Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 1, 2025

Welcome to my privacy policy. I know, I know—nobody actually reads these things. But since you’re here (probably because you accidentally clicked a link or because you’re extremely thorough), I’ll make this as painless and transparent as possible.

This privacy policy explains how I, Charline Vanhoenacker, collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit this website. As a French citizen who spent months navigating American immigration bureaucracy, I have deep appreciation for data privacy rights. Also, I’m legally required to have this page, so here we are.

The Short Version (TL;DR)

I collect minimal data about your visit to understand who’s reading my work and how they found it. I don’t sell your information to anyone. I don’t spam you. I use standard web analytics and cookies like virtually every other website on earth. If you want the detailed legal version, keep reading. If not, the key point is: I respect your privacy because I’d want mine respected.

Who I Am and How to Contact Me

Website Owner: Charline Vanhoenacker
Website: [Your website URL]
Email: [Your contact email]
Location: New York, NY, United States

I’m a 22-year-old French satirical journalist writing for Bohiney Magazine and maintaining this personal diary/blog. I’m the data controller for this website, which is a fancy legal way of saying “I’m responsible for protecting your data and not being creepy with it.”

What Information I Collect and Why

1. Information You Voluntarily Provide

Contact Forms: If you use the contact form on this site, I collect your name, email address, and whatever message you choose to send me. I use this information solely to respond to your inquiry. I don’t add you to marketing lists without your explicit permission. Your message gets saved in my email and potentially in my website’s database, but I’m not selling your contact information to third parties or using it for anything other than responding to you.

Newsletter Subscriptions: If I ever implement a newsletter (still debating whether anyone wants more email), you’d need to provide your email address. I would use this exclusively to send you updates about new articles and diary entries. You can unsubscribe anytime, and I promise not to send seventeen follow-up emails begging you to come back.

Comments: If you comment on any posts (assuming I enable comments, which I might not because internet comments are often a disaster), you’ll need to provide a name and email address. Your email won’t be publicly displayed, but your name and comment will be visible to other readers. I reserve the right to moderate comments, delete spam, and ban people who are jerks.

2. Information Automatically Collected

Analytics Data: Like approximately 90% of websites on the internet, I use Google Analytics to understand who visits my site. This means Google collects information about your visit including:

• Your IP address (anonymized)
• Your browser type and version
• Pages you visit on my site
• How long you spend reading (probably not long enough, let’s be honest)
• What website referred you here
• Your approximate geographic location (city/country level, not your exact address)
• Device type (mobile, desktop, tablet)

I use this data to answer questions like: Are people actually reading my diary entries? Which satirical articles are most popular? Are my attempts at SEO working? Is anyone outside New York reading this? The data is aggregated and anonymous—I can’t identify you personally from Google Analytics data.

Server Logs: My web hosting service (like all web hosting services) automatically logs technical information when you visit, including IP addresses, browser information, and pages accessed. This is standard internet infrastructure stuff, not me being creepy. The logs help diagnose technical problems and prevent security issues.

Cookies: Ah yes, cookies. Not the delicious French pastry kind (though I wish). My website uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device that help the website remember information about your visit.

Types of cookies I use:

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly (like remembering you’re logged in, if that feature exists)
• Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to track site usage
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and choices

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some website features might not work properly if you do. Most browsers accept cookies by default, so if you object to cookies, you’ll need to actively disable them.

How I Use Your Information

I use the information I collect for these purposes:

• To improve the website: Understanding what content people read helps me write more of what actually interests readers
• To respond to inquiries: If you contact me, I need your email to respond
• To analyze traffic: Seeing where readers come from helps me understand what’s working
• To comply with legal obligations: Sometimes I’m legally required to maintain certain records
• To prevent abuse: Monitoring for spam, bots, and malicious activity

I do NOT use your information to:

• Sell to third parties or data brokers
• Send unsolicited marketing emails
• Track you across other websites (beyond standard Google Analytics)
• Build detailed personal profiles for advertising
• Share with anyone unless legally required or with your permission

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

I use some third-party services to operate this website. Here’s who has access to what:

Google Analytics

I use Google Analytics to understand website traffic. Google collects and processes data according to their own privacy policy. I’ve configured Google Analytics to anonymize IP addresses. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Web Hosting Provider

My website is hosted by [hosting provider name]. They have access to server logs and technical data as part of providing hosting services. They’re contractually obligated to protect this data.

Email Service Provider

If you contact me via the contact form, your message may be processed through an email service provider. They handle transmission securely but have technical access to the content.

Social Media Platforms

If I embed social media content (tweets, Instagram posts, etc.), those platforms may collect data about your visit according to their own privacy policies. If you’re logged into those platforms, they may track your interaction with embedded content.

Advertising Networks

Currently, I don’t run third-party advertising on this site. If that changes in the future, I’ll update this policy to explain what data advertising partners collect.

International Data Transfers

I’m based in the United States, and this website is hosted on U.S. servers. If you’re visiting from the European Union, United Kingdom, or other regions with different data protection laws, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States.

The U.S. doesn’t have the same data protection laws as the EU (trust me, as a French immigrant, I’ve noticed). However, I comply with applicable data protection regulations and use services that maintain appropriate safeguards.

Your Rights Regarding Your Data

For EU/UK Visitors (GDPR Rights)

If you’re in the EU or UK, you have specific rights under GDPR:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
• Right to Rectification: You can ask me to correct inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: You can request that I delete your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can ask me to limit how I use your data
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: You can object to certain types of data processing
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it

To exercise these rights, contact me at [your email]. I’ll respond within one month.

For California Visitors (CCPA Rights)

If you’re a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to Know: You can request what personal information I collect and how I use it
• Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: You can opt out of sale of personal information (though I don’t sell data anyway)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: I won’t discriminate against you for exercising your rights

For Everyone Else

Regardless of where you’re located, I respect your privacy. If you want to know what data I have about you, request deletion, or correct inaccurate information, just email me. I’ll do my best to accommodate reasonable requests.

Data Security

I take reasonable precautions to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes:

• Using HTTPS encryption for all website traffic
• Choosing reputable third-party services with strong security practices
• Limiting access to personal data to only what’s necessary
• Regularly updating website software and security measures

However, no website is 100% secure. I can’t guarantee absolute security, and you provide information at your own risk. If I become aware of a data breach affecting your information, I’ll notify you as required by law.

Data Retention

I retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Contact form messages: Retained until the inquiry is resolved, then deleted or archived
• Analytics data: Google Analytics retains data for 26 months by default
• Server logs: Typically retained for 30-90 days for security purposes
• Comments (if enabled): Retained indefinitely unless you request deletion

If you request deletion of your data, I’ll comply within a reasonable timeframe unless I’m legally required to retain certain information.

Children’s Privacy

This website is not intended for children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU). I don’t knowingly collect personal information from children. If I discover that a child has provided personal information, I’ll delete it immediately. If you believe a child has provided information to this site, please contact me.

Links to Other Websites

My website contains links to other websites, including my articles on Bohiney Magazine and various sources I reference. I’m not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. When you click external links, you’re subject to those websites’ privacy policies. I encourage you to read their policies (though I know you won’t, because nobody does).

Changes to This Privacy Policy

I may update this privacy policy occasionally to reflect changes in my practices or legal requirements. When I make significant changes, I’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

If I make major changes that significantly affect your privacy rights, I’ll provide more prominent notice (like a banner on the homepage or email notification if I have your email).

Legal Basis for Processing (EU Visitors)

For EU visitors, I process your personal data based on these legal grounds:

• Legitimate Interest: Analytics and site improvement serve my legitimate interest in understanding my audience
• Consent: Newsletter subscriptions and optional cookies are based on your consent
• Contractual Necessity: If you engage my services, processing is necessary to fulfill that contract
• Legal Obligation: Some data retention is required by law

Complaints and Disputes

If you have concerns about how I handle your data, please contact me first at [your email]. I’ll try to resolve any issues directly.

EU/UK residents have the right to lodge a complaint with their national data protection authority if they believe I’m violating data protection laws.

The Slightly Sarcastic But Entirely Honest Conclusion

Look, I’m a 22-year-old satirical journalist maintaining a personal blog and diary. I’m not a massive corporation harvesting your data to sell targeted advertisements for products you don’t need. I use basic web analytics to understand who’s reading my work, and I protect your information to the best of my ability.

I spent months navigating American immigration bureaucracy to get citizenship during Trump’s second term. I understand bureaucracy, privacy concerns, and the importance of transparency. I also understand that most people won’t read this entire policy, but I’ve written it clearly and honestly for those who do.

If you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat about data privacy, contact me. I’m surprisingly responsive for someone my age.

Contact Information for Privacy Inquiries:
Email: [Your email address]
Subject Line: “Privacy Policy Question” (so I don’t delete it thinking it’s spam)

Thanks for reading this far. Seriously. You’re one of approximately 0.3% of visitors who actually read privacy policies. You deserve recognition for your thoroughness.

Charline Vanhoenacker
Satirical Journalist, Privacy Policy Author, Person Who Actually Respects Your Data

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Last Updated: November 1, 2025
Version: 1.0
Next Review Date: May 1, 2026