# Privacy Policy – Understand Tech
## Who We Are
Our website address is: https://www.understandtech.co.uk
**Understand Tech** is an educational technology platform operated by Richard Saunders, dedicated to providing parents, educators, and families with comprehensive guides, reviews, and recommendations on technology, digital safety, and online wellbeing. We are committed to transparency in how we collect, use, and protect your personal data.
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## Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help with spam detection.
An anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service Privacy Policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
We retain comments indefinitely to help us recognise and automatically approve any follow-up comments instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
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## Media
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
**Our Recommendation:** Before uploading photos, remove EXIF data using free tools like Verexif or online EXIF strippers to protect your privacy.
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## Cookies
### Comment & Login Cookies
If you leave a comment on our site, you may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
### Login & Screen Options
When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices:
– **Login cookies** last for two days
– **Screen options cookies** last for one year
– If you select “Remember Me,” your login will persist for two weeks
– If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed
### Post Editing Cookies
If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.
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## Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content such as videos, images, articles, podcasts, and interactive elements from external sources including YouTube, Spotify, Twitter/X, and other platforms.
Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website directly. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content.
**Important:** If you have an account and are logged into these external websites, your activity may be tracked and linked to your profile on those platforms.
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## Third-Party Services & Tracking
### Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. Google Analytics collects anonymous data about your browsing behaviour. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser extension.
### Affiliate Links
Some content on our site includes affiliate links (particularly in product reviews and recommendations). When you click these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.
### Email Marketing
If you subscribe to our newsletter or mailing list, your email address is stored securely using Proton Mail services. We use email marketing services to send educational content and updates. You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email.
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## Who We Share Your Data With
### Password Reset
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email for security verification purposes.
### Service Providers
We may share anonymised data with service providers who help us operate the website, including:
– Hosting providers
– Email service providers (Proton Mail)
– Analytics platforms (Google Analytics)
– Security and spam detection services
These service providers are contractually obligated to use your data only for the purposes stated and to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information.
### Legal Requirements
We may disclose your personal data if required by law, court order, government request, or to protect the safety and rights of our site and users.
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## How Long We Retain Your Data
### Comments
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This allows us to recognise and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
### User Accounts
For users that register on our website, we store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.
### Email & Newsletter Data
Email addresses collected through newsletter signups are retained until you unsubscribe. You can request deletion at any time by contacting us directly.
### Cookies
Cookie retention periods are specified above. Most cookies expire automatically after the stated timeframe.
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## What Rights You Have Over Your Data
### Access Your Data
You have the right to request a complete copy of the personal data we hold about you. Submit your request via email to: [email protected]
### Export Your Data
If you have an account on this site or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us.
### Delete Your Data
You can request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
### Modify Your Data
You can edit or delete your own profile information, comments, and account details at any time through your account settings.
### Withdraw Consent
If we process your data based on your consent (e.g., newsletter signup), you can withdraw that consent at any time.
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## Where Your Data Is Sent
### Spam Detection
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service. This process uses AI and machine learning to identify and filter spam content.
### International Transfers
Some of our service providers (including cloud hosting and email services) may be located outside the UK or EU. When data is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses.
### User Choice
By using our site, you consent to the transfer of your data as described in this policy. If you do not consent, please do not use our site.
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## GDPR & UK Data Protection Act Compliance
**Understand Tech** is committed to compliance with:
– General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
– UK Data Protection Act 2018
– Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)
As a data controller, we are responsible for protecting your personal information and respecting your rights.
### Data Protection Inquiries
For data protection inquiries or to exercise your rights under GDPR, please contact:
**Email:** [email protected]
We will respond to data protection requests within 30 days as required by UK law.
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## Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:
**Understand Tech**
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.understandtech.co.uk
We will respond to privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.
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## Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date below.
**Last Updated:** December 2025
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## Additional Information
### Children’s Privacy
Our site is primarily intended for parents and educators. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.
### California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete, and the right to opt-out of certain data sales (if applicable).
### Browser Do Not Track
Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” feature. Our site does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can use browser settings and tools to limit data collection.
### Security
While we implement reasonable security measures to protect your data, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. Please use strong passwords and keep your account credentials confidential. We use Proton Mail for our communications to ensure your email privacy is protected with end-to-end encryption.