1. Purpose of This Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how Online Safty uses cookies and similar technologies on onlinesafty.org. It should be read with the Privacy Policy. A cookie is a small text file or similar identifier stored on, or accessed from, a browser or device. Similar technologies may include local storage, pixels, tags, software development kits, embedded scripts, and device identifiers.
We use privacy-respecting defaults. Strictly necessary technologies may operate without optional consent because the website cannot provide the requested function securely without them. Non-essential analytics, personalization, advertising, measurement, or tracking technologies are blocked until the visitor gives a valid choice where consent is required.
2. Consent Choices
When the consent banner is displayed, visitors should be offered equally clear options to “Accept all”, “Reject non-essential”, or “Manage choices”. Rejecting optional cookies must not be made materially harder than accepting them. Optional categories should remain off until selected.
Consent can be changed or withdrawn at any time through the Cookie Settings link available in the website footer. Withdrawal does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal. A necessary preference cookie may remember the visitor’s choice so that the banner does not reappear on every page.
3. Categories We May Use
Strictly necessary cookies support core functions such as security, load balancing, fraud prevention, consent storage, session continuity, accessibility preferences, and form protection. These should be limited to what is genuinely necessary and should not be repurposed for advertising or cross-site profiling.
Preference cookies remember choices such as language, display settings, saved form details, or comment preferences. Where a preference is not necessary for a user-requested service, it is activated only with the required choice.
Analytics cookies help us understand aggregated use, such as page visits, referral sources, device categories, performance, and navigation patterns. We seek to minimize identifiers, use short retention, restrict access, and avoid unnecessary cross-site tracking. Analytics requiring consent is not activated before consent.
Advertising and measurement technologies may support clearly labeled advertising, campaign measurement, frequency control, fraud prevention, or affiliate attribution. They are treated as optional unless applicable law provides a specific exception. We do not permit an advertising partner to disguise commercial content as independent journalism.
Embedded-content technologies may be set by video, audio, map, social-media, document, or other third-party services. Where technically possible, embedded content is placed behind a consent or click-to-load mechanism so that third-party tracking does not begin automatically.
4. Current Cookie List
The definitive list of active cookies and similar technologies, including provider, purpose, category, and duration, is displayed in the Cookie Settings panel and should be updated whenever the website configuration changes. The publication will not knowingly maintain a generic list that omits active advertising, analytics, or embedded-service technologies.
Because browser storage and third-party services can change, the consent manager’s current inventory controls where it provides more specific information than this policy.
5. Third Parties
Some optional technologies may be provided by hosting, security, analytics, advertising, content-delivery, video, social, or other vendors. These providers may process information under their own terms and privacy notices. We assess vendors proportionately, limit categories and retention where possible, and do not represent that a third party is under our control when it is not.
A third-party provider must not receive permission to use Online Safty visitor data for unrelated profiling merely because it supplies a website function, unless that use is clearly disclosed and validly authorized.
6. Retention
Cookie duration should be no longer than necessary for the stated purpose. Session cookies expire when the browser session ends. Persistent cookies remain for a stated period or until deleted. Consent records may be retained for a reasonable period to demonstrate the visitor’s choice and comply with legal obligations.
We periodically review retention and remove technologies that no longer have a justified purpose.
7. Browser Controls and Global Signals
Most browsers allow users to view, delete, or block cookies. Blocking all cookies may prevent essential functions, comments, forms, preferences, or embedded media from working correctly. Browser controls operate separately from the website’s consent manager.
Where technically and legally appropriate, Online Safty seeks to recognize supported privacy signals, including Global Privacy Control, as an instruction concerning applicable sale, sharing, or targeted-advertising activity. Browser “Do Not Track” signals are interpreted only where a reliable standard and technical implementation exist.
8. Children
Online Safty does not intentionally use optional cookies to profile children. Where content is likely to attract a substantial child audience, we apply heightened caution to advertising, personalization, and embedded technologies.
9. Changes to This Policy
We update this policy and the cookie inventory when technology, vendors, purposes, or legal requirements change. Material changes will receive a new effective date. A fresh choice will be requested where a new use is materially different from the choice previously made.
10. Contact
Questions about cookies or consent may be sent to privacy@onlinesafty.org.