Cookie Policy
Effective Date: August 10, 2026
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how 9talks uses cookies and similar technologies. 9talks is an independent, unincorporated publishing platform — it is not a registered company, corporation, or legal entity. Despite not being an incorporated entity, we respect the privacy rights of all visitors, including those afforded under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws.
By continuing to browse 9talks, you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies as described below.
2. Do We Use Third-Party Trackers?
No third-party advertising or profiling trackers.
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other third-party advertising, marketing, or profiling trackers. We do not embed social media tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or profiling scripts from outside companies. There are no third-party ad networks on 9talks.
The only third-party analytics tool we use is Vercel Analytics, which is a privacy-respecting, first-party analytics service built into our hosting platform. It collects only aggregated, anonymized traffic metrics (page views, country-level geography, device type, referrer). It does not set cross-site tracking cookies, does not collect personal identifiers, and does not sell or share data.
3. What Cookies & Technologies Do We Use?
We use a minimal set of first-party cookies and browser storage technologies. Here is the complete list:
| Cookie / Technology | Purpose | Data Collected |
|---|---|---|
| 9talks Internal Tracker | To measure article view counts, view duration, and email subscription activity | Anonymous/pseudonymous data: article IDs viewed, view duration, subscription events. No names, emails, or browsing history from other sites. |
| Vercel Analytics | Aggregated, privacy-respecting platform traffic metrics | Page views, country-level geography, device type, referrer. No personal identifiers. No cross-site tracking. |
| localStorage (Theme) | To remember your dark/light theme preference | A single string value: "dark" or "light". No personal data. |
| sessionStorage (Admin) | To maintain admin session during browser use | Admin session token. Cleared when browser closes. Not a persistent cookie. |
| Supabase Auth Session | To maintain your login session after email OTP verification | Authentication token (JWT). No personal data stored in the cookie itself. |
4. What We Track (and What We Don't)
We track:
- How many times an article is viewed and for how long
- Whether a visitor subscribed to email updates (event count only)
- General traffic patterns within 9talks (e.g., which articles and categories are popular)
- Aggregated page visits, country-level geography, and device type via Vercel Analytics
We do NOT track:
- Your identity or real name (unless you voluntarily create an account)
- Your activity on other websites
- Your precise location beyond country level
- Your device fingerprint for advertising
- Any data for sale, profiling, or third-party sharing
- Your behavior for targeted advertising
5. Legal Basis (GDPR)
Under GDPR, our use of cookies and similar technologies is based on the following legal bases:
Legitimate Interest: Our internal tracker and Vercel Analytics collect anonymized, aggregated data to understand platform usage and improve content. We do not use this data to profile individuals or for advertising.
Contract / Authentication: The Supabase Auth session cookie is necessary to provide the service you requested — maintaining your login session after you verify your email. Without it, account features (comments, profiles) cannot function.
Consent: Email subscriptions are opt-in. You provide your email voluntarily and can withdraw consent at any time by unsubscribing.
Because we do not use third-party marketing or advertising cookies, we do not require a complex consent banner. If you prefer to block our internal tracker or Vercel Analytics entirely, you can do so via your browser settings or by enabling "Do Not Track."
6. How Long Do Cookies Last?
- Internal tracker cookies — expire after 30 days or upon your browser session ending, whichever comes first. We do not maintain long-term tracking profiles.
- Vercel Analytics — does not set persistent cookies. Uses short-lived, privacy-preserving tokens that are periodically reset.
- localStorage (theme) — persists indefinitely until you clear browser data. Contains only a theme string.
- sessionStorage (admin) — cleared when your browser session ends.
- Supabase Auth session — persists for the duration of your login session. Cleared when you sign out.
7. How to Manage or Disable Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage cookies
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
You can also enable "Do Not Track" in your browser settings. While we do not actively respond to DNT signals for our internal tracker, most browsers will block the associated cookies if DNT is enabled and third-party cookies are blocked.
8. No Legal Entity Status
9talks is not a registered company, corporation, or legal entity. While we honor privacy principles and GDPR in good faith, this may affect formal enforcement mechanisms. If you have unresolved concerns, you may also contact your local data protection authority (DPA).
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy if our tracking technology changes. Any updates will be posted here with a revised effective date.
10. Contact
For questions about cookies or tracking:
Email: team@9talks.com
Founder / Data Contact: M71 (Mritunjay)
9talks does not sell data, does not use third-party advertising trackers, and processes only what is strictly necessary to operate the platform. Our analytics exist only to help us understand what content resonates — not who you are.