Privacy Policy
What we collect, why, and what we will never do with it.
This Privacy Policy explains what data UrbanEthica (“we”, “our”, or “the Site”) collects when you visit urbanethica.com, how that data is used, and the controls you have over it. Written in plain English, with no dark patterns.
The short version
- We use privacy-respecting analytics to count visits and understand which guides are popular. It does not use cookies that identify you personally.
- If you fill in the contact form or subscribe to the newsletter, we keep your name and email so we can reply or send the newsletter. Nothing else.
- We do not sell, rent or trade your data. Ever.
- Pages on UrbanEthica may show advertising. Advertising partners may use cookies and similar technologies to personalise ads, see Advertising and personalisation controls below for the tools you can use to manage this.
- You can ask us to delete everything we hold about you at any time, no questions asked.
Who we are
This Privacy Policy is published by UrbanEthica, the editorial team behind urbanethica.com. We are based in India and reachable through our contact page or directly at [email protected].
Information we collect
1. Site analytics
We use an aggregated analytics tool to understand which articles get read, which devices visitors use, and where the traffic comes from. The tool we use (Google Analytics) does not store personal identifiers, does not follow you across other sites, and is configured to anonymise IP addresses.
2. Contact form submissions
When you use our contact form, we store the name, email address and message you send so we can respond. Submissions are held in our email inbox and our website database for up to two years from the date of receipt, then deleted automatically.
3. Newsletter signups
If you subscribe to the weekly newsletter, we keep your email address with our email service provider until you unsubscribe. Every email has an unsubscribe link in the footer. We never share newsletter lists with third parties.
4. Server logs
Our hosting provider keeps standard server logs (IP address, browser type, page requested, timestamp) for 30 days for security and debugging. Logs are not linked to any personal account.
What we do not collect
We do not fingerprint your device. We do not sync data across other sites we do not operate. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. Where we use third-party services, we only use those described in this policy.
Cookies and similar technologies
Our own website uses only essential cookies required for basic functionality (for example, remembering that you have submitted a form so it does not show again on the same visit).
If you visit a page that includes embedded third-party content, such as a YouTube video, a social-media embed, or an advertising slot served by Google or another partner, that third party may set its own cookies in your browser. We do not control those cookies or access their contents. You can manage browser cookies through your browser settings at any time.
Advertising and personalisation controls
Some pages on UrbanEthica may display advertising served by third-party partners such as Google. These advertising partners may use cookies, device identifiers, and similar technologies to deliver ads relevant to your interests, measure ad performance, and prevent the same ad being shown to you too many times.
You are in control of how this works. Google provides two official tools for managing the ads you see across the web:
- Google Ad Settings, https://adssettings.google.com, turn personalised advertising on or off and review the categories Google has associated with you.
- My Ad Center, https://myadcenter.google.com, adjust the topics, brands and types of ads you see across Google services and partner sites.
You can also opt out of personalised advertising more broadly through industry self-regulation tools:
- YourAdChoices, Digital Advertising Alliance (United States).
- YourOnlineChoices, European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EU and UK).
- Browser-level controls such as “Do Not Track” or “Global Privacy Control” signals, which we honour where required.
Turning off personalisation does not stop you from seeing ads, it only stops them being tailored to your interests.
Third-party services we use
For transparency, the categories of third-party service that may process small amounts of data on our behalf or alongside our site:
- Analytics provider, to count visits in an aggregated, privacy-respecting way.
- Email service provider, to send the weekly newsletter to subscribers who opted in.
- Hosting provider, to keep the site online and serve pages to you.
- Advertising partners (where applicable), to display advertisements, subject to the controls in the section above.
- Affiliate networks (where applicable), to attribute purchases made through links to retailers we recommend.
Each of these providers operates under its own privacy policy. You can request a current list of named providers by emailing [email protected].
Your rights
If you are in the EU, UK, California, or another region with similar protections, you have the right to:
- Ask what data we hold about you.
- Request a copy in a portable format.
- Request corrections to inaccurate data.
- Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”).
- Withdraw consent for any optional processing.
- Lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected] with your request. We will action verified requests within 30 days at no charge.
Data retention
- Contact-form submissions: up to two years from receipt.
- Newsletter subscriber addresses: until you unsubscribe.
- Server logs: 30 days.
- Aggregated analytics data: retained indefinitely in a form that does not identify individuals.
Children’s privacy
UrbanEthica is written for adults and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal data to us, contact [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.
International data transfers
We are based in India. If you contact us from elsewhere, your message will be transferred to and stored in that country. Where required by law, we rely on standard contractual clauses or other appropriate safeguards to protect transferred data.
Changes to this policy
When we update this policy, the “Last updated” date at the top will change. Material changes that affect your rights are also flagged in the newsletter for at least one issue before they take effect. We encourage you to re-read this policy occasionally.
Contact us
For any question about this Privacy Policy or about data we hold relating to you:
- Email: [email protected]
- Web form: urbanethica.com/contact