefully that will remain the same.
Other internet sites have opted to block Europeans from accessing their sites. They cannot afford to dedicate time, money, resource to solving a tedious legislation problem.
This demonstrates the nature of Europe. The anti business attitude that creates layer upon layer of problems for anyone wishing to trade, invent or create.
If companies tire of jumping through legislative hoops to satisfy arbitrary demands from unaccountable politicians - Europe may end up in an internet backwater. The cookie law was bad enough. GDPR is worse. Companies may not bother to see what the next ludicrous demand is.
Block and move on may be the preferred option for companies who want to focus on their product and services instead of ever more complex requirements.
It seems I can no longer see if European visitors are accessing my web pages. That means I can make no judgement as to the success or otherwise of those pages for that part of the world.
The effect of that is my focus will move to the States. The biggest market does not have the same laws as the Europeans. It prefers to do business rather than legislation. Hopefully that will remain the same.
Other internet sites have opted to block Europeans from accessing their sites. They cannot afford to dedicate time, money, resource to solving a tedious legislation problem.
This demonstrates the nature of Europe. The anti business attitude that creates layer upon layer of problems for anyone wishing to trade, invent or create.
If companies tire of jumping through legislative hoops to satisfy arbitrary demands from unaccountable politicians - Europe may end up in an internet backwater. The cookie law was bad enough. GDPR is worse. Companies may not bother to see what the next ludicrous demand is.
Block and move on may be the preferred option for companies who want to focus on their product and services instead of ever more complex requirements.
Internet Control
The internet has been a free for all Wild West place where everything was up for grabs.
There are dangers associated with that but also freedom. Freedom to criticise actions, reassess history, organise protest.
A place for the lone voice to be heard.
The European regulations are one more area where control is being introduced. By bringing in a set of regulations that are almost impossible to fulfil it offers our masters another weapon.
Small sites saying 'bad' things? Attack them through the courts and take their financial support away.
Like terrorism legislation that applies to all people - surveillance and detention - internet regulation is deceptively dangerous.
Free speech has to apply to all or it has no meaning.
There are dangers associated with that but also freedom. Freedom to criticise actions, reassess history, organise protest.
A place for the lone voice to be heard.
The European regulations are one more area where control is being introduced. By bringing in a set of regulations that are almost impossible to fulfil it offers our masters another weapon.
Small sites saying 'bad' things? Attack them through the courts and take their financial support away.
Like terrorism legislation that applies to all people - surveillance and detention - internet regulation is deceptively dangerous.
Free speech has to apply to all or it has no meaning.
Avoid Being Tracked
If you really want to avoid being tracked here are some of the actions you should be taking.
Shut down all social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and the rest of them. Never use them - not even to look at.
Stop posting on any internet sites.
Stop using the internet at all.
Once you have stopped with internet stuff - think about your interactions with the physical world.
Use cash instead of credit or debit cards. That makes it harder to track your spending.
Don't use loyalty, store or gift cards.
Never have smart internet connected appliances in your home. Smart TVs, fridges, alarm systems, meters - keep them out of your personal space.
Do not buy an Amazon Echo, Google Home or any of those other listening devices they are so keen to push.
Read real books purchased with cash from second hand book shops. Never use Kindle or other electronic readers.
Do not take out subscriptions or join clubs.
Don't vote.
If you leave your house watch out for CCTV. Wear a mask, helmet or other face covering. Be aware that monitors can and do track number plates so don't drive or let those plates get real dirty.
Do not use or carry a mobile phone.
Go off-grid. Buy a gun and a large dog. Opt out.
Shut down all social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and the rest of them. Never use them - not even to look at.
Stop posting on any internet sites.
Stop using the internet at all.
Once you have stopped with internet stuff - think about your interactions with the physical world.
Use cash instead of credit or debit cards. That makes it harder to track your spending.
Don't use loyalty, store or gift cards.
Never have smart internet connected appliances in your home. Smart TVs, fridges, alarm systems, meters - keep them out of your personal space.
Do not buy an Amazon Echo, Google Home or any of those other listening devices they are so keen to push.
Read real books purchased with cash from second hand book shops. Never use Kindle or other electronic readers.
Do not take out subscriptions or join clubs.
Don't vote.
If you leave your house watch out for CCTV. Wear a mask, helmet or other face covering. Be aware that monitors can and do track number plates so don't drive or let those plates get real dirty.
Do not use or carry a mobile phone.
Go off-grid. Buy a gun and a large dog. Opt out.
The Real Privacy Issues
The list above may seem humorous but it is not a joke.
The point is that governments, spy agencies and commercial organisations are constantly monitoring our movements, personal lives and spending.
The idea that a piece of European legislation such as GDPR offers any kind of real world protection from shadowy monitoring is misleading nonsense. It is a 'look over there' distraction while the gradual erosion of privacy, liberty and freedom continues. Examples of this are the push to digital currencies and vaccine IDs.
The ticking of a few boxes to satisfy GDPR legislation will make no difference to data stored and misused by the intelligence agencies. Compliance is only for the common people.
The point is that governments, spy agencies and commercial organisations are constantly monitoring our movements, personal lives and spending.
The idea that a piece of European legislation such as GDPR offers any kind of real world protection from shadowy monitoring is misleading nonsense. It is a 'look over there' distraction while the gradual erosion of privacy, liberty and freedom continues. Examples of this are the push to digital currencies and vaccine IDs.
The ticking of a few boxes to satisfy GDPR legislation will make no difference to data stored and misused by the intelligence agencies. Compliance is only for the common people.
The Feel Better Button
Here is a button to press to make yourself feel better.
It doesn't do anything apart from link to my home page. It signifies the pointlessness of trusting anything anyone says anytime - especially when it is government or the internet. Go ahead and press it. Only the security services will know what you did. |