Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2026

StormFan.co.uk ("the Site", "we", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, why, and how it's used. This Site is based in the UK and this policy is written with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 in mind.

1. Who we are

StormFan, operating StormFan.co.uk, is the data controller for personal data collected through this Site. You can contact us at contact@stormfan.co.uk.

2. What data we collect

Depending on how you use the Site, we may collect:

• Account information — such as a username, email address, and password (stored securely/hashed), if you register to post commentary or comments.
• User content — commentary, comments, and any other content you choose to submit, along with the date/time posted.
• Technical data — IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited, collected automatically for security, moderation (e.g. investigating flagged content or abuse), and site performance purposes.
• Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 5 below.

We do not knowingly collect any special category data (e.g. health, religion, political opinions) and ask that you don't include such information in anything you post.

3. How we use your data

We use your data to:

• Create and manage your account
• Display your commentary/comments on the Site
• Investigate flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use
• Maintain the security and proper functioning of the Site
• Respond to enquiries you send us
• Show relevant advertising (see Section 6)

4. Legal basis for processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal bases:

• Contract — to provide the Site's features to registered users (e.g. posting commentary)
• Legitimate interests — to moderate content, maintain security, and improve the Site
• Consent — for non-essential cookies (see below), which you can accept or decline
• Legal obligation — where we're required to act on illegal content, including reporting certain content to the relevant authorities where required by law

5. Cookies

The Site uses cookies for:

• Essential functions — such as keeping you logged in
• Advertising — this Site uses Google AdSense, which may set cookies to serve and personalise adverts based on your browsing activity. Google may use this data in line with its own privacy policy. You can control ad personalisation through Google's Ad Settings and manage cookies generally through your browser settings.

Where required, we will ask for your consent to non-essential cookies via a cookie banner when you first visit the Site.

6. Advertising

We display adverts through Google AdSense to help cover the cost of running this Site. Google may collect and use data (such as cookies and device identifiers) to serve personalised ads. We do not control how Google processes this data — see Google's Privacy & Terms for details, including how to opt out of personalised advertising.

7. Sharing your data

We don't sell your personal data. We may share data with:

• Our hosting provider, to the extent necessary to run the Site
• Google (via AdSense), for advertising purposes as described above
• Law enforcement or regulators, where required by law (for example, in relation to illegal content)

8. Data retention

We keep account and content data for as long as your account is active, or as needed to fulfil the purposes described above. If you delete your account, we will remove or anonymise your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we're required to retain it for legal reasons (e.g. records relating to a moderation or legal issue).

9. Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data (subject to legal exceptions)
• Object to or restrict certain processing
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@stormfan.co.uk. You also have the right to complain to the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), if you believe your data has been mishandled.

10. Children

This Site is not specifically directed at children, and we ask that users posting commentary or accounts be old enough to do so under our Terms of Use. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data without appropriate consent, please contact us so we can address it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "last updated" date.

12. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Contact us at contact@stormfan.co.uk.