Summary in one paragraph

We collect very little. Anonymous analytics (Google Analytics 4) tells us which pages get read; if you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email through Formspree to send you those emails. We don't sell data, we don't do retargeting, and we don't track you across other sites.

What we collect

1. Anonymous analytics. We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how the site is used — which articles get read, how long people spend on them, what country traffic comes from, what device. We do not collect names, email addresses, or any other personal identifier through analytics. Google Analytics may set cookies on your device to do this; you can opt out of all Google Analytics tracking by installing Google's opt-out browser add-on.

2. Newsletter subscriptions. If you sign up for the Field Notes newsletter, we collect your email address through Formspree, our form provider. We use your email to send you the newsletter and nothing else. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any newsletter email.

3. Server logs. Our hosting provider (Vercel) and CDN (Cloudflare) keep standard server logs that include IP address, request URL, user agent, and similar technical information for a short period. This is standard practice across the web and we use it for security and debugging purposes.

What we don't collect

  • We don't use Facebook Pixel, TikTok Pixel, or similar advertising trackers
  • We don't do retargeting advertising
  • We don't collect your name, address, or phone number through any forms on this site
  • We don't require accounts; there's no user login
  • We don't share data with third parties beyond the analytics, newsletter, hosting, and CDN providers listed above

Cookies

The cookies present on this site come from:

  • Google Analytics — analytics cookies (typically _ga, _gid) used for anonymous traffic analysis
  • Cloudflare — security cookies related to bot protection and DDoS mitigation
  • Vercel — minimal session cookies for hosting infrastructure

You can clear or block cookies through your browser settings. Doing so won't prevent you from reading the site.

Third-party services we use

Your rights (GDPR / CCPA)

If you're in the European Union, United Kingdom, or California, you have specific rights regarding personal data we hold about you:

  • Right to access — request a copy of data we hold about you
  • Right to delete — request that we remove your data
  • Right to opt out — opt out of any data collection
  • Right to data portability — receive your data in a portable format

In practice, the only personal data we hold about most readers is an email address (if you signed up for the newsletter). To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We'll respond within 30 days.

Children

This site is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU/UK). We don't knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have collected information from a minor, contact us immediately.

Changes to this policy

If we update this privacy policy, we'll change the "last updated" date at the top. Major changes will be highlighted at the top of the page for at least 30 days.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy: [email protected].