Our Privacy Policy: Your Data & Your Rights

Here at Olympic Favela, we believe in being as transparent about your data as we are opinionated about UK photography and the legacy of London 2012. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our content, from documentary photo book reviews to analysis of UK Olympic sports betting and casino tourism. We are committed to handling your data responsibly and in compliance with United Kingdom data protection laws.

What Information We Collect and Why

We collect information to help us run this blog, tailor our editorial content, and understand what our readers find valuable, whether that’s an article on UK Olympic sports betting odds or a feature on the regeneration around the London Stadium, Stratford. The data we gather falls into two main categories.

Information You Voluntarily Provide

This includes details you give us directly, such as when you:

  • Post a comment on an article.
  • Subscribe to our email newsletter.
  • Contact us via email or a contact form.

This data typically includes your name, email address, and any content of your messages or comments.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our site, we automatically collect certain technical data, which may include:

  • Your IP address and general location (country/city level).
  • Browser type and device information.
  • Pages you view and how you interact with them.

This helps us diagnose technical issues and see which topics, like reviews of UK sports venue casinos or photo essays on East London, engage our audience most.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Like most websites, we use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and understand site usage, particularly for editorial pieces exploring themes like the casino tourism legacy of the Stratford area post-2012.

Essential Cookies

These are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They manage things like user sessions and security.

Analytics & Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see how users navigate the site. This information helps us improve the structure and content of our blog.

Third-Party Advertising Cookies

We may allow third-party advertisers to use cookies to collect information about your interests to show you relevant ads on our site and elsewhere online. You can manage these preferences through your browser settings.

How We Use Analytics

We use data analytics to shape our editorial direction and ensure our content remains relevant to our UK audience.

Purpose of Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), configured with UK data protection in mind, to analyse aggregated user behaviour. This shows us which articles—whether they’re about British Olympic gambling trends or the latest photobook releases—are most popular and how readers discover them.

Controlling Analytics Data

You can opt-out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. We have configured our GA4 setup to respect user privacy signals and to anonymise data where possible.

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

We use trusted third-party services to operate our blog, send newsletters, and display advertising. We only share data with processors under strict contractual agreements and we never sell your personal data.

Email Marketing

For our newsletter, we use Mailchimp to store subscriber lists and send emails. When you sign up, your email and name are transferred to and stored by Mailchimp under their privacy policy.

Advertising Partners

We may use advertising networks like Google AdSense. These partners use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our site and others.

Content & Hosting Platforms

Our website is hosted on a platform that processes server logs and technical data necessary for keeping the site online and secure.

Your Rights Under UK GDPR and Data Protection Law

As a UK-focused blog, we adhere to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). You have significant rights regarding your personal data.

Your Key Rights

Under UK law, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate data.
  • Request deletion of your data.
  • Object to our processing of your data.
  • Request we transfer your data to another service.
  • Withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent).

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within one month, as required by UK law.

How Long We Retain Your Data

We only retain your data for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy.

Retention Periods by Data Type

  • Comment Data: Retained indefinitely to maintain the conversation thread.
  • Analytics Data: Retained in Google Analytics 4 for 26 months.
  • Newsletter Data: Retained in Mailchimp until you unsubscribe.
  • Backup Data: Site backups containing user data are held securely for up to 30 days.

Data Deletion

You can request deletion of your personal data at any time (see ‘Your Rights’ above). We will also proactively delete or anonymise data that is no longer needed for its original purpose.

Contacting Us About Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Our Contact Details

For all privacy-related inquiries, including requests to access or delete your data, please email: [email protected].

Lodging a Complaint

While we hope to resolve any issue directly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with our lead supervisory authority, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), if you are unhappy with how we have handled your data.

We pledge to keep this policy updated as our blog evolves, ensuring our approach to your privacy remains as clear and considered as our editorial voice on UK photography and the complex legacy of London 2012.