Cookie Policy

Transparency. Privacy. Your Choice.

1. Introduction

Welcome to Keep Updated UK.

We are an independent UK digital news publication committed to responsible journalism, transparency and respecting the privacy of our readers.

This Cookie Policy explains how cookies and similar technologies may be used when you visit our website.

It describes:

• What cookies are and how they work.
• The different categories of cookies.
• Why cookies may be used on our website.
• When your consent is required.
• How to manage or withdraw your cookie preferences.
• How third-party services may use cookies.
• How to contact us with questions.

This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle personal information more generally.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites can store on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit them.

They can help websites operate correctly, remember preferences, maintain security and understand how services are used.

Some cookies last only while your browser is open. Others may remain on your device for a specified period or until you delete them.

Cookies can be placed directly by the website you visit or by third-party services integrated into that website.

Similar technologies, including local storage, tracking pixels, scripts and device identification technologies, may also store or access information on your device.

The rules described in this policy apply to relevant storage and access technologies, not just traditional cookies.

3. Why We May Use Cookies

Keep Updated UK may use cookies or similar technologies for purposes including:

• Ensuring that website pages and features function correctly.
• Maintaining website security.
• Remembering your cookie choices.
• Remembering website display preferences.
• Understanding how readers use our website.
• Identifying technical problems and improving performance.
• Supporting embedded video and other external media.
• Supporting advertising where such services are introduced and lawfully configured.

Not every category described in this policy is necessarily active on the website.

The specific technologies currently in use are identified in our website's cookie inventory.

4. Categories of Cookies

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These are cookies or similar technologies essential for providing a service requested by the visitor or for certain necessary technical functions.

They may support:

• Website security.
• Protection against malicious activity.
• Session management.
• Technical operation of requested services.
• Remembering cookie consent choices.
• Preventing certain technical failures.

Where the relevant legal exception applies, these technologies may operate without prior consent.

Strictly necessary cookies are not used as a general justification for advertising or unnecessary tracking.

4.2 Analytics and Performance Cookies

Analytics technologies help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

Depending on the services installed, information may include:

• The number of visits to individual articles.
• Which sections of the website are most frequently accessed.
• How visitors navigate between pages.
• Approximate time spent on content.
• Device and browser categories.
• Website loading times and technical performance.

This information can help us improve the website and understand which types of news content readers find useful.

Some analytics technologies may qualify for a limited statistical purposes exception under UK law.

Where we rely on this exception, we will provide the required information and a simple, free means of objecting.

Where the exception does not apply, we will obtain valid consent before using analytics technologies that require it.

Analytics involving tracking or profiling for advertising purposes will not be treated as exempt statistical analytics.

4.3 Functional and Preference Cookies

Functional technologies may help the website remember visitor preferences, such as:

• Display settings.
• Accessibility preferences.
• Language choices.
• Reader interface settings.
• Other optional website features.

Some technologies used solely to adapt website appearance or functionality may qualify for a legal exception, subject to specific conditions, including clear information and an easy, free way to object.

Other non-essential functional technologies will require consent where no exception applies.

4.4 Advertising and Marketing Cookies

Keep Updated UK may introduce advertising or sponsorship arrangements to support its independent journalism.

Where advertising-related cookies or tracking technologies are used, they may serve purposes such as:

• Delivering advertisements.
• Measuring advertising performance.
• Understanding advertising interactions.
• Limiting repeated advertisements.
• Providing interest-based advertising, where applicable.

We will obtain valid consent before using cookies or similar technologies for advertising-related purposes where required by UK law.

Advertising technologies will not be treated as strictly necessary simply because advertising may help fund our publication.

Visitors who reject non-essential advertising cookies should still be able to access our ordinary news content, subject to any separate lawful access arrangements clearly explained to them.

4.5 Third-Party Media and Social Content

Our news coverage may include content hosted by external services.

Examples could include:

• YouTube videos.
• TikTok videos.
• Facebook posts.
• Social media content.
• External video players.
• Other embedded material relating to news reports.

These services may use cookies or similar technologies.

Where required, we will prevent non-exempt third-party tracking technologies from activating before valid consent has been obtained.

Where appropriate, we may offer a privacy-friendly media preview or external link instead of automatically loading embedded content.

Third-party providers may have their own privacy and cookie policies.

5. First-Party and Third-Party Cookies

First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting.

They may help support website functionality, security or preferences.

Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are set by another organisation through services integrated into a website.

Examples may include external video platforms, analytics services or advertising providers.

Where such services are used, we will provide information about relevant third parties and the purposes of their technologies.

We aim to configure third-party services in a privacy-conscious manner.

6. Our Cookie Inventory

We aim to provide readers with clear information about the specific cookies and storage technologies active on our website.

Our cookie inventory will identify, where relevant:

• Cookie or technology name.
• Provider.
• Purpose.
• Category.
• Duration or expiry.
• Whether consent is required or a legal exception applies.

Our verified inventory at the date of this policy is as follows.

• Cookies set by Keep Updated UK itself: none. We do not currently set advertising, profiling or analytics cookies.
• Website analytics and performance: where enabled, we use Vercel Web Analytics and Speed Insights (provider: Vercel Inc.), which are designed to operate without cookies. Category: analytics and performance.
• Security check: the Submit a Story page uses Cloudflare Turnstile (provider: Cloudflare, Inc.) to protect the form from automated abuse. It loads only on that page and may store or read information on your device for security purposes. Category: strictly necessary (security).
• Embedded video: videos load only after you choose to play them, using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode (provider: Google LLC). Once you press play, YouTube may store or access information on your device. Social content such as TikTok is shown as a link and is not loaded automatically.
• Fonts and images: fonts are hosted by us and do not involve third-party requests.

The inventory should be reviewed when website services are added, removed or changed.

7. Cookie Consent

Where consent is required by law, Keep Updated UK will request it before placing or accessing the relevant non-exempt cookies or technologies.

Our consent process is intended to give visitors a genuine choice.

Visitors should be able to:

• Accept optional cookies.
• Reject optional cookies.
• Review individual categories.
• Save their preferences.
• Change or withdraw consent later.

Consent must be freely given, informed and expressed through a clear positive action.

We will not treat continued browsing, silence or inactivity as valid consent.

Cookies that require consent must not be activated before that consent has been obtained.

8. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can manage your website cookie choices through the Cookie Settings facility provided on our website.

The facility allows you to review available categories and change your choices.

Where consent is required, you can withdraw it at any time.

Where we use a technology under an exception that requires an objection mechanism, we will provide a simple and free method of objecting.

Changing your choices will affect the future operation of the relevant technologies, subject to applicable legal and technical requirements.

Withdrawal of consent will be handled in accordance with applicable law, including relevant obligations concerning stored information.

At present this website does not set optional cookies, so there is no Cookie Settings panel to display. If optional cookies or similar technologies are introduced, we will add a Cookie Settings control to this page and to the website footer before they are used.

9. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser

Most web browsers also provide options for managing stored cookies.

Depending on your browser, you may be able to:

• View stored cookies.
• Delete existing cookies.
• Block cookies from particular websites.
• Restrict third-party cookies.
• Clear website data when closing your browser.

Browser controls can provide additional privacy protection.

However, changing browser settings may affect how certain websites function.

Browser settings are not a substitute for the consent and objection mechanisms that we are legally required to provide.

10. Embedded News Videos and External Content

Keep Updated UK may publish news videos, interviews, eyewitness footage and other material hosted through third-party platforms.

Our priority is to provide accessible reporting while respecting visitor privacy.

Where embedded content involves technologies requiring consent, we will use an appropriate mechanism before activating them.

Visitors may be offered the option to open certain content directly on the external provider's website.

When visitors choose to access an external service, that provider's own terms and privacy practices may apply.

11. Website Analytics and Reader Information

Understanding the performance of our website can help us improve our journalism and reader experience.

We may assess information such as total article views, website navigation patterns, technical performance and reader engagement.

We will assess whether individual analytics technologies require consent or meet the conditions of a relevant legal exception.

Where personal information is processed through analytics systems, we will also consider our responsibilities under the UK General Data Protection Regulation.

We will not assume that every analytics service qualifies for an exception.

12. How Long Cookies Remain on Your Device

Cookie durations vary according to their purpose and technical configuration.

Session Cookies

Session cookies generally expire when the relevant browsing session ends.

Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies may remain on your device for a defined period or until they are deleted.

The duration of each cookie should be proportionate to its purpose.

The actual expiry periods of cookies active on our website will be recorded in our cookie inventory.

We will review cookie lifetimes as part of our ongoing privacy and website maintenance processes.

13. Data Protection and Security

Some cookies and similar technologies collect information that may constitute personal data.

Where this occurs, Keep Updated UK will handle the information in accordance with applicable UK data protection law.

We will consider appropriate security, access controls, retention periods and arrangements with relevant service providers.

We will not sell personal information collected through our website.

For further information about personal data, please read our Privacy Policy.

14. Changes to Our Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in:

• UK legislation or regulatory guidance.
• Our website's features and functionality.
• Cookies or technology providers.
• Analytics arrangements.
• Advertising and external media services.
• Our privacy and security practices.

When we make material changes, we will update the date displayed at the beginning of this policy.

Where changes introduce new purposes that require consent, we will seek fresh consent where legally necessary.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about the cookies used by Keep Updated UK, your privacy preferences or how information is collected through our website, please contact us.

Keep Updated UK

Email: info@keepupdateduk.co.uk

Subject: Cookie Policy Enquiry

You can also read our Privacy Policy for information about your wider data protection rights.

For independent UK guidance about cookies and personal information, you may visit the Information Commissioner's Office:

https://ico.org.uk

Keep Updated UK

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Transparency. Privacy. Your Choice.