Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains how RuckLine handles personal data collected through this website. The site operates under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Reading the site does not require submitting personal information, and the data footprint of an ordinary visit is deliberately small.

What data is collected

Routine traffic data is collected for security and analytics: the requesting IP address, the user agent string identifying the browser and device, the referring URL if any, and the pages requested during a visit. This information is generated automatically by the web server and the analytics layer. None of it is combined with identifying personal data unless the reader actively provides it through a contact form or comment field.

Where the reader voluntarily submits information — for example by sending a corrections request or general enquiry — the data submitted (name, email address and the text of the message) is held only for the period necessary to respond to the enquiry and is then deleted.

Why the data is collected

Traffic data is used to detect abuse, defend against denial-of-service attempts and understand which articles are read most often. Aggregate analytics inform editorial planning. The legal basis under UK GDPR is the legitimate interests of the site operator in maintaining a functional and secure publication. The legal basis for processing voluntarily submitted enquiry data is the reader’s consent, given by the act of sending the message.

Cookies and similar technologies

The site uses a small number of cookies. Strictly necessary cookies support core site functionality and are set without consent under the ePrivacy Regulations. Analytics cookies, where present, are set only after the reader gives explicit consent through the cookie banner. Detail on the specific cookies used and their retention periods is given in the cookie policy.

Third parties

The site loads fonts from Google Fonts, which involves a request from the reader’s browser to Google’s font servers. The site does not place reader data with marketing intermediaries, behavioural advertising networks or affiliate tracking services. Outbound links to regulator websites, operator pages or research sources are clearly marked and are governed by the linked site’s own privacy policy, not this one.

Data retention

Web server logs are retained for ninety days for security and abuse-detection purposes and then deleted on a rolling basis. Aggregate analytics data is retained for up to twenty-six months. Enquiry correspondence is retained only as long as needed to handle the matter that prompted it.

Your rights under UK GDPR

Readers have the right to be informed about how their data is processed, the right of access to a copy of any personal data held about them, the right to rectification of inaccurate data, the right to erasure where the legal basis no longer applies, the right to restrict processing in specific circumstances, the right to data portability for data provided under consent or contract, the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests, and the right to withdraw consent at any time where consent is the legal basis. Requests to exercise these rights can be sent through the contact channel listed on the legal notice page.

Complaints

If you believe your personal data has been mishandled, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. The ICO is the UK’s data-protection authority. Their guidance and complaint forms are published at ico.org.uk.

Changes to this policy

This privacy policy may be updated to reflect changes in the way the site operates, in legal requirements or in the third-party services used. Material changes will be noted at the top of the page with a revision date. Continued use of the site after a revision indicates acceptance of the updated terms.