Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Ancient Earth News collects, uses, and protects your information when you visit our website, ancient-earth.co.za. We are committed to transparency and respect for your privacy. This policy applies to all visitors to our site, regardless of location.

Information We Collect

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain non-personally identifiable information through standard web technologies. This includes:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Referring website or search engine
• Standard server log data

We do not collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, or any other personally identifiable information unless you voluntarily provide it through contact forms — and even then, such data is not stored in a database.

How We Use Information

The information we collect is used solely for the following purposes:

• To understand how visitors interact with our content
• To improve website performance and user experience
• To analyze traffic patterns and popular articles
• To ensure the security and stability of our platform

We do not use your data for direct marketing, profiling, or automated decision-making. No personal data is sold, rented, or shared for commercial purposes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and analyze site usage.

Types of cookies we use include:

• Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Analytics cookies: Used by third-party services to measure traffic and engagement
• Advertising cookies: Used by advertising partners to display relevant content

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain website features.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to help operate and improve our website. These include:

• Google Analytics: To analyze website traffic and user behavior in aggregate form
• Google AdSense: To display advertisements based on browsing patterns
• Cloudflare: To enhance website security and performance

These third parties may collect data independently under their own privacy policies. We do not control their practices and encourage you to review their policies directly.

Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes secure server infrastructure, regular updates, and encryption where applicable.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights

Under South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights:

• To request access to the information we hold about you
• To request correction of inaccurate data
• To request deletion of your data where applicable
• To object to or restrict processing of your data
• To lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed toward children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a child, we will take immediate steps to delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The most current version will always be posted on this page with the updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:

Keiran Marwood
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Rhodes Dr, Newlands, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa
Email: [email protected]

Last Updated: 27 April 2024