Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 2026
This privacy policy explains how The Declassified (thedeclassified.net) collects, uses and protects your personal data. We are committed to ensuring your privacy is protected in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
Who we are
The Declassified is an independent publishing website operated from the United Kingdom. Our contact address is editor@thedeclassified.net.
What data we collect
Data you provide directly:
- Email address — if you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us via the tip line
- Any information you include in messages sent to editor@thedeclassified.net
Data collected automatically:
- IP address and browser information — collected by Google Analytics to help us understand how readers find and use the site
- Cookie data — placed by Google AdSense to serve relevant advertisements and by Google Analytics for site analytics
How we use your data
- Email addresses collected via newsletter signup are used solely to send The Declassified weekly newsletter. We do not sell, share or transfer your email address to any third party.
- Analytics data is used to understand which articles readers find most useful and how they navigate the site. This data is aggregated and anonymised.
- Advertising data is processed by Google AdSense to serve advertisements. We do not have access to individual advertising profiles.
Legal basis for processing
We process your data on the following legal bases under UK GDPR:
- Consent — for newsletter subscriptions and cookie acceptance
- Legitimate interests — for website analytics that help us improve the site
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk
To exercise any of these rights contact us at editor@thedeclassified.net.
Newsletter unsubscribe
Every newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Clicking it removes your email address from our list immediately. Alternatively email editor@thedeclassified.net and we will remove you manually within 48 hours.
Third party services
The Declassified uses the following third party services which have their own privacy policies:
- Google Analytics — analytics.google.com/policies/privacy
- Google AdSense — policies.google.com/privacy
- Brevo (newsletter) — brevo.com/legal/privacypolicy
Cookies
We use cookies for analytics and advertising purposes. A cookie is a small file placed on your device. You can instruct your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you refuse cookies some parts of the site may not function correctly.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. Continued use of the site following any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
For any privacy-related enquiries contact editor@thedeclassified.net.