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So I Looked It Up

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Privacy notice

Last updated: 4 September 2026

This notice explains how So I Looked It Up handles personal information when you read the publication, contact us, manage cookie choices or join the newsletter.

Who we are

Controller/operator: So I Looked It Up, an independent publication operating in the United Kingdom.

Privacy contact: hello@soilookeditup.com

Information we process

  • Contact and correction messages: your email address, your name if supplied, the message and any other information you choose to include.
  • Newsletter subscriptions: your email address, consent and confirmation records, subscription status, and operational records such as delivery, bounce and unsubscribe events. MailPoet may also process limited technical information needed to deliver mail and prevent abuse. We do not add anyone to the marketing list without double opt-in.
  • Consent choices: the categories you accept or reject and the information needed to remember and apply that decision.
  • Website analytics: if you accept Analytics, Google Analytics may process page URLs, referrers, interactions, device and browser information, approximate location derived from network information, and pseudonymous online identifiers.
  • Advertising information: if you accept Advertising and advertising is activated, Google may process consent signals, online identifiers, device information and ad interactions for the purposes you permit. The public AdSense setup is not yet complete.
  • Technical and security data: IONOS and WordPress may process IP address, browser or device information, requested URLs, timestamps and diagnostic or security logs needed to deliver and protect the site.

Why we process it

  • To answer messages, assess corrections and maintain appropriate editorial records, based on our legitimate interests in operating an accountable publication and communicating with readers.
  • To operate, secure and troubleshoot the site and prevent abuse, based on our legitimate interests in maintaining a safe and reliable service.
  • To send the newsletter after you confirm your subscription, based on consent. You can withdraw that consent at any time through the unsubscribe link in every email.
  • To measure readership through Google Analytics only after you accept Analytics, based on consent.
  • To measure or personalise advertising only after you accept Advertising and the relevant advertising service is activated, based on consent.
  • To comply with legal obligations or establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary.

Refusing Analytics or Advertising has no effect on your ability to read articles. Newsletter consent is separate from cookie consent.

Service providers and recipients

  • IONOS provides the domain, WordPress hosting and email-forwarding infrastructure. See IONOS data-protection information.
  • Microsoft/Outlook receives messages forwarded from the public contact address. See the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
  • Google provides Site Kit, Google Analytics and the incomplete AdSense setup. Analytics and advertising storage are controlled through the consent panel. See Google’s Privacy Policy and how Google uses information from partner sites.
  • MailPoet/Automattic provides newsletter list management and, once the account connection is completed, email delivery. See Automattic’s Privacy Notice.
  • Complianz and WP Consent API provide the on-site consent interface and communication of consent states. Remote Complianz website scanning and Cookiedatabase.org synchronisation are not enabled.

We do not sell personal information. We disclose it only as needed to run the services above, follow your instructions, comply with law or protect legal rights.

International transfers

Our providers and their subprocessors may process information in the United Kingdom, the EEA or other countries. Where UK data-protection law restricts a transfer, the relevant provider safeguards apply, such as UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or approved contractual clauses and addenda.

How long we keep information

  • Contact and correction correspondence is kept only as long as reasonably needed to respond, maintain an appropriate correction record, protect legal rights or meet a legal obligation.
  • Newsletter information is kept while you remain subscribed. After unsubscribe, a minimal suppression record may be retained so we do not add or email the address again by mistake. Delivery and bounce records are kept according to the configured MailPoet service settings and operational need.
  • The current browser consent preference is configured for 30 days unless you change or clear it sooner.
  • Analytics retention is controlled in the Google Analytics property and can also be shortened by browser deletion or withdrawal of consent.
  • Technical and security logs are retained according to operational, security and hosting needs, then deleted or anonymised when no longer required.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and data portability. You may withdraw consent at any time without affecting processing that was lawful before withdrawal.

To exercise a right, email hello@soilookeditup.com. You may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Automated decisions

We do not use personal information to make decisions about readers that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

Changes to this notice

This notice is reviewed whenever the publication adds or changes providers, tracking, advertising or subscription features. The date above records the latest material update.