man the barricades

Privacy Policy for manthebarricades.co.uk

Last Updated: 22 April 2025

At Man the Barricades (“We,” “Us,” or “Our”), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy explains how We collect, use, share, and protect your personal data when you visit or use our website at https://manthebarricades.co.uk (the “Website”). It also outlines your rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and other applicable laws.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Website, including visitors, registered users, and those who interact with Our services.

1. Who We Are

Man the Barricades is a small, independent games company based in North East England. Our Website address is https://manthebarricades.co.uk.

For the purposes of the UK GDPR, We are the data controller responsible for your personal data. You can contact Us at:

  • info@manthebarricades.co.uk

2. What Personal Data We Collect and Why

We collect and process personal data to provide and improve Our Website and services. Below, We outline the types of data We collect, the purposes for which We use them, and the lawful bases under the UK GDPR for processing.

2.1 Comments

When you leave a comment on the Website, We collect:

  • Data Provided: The data entered in the comment form (e.g., name, email address, and comment content).
  • Additional Data: Your IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam.
  • Gravatar: An anonymized string (hash) created from your email address may be sent to the Gravatar service to check if you use it. If you do, your Gravatar profile picture will be publicly visible alongside your comment. Gravatar’s privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/.

Purpose: To enable user comments, moderate content, and prevent spam.
Lawful Basis: Legitimate interests (to facilitate user interaction and maintain Website security) and consent (for optional Gravatar use).

2.2 User Accounts

If you register or log in to the Website, We collect:

  • Profile Information: Personal information provided in your user profile (e.g., username, email address, and any optional details you provide).
  • Login Data: Cookies and other technical data (see Section 3 below) to manage your login session and preferences.

Purpose: To manage user accounts, provide personalized services, and enhance user experience.
Lawful Basis: Contract (to fulfill the agreement for registered user services) and consent (for optional profile details).

2.3 Media Uploads

If you upload images or other media to the Website, We collect:

  • Media Files: The uploaded content, which may include metadata (e.g., EXIF GPS location data).

Note: You should avoid uploading images with embedded location data, as other users may download and extract this information.
Purpose: To enable user-generated content and display it on the Website.
Lawful Basis: Consent (by uploading media) and legitimate interests (to provide Website functionality).

2.4 Technical and Usage Data

We collect:

  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: See Section 3 for details.
  • Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the Website (e.g., pages visited, time spent, and links clicked).
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and other technical details.

Purpose: To operate and improve the Website, analyze usage, and ensure security.
Lawful Basis: Legitimate interests (to maintain and enhance Website functionality) and consent (for non-essential cookies).

2.5 Contact and Support Requests

If you contact Us (e.g., via email or a contact form), We collect:

  • Contact Details: Your name, email address, and any other information you provide.
  • Communication Content: The details of your message or inquiry.

Purpose: To respond to your inquiries and provide support.
Lawful Basis: Legitimate interests (to provide customer support) and consent (where you initiate contact).

3. Cookies and Similar exceed Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, provide functionality, and analyze Website usage. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

3.1 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for the Website to function (e.g., temporary cookies to check if your browser accepts cookies, discarded when you close your browser).
  • Functional Cookies:
    • Comment Cookies: If you opt-in to saving your name, email, and website when commenting, these cookies last for one year for convenience.
    • Login Cookies: Save login information and screen display choices. Login cookies last two days, and screen options cookies last one year. Selecting “Remember Me” extends login persistence to two weeks.
    • Article Editing Cookies: Indicate the post ID of an edited article, expiring after one day.
  • Analytics Cookies: Help Us understand how users interact with the Website (e.g., Google Analytics, if used).

3.2 Cookie Consent

In accordance with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), We obtain your consent for non-essential cookies via a cookie banner when you first visit the Website. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through [insert link to cookie settings or instructions].

3.3 Third-Party Cookies

Embedded content (see Section 5) or analytics services may set third-party cookies. These are subject to the respective third parties’ privacy policies.

4. Caching

The Website uses caching to improve response times and user experience. Caching stores temporary copies of web pages, which are not accessed by third parties except as necessary for technical support from Our caching plugin vendor. We may use QUIC.cloud services for caching. See their privacy policy at https://quic.cloud/privacy-policy/ for details.

Cache files are temporary, expire on a schedule set by Us, and may be manually purged if needed.
Purpose: To enhance Website performance.
Lawful Basis: Legitimate interests (to optimize user experience).

5. Embedded Content from Other Websites

The Website may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, or articles) from third-party websites. Embedded content behaves as if you visited the third-party website directly.

These third-party websites may:

  • Collect data about you.
  • Use cookies or other tracking technologies.
  • Monitor your interaction with the embedded content, especially if you are logged into their services (e.g., YouTube, Twitter).

Examples: A YouTube video embedded on Our Website is subject to YouTube’s privacy policy (available at https://policies.google.com/privacy).
Note: We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. Please review their privacy policies.

6. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your data with:

  • Service Providers: Third parties that provide services on Our behalf, such as:
    • Spam detection services (e.g., Akismet for comment moderation).
    • Caching services (e.g., QUIC.cloud).
    • Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics, if used). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and process it only for specified purposes.
  • Legal Obligations: If required by law, regulation, or legal process (e.g., to comply with a court order or protect Our rights).
  • Password Reset: If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email for security purposes.

7. International Data Transfers

If We transfer your personal data outside the UK (e.g., to service providers in the US or EU), We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Adequacy Decisions: Transfers to countries deemed to have adequate data protection by the UK government.
  • Standard Contractual Clauses: Agreements approved by the UK to ensure data protection.
  • Binding Corporate Rules: Where applicable for intra-group transfers.

For example, QUIC.cloud or Gravatar may process data in the US, subject to their respective privacy policies and safeguards.

8. How Long We Retain Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or to comply with legal obligations:

  • Comments: Comments and their metadata (e.g., name, email, IP address) are retained indefinitely to recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically.
  • User Accounts: Profile information is stored for as long as your account remains active. You may request deletion at any time (see Section 9).
  • Cookies: See Section 3 for cookie durations (e.g., comment cookies last one year, login cookies last two days or two weeks).
  • Contact Data: Retained for the duration needed to resolve your inquiry, unless further retention is required (e.g., for legal purposes).
  • Caching Data: Temporary and expires per Our schedule or is manually purged.

Data no longer needed is securely deleted or anonymized.

9. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data We hold about you.
  • Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to exceptions (e.g., data needed for legal obligations).
  • Restriction: Request that We limit processing of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Portability: Request a transferable copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format.
  • Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests (e.g., for analytics or marketing).
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent (e.g., non-essential cookies), without affecting prior processing.
  • Automated Decision-Making: You have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing that significantly affect you. We do not currently engage in such processing.

To exercise these rights, contact Us at info@manthebarricades.co.uk. We will respond within one month, though this may be extended for complex requests. If you are dissatisfied with Our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Specific Actions

  • Comments and Accounts: If you have an account or have left comments, you can request an exported file of your personal data or ask Us to erase it. This does not include data We must retain for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
  • User Profiles: Registered users can view, edit, or delete their personal information (except usernames) via their account settings. Website administrators can also access and edit this information.

10. How We Protect Your Data

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including:

  • Encryption: Secure transmission of data using HTTPS.
  • Access Controls: Restricting access to personal data to authorized personnel only.
  • Regular Reviews: Monitoring and updating security practices to address risks.
  • Third-Party Agreements: Ensuring service providers adhere to data protection standards.

However, no online system is completely secure. You share data with Us at your own risk, and We are not liable for unauthorized access beyond Our control.

11. Children’s Privacy

The Website is not intended for individuals under 16 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16 without verifiable parental consent. If We learn that such data has been collected, We will delete it promptly. If you believe a child under 16 has provided data, please contact us at info@manthebarricades.co.uk.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in Our practices, legal requirements, or Website functionality. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. If changes are significant, We may notify you via email or a Website notice (where feasible).

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or Our data practices, please contact Us at:

  • Email: info@manthebarricades.co.uk