Privacy policy

Last updated

This policy explains what personal information WeWillExplain (“we”, “us”) collects, why, who sees it, and the choices you have. We keep it deliberately short and plain. Reading the site needs no account and collects no profile about you.

1. What we collect

If you only read

Like every website, our servers (and our hosting provider’s) receive your IP address, browser type and the pages you request. This appears in routine server logs used for security, fixing errors and keeping the site running.

If you create an account

Your name, email address, and either a password (stored only as a one-way hash, never in readable form) or, if you use Continue with Google or Continue with Apple, the identifier, name and email address that provider sends us. We also store when you joined, whether your email is verified, and your role on the site.

If you comment, chat or save articles

  • Comments are held for review and, once approved, shown publicly with your name and the date.
  • Chatroom messages are public to everyone who visits the chatroom. Only the most recent messages are kept; older ones are deleted automatically.
  • Reading list items are private to you.

Emails we send you

Only service emails: confirming your address, resetting your password, and similar account messages. We do not send marketing email.

2. Why we use it, and our legal basis

  • To run your account, comments, chatroom and reading list (performing our agreement with you).
  • To keep the site secure and prevent spam and abuse, including rate limiting and moderation (our legitimate interests).
  • To meet legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.
  • Where you use a Google or Apple sign-in, because you asked us to.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising or profiling.

3. Who else is involved

  • Our hosting provider stores the site, its database and its logs.
  • Google Fonts serves the fonts used on every page. Your browser requests them directly from Google, so Google receives your IP address and browser details. See Google’s privacy policy.
  • Google and Apple, only if you choose to sign in with them. Their own policies apply on their pages.
  • Search engines may be told when a public page is added or changed. These notices contain only the public page address, never personal data.

We currently run no analytics or advertising services. If that changes, we will name them here before they start.

4. Cookies

We use one essential session cookie. Details are in the cookie policy.

5. How long we keep it

  • Account details: until you delete your account.
  • Reading list, verification and reset links: removed when you delete your account (links also expire).
  • Comments and chat messages: when you delete your account they are no longer linked to you, but the text of an already-published comment or message may remain until a moderator removes it or the chatroom prunes it. Ask us if you want something removed sooner.
  • Server logs: kept for a limited period by our host, then rotated out.

6. Your choices and rights

You can change your name and password, or delete your account, yourself from your account page. Depending on where you live (for example the UK/EU under the GDPR, or California under the CCPA/CPRA) you may also have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to our use of your data, to receive a copy of it, and to complain to your data protection authority. To use any of these rights, email us at contact@wewillexplain.com. We will reply within the time the law requires and may need to confirm it is really you.

7. Children

WeWillExplain is not directed at children under 13, and accounts are for people aged 13 or over (or the minimum age of digital consent where you live, if higher). If you believe a child has given us personal information, tell us and we will delete it.

8. International transfers

Our hosting and the services above may process data in countries other than your own. Where required, we rely on the safeguards those providers offer.

9. Security

Passwords are hashed, forms are protected against forgery, and secrets are kept outside the public web folder. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a strong, unique password.

10. Changes

When we change this policy we will update the date below. For significant changes we will also put a notice on the site.

11. Contact

Questions about privacy: contact@wewillexplain.com