Privacy policy

1. Who we are

AreaIQ Places is operated by Maheshika Halbeisen ("we", "us", "our") and is accessible at places.areaiq.org. It is a UK place and authority information service. For questions about this policy, contact [email protected].

2. What data we collect and why

Analytics data (Google Analytics 4). If you accept analytics, we use Google Analytics 4 to collect anonymised data about how the site is used: pages viewed, searches made (the place searched, not linked to you), which sections and official links were used, approximate region, and device and browser type. IP anonymisation is enabled. GA4 data is stored by Google under Standard Contractual Clauses.

Legal basis: consent (Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR). Analytics do not load until you click "Accept analytics", and you can decline.

Cookies and local storage. _ga and _ga_[ID]: Google Analytics identifiers, set only after consent, expiring after 2 years. aiq_consent: your consent choice, kept in your browser's local storage. We use no advertising cookies, tracking pixels or third-party marketing cookies.

3. What we do not collect

• No name, address, email or phone number from browsing. There are no accounts and no forms that collect personal data.
• No personal profiles from browsing behaviour.
• No selling, sharing or renting of data to third parties for marketing.
• No fingerprinting or persistent tracking.
• No data knowingly collected from children under 13.

4. Third parties

• Google Analytics (Google LLC): anonymised analytics only, after consent. Google's privacy policy.
• Cloudflare, Inc.: hosts the site (Cloudflare Pages) and processes connection logs, including IP addresses, for security and delivery. Cloudflare's privacy policy.
• Google AdSense: the AdSense script is present for future advertising readiness. No advertising units are shown and no advertising cookies are set by us.
• Official and third-party sites we link to (councils, GOV.UK, NHS, Ofsted, Ofcom, Wikipedia, Open Plaques, UK Parliament): once you follow a link, that site's own policy applies. The pages also fetch nearby Wikipedia articles, plaques and the sitting MP's name directly from those services in your browser; those requests carry the sector's coordinates or constituency name, not anything about you.

5. How long we keep data

• GA4 analytics data: 14 months, then deleted automatically.
• Consent choice: until you clear your browser storage.

6. Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to access, erase, restrict, port and object to processing of data about you, and to withdraw consent at any time. Because we hold no personal data from browsing, the practical route is to decline or clear analytics. To opt out of Google Analytics everywhere, install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on. To raise a concern, email [email protected]; we respond within 30 days. You may also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.

7. Consent

On your first visit we show a consent banner. Analytics load only after you click "Accept analytics". If you click "Decline", nothing loads. Browsers that send a Do Not Track signal are treated as having declined.

8. Security

AreaIQ Places is a static website with no user accounts and no database of personal data. It is served over HTTPS.

9. International transfers

Google Analytics data is processed in the United States under Standard Contractual Clauses recognised under UK law via the UK Addendum.

10. Changes

Material changes are noted at the top of this page with a new date. Continued use after a change constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

[email protected]. Supervisory authority: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.