Privacy Policy

Effective date: 2 July 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how the operator of earthquakes.co.uk ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use this website (the "Site"). We designed the Site to collect as little personal information as possible: you can use every feature without creating an account or providing any personal details.

1. Information we collect

Server logs. Like virtually all websites, our hosting provider (Hostinger) automatically records standard technical information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type, device type, the pages you request, referring URL, and the date and time of access. We use this information for security, debugging, and aggregate traffic analysis only.

Cookie consent choice. When you make a choice in our cookie banner, that choice is stored in your browser (see our Cookie Policy) so we do not ask you again.

Correspondence. If you email us, we receive your email address and the contents of your message, which we use solely to respond to you.

We do not knowingly collect any special categories of personal data or any information from children under 16, and the Site is not directed at children.

2. How we use information

We use the information described above to operate, secure, and improve the Site; to analyse aggregate usage; to respond to correspondence; and to comply with legal obligations. We do not sell personal information, and we do not use it for automated decision-making that produces legal effects.

3. Cookies and similar technologies

The Site uses only strictly necessary browser storage by default (your cookie-consent choice). Optional cookies — such as analytics or advertising cookies — are set only if you consent via our cookie banner. Full details, including how to withdraw consent at any time, are in our Cookie Policy.

4. Third-party services

When you use the Site, your browser connects directly to certain third parties whose services are embedded in our pages. These providers receive your IP address as a technical necessity and process it under their own privacy policies:

OpenStreetMap (map tiles), unpkg/CDN (the Leaflet map library), and our hosting provider Hostinger. Earthquake data is fetched from BGS and USGS by our server, not by your browser. News headlines link out to Google News and the original publishers; clicking those links takes you to third-party sites governed by their own policies.

If we enable analytics or advertising in future, those providers will be listed in the Cookie Policy and their cookies will load only with your consent.

5. Affiliate links

Some links on the Site may be affiliate links. If you click one, the merchant or affiliate network may set cookies on their own website and may pay us a commission on qualifying purchases. We do not receive personal information about you from these networks beyond aggregate or pseudonymous commission reporting.

6. Legal bases (UK and EU visitors)

Where the UK GDPR or EU GDPR applies, we process server-log data on the basis of our legitimate interests (site security and operation, Art. 6(1)(f)); optional cookies on the basis of your consent (Art. 6(1)(a)); and correspondence on the basis of our legitimate interest in responding to you.

7. Data retention

Server logs are retained by our hosting provider for a limited period in line with their standard practices. Email correspondence is kept only as long as needed to handle your enquiry. Your cookie-consent choice is stored in your browser for up to 12 months or until you clear it.

8. Data security

The Site is served over HTTPS. We take reasonable administrative and technical measures designed to protect information we hold, consistent with the New York SHIELD Act and other applicable law. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International transfers

The Site may be hosted on, and information may be processed on, servers located outside your country of residence, including in the United States and the European Economic Area. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards recognised by applicable law for such transfers.

10. Your rights

UK and EU visitors: you have the right to request access to, correction or erasure of, or restriction of processing of your personal data; the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests; the right to data portability; and the right to withdraw consent at any time. You may also lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority (in the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office, ico.org.uk).

US visitors: depending on your state of residence, you may have rights to know, access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you. We honour verified requests regardless of state. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under applicable US state privacy laws.

To exercise any right, contact us at contact@earthquakes.co.uk. Given how little data we hold, in most cases the only personal data we control is any email correspondence you have sent us.

11. Do Not Track

The Site does not track visitors across third-party websites and therefore does not respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals. Where technically feasible, we treat Global Privacy Control signals as an opt-out of optional cookies.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be posted on this page with its effective date. Material changes will be indicated by a prominent notice on the Site.

13. Contact

Privacy questions or requests: contact@earthquakes.co.uk.