Privacy & Cookie Policy

1. Overview & Data Controller

At spec vl. ("we," "our," or "us"), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting personal information collected through our website (accessible at specvl.com), newsletter dispatches, and affiliated services.

This policy outlines how we collect, process, and safeguard your data, particularly in connection with digital analytics, programmatic advertising networks, third-party content platforms, and your statutory rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK Data Protection Act, and the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the CPRA (CCPA/CPRA).

Designated Data Protection Contact: privacy@specvl.com

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in three ways: direct voluntary submissions, automated technical logs, and third-party advertising/analytics integrations.

• Information You Voluntarily Provide: Email address when subscribing to The Weekly Dispatch, name, company, and project scope submitted through our media kit or editorial contact forms.
• Log Files & Technical Identifiers: Like standard web platforms, our servers automatically record Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser types, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), operating systems, date/time stamps, referring/exit pages, and click counts. These logs are non-personally identifiable and used solely for operational security and performance analysis.
• Cookies & Web Beacons: Data stored in small text files on your device to remember user preferences (such as dark mode selection) and measure engagement.

3. Third-Party Advertising & Ad Networks

To support independent publication and operational research, we partner with third-party advertising networks, exchanges, and demand-side platforms (including Google AdSense, Google DoubleClick, programmatic SSPs, and specialized B2B ad sponsors).

These third-party vendors may use cookies, JavaScript, web beacons, and mobile advertising IDs to serve relevant advertisements based on a user's prior visits to our website or other websites across the Internet:

• Google DoubleClick DART Cookies: Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site. Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads based on your visit to this site and other sites on the Internet.
• Interest-Based / Behavioral Advertising: Ad partners may collect pseudonymous browsing data to deliver advertisements targeted to technical demographics, software interests, and industry verticals.
• Opt-Out Mechanisms: You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting:
  • Google Ads Settings
  • Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) WebChoices Tool
  • Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Consumer Opt-Out
  • European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA)

4. Cookie Classification & Management

Cookies used on spec vl. fall into three distinct functional categories:

You can adjust your browser settings to block or alert you about these cookies, though some features of the site may lose functionality.

5. Rights Under GDPR & UK Data Protection (EEA/UK Residents)

Under European and UK data protection frameworks, you are entitled to:

• The right to access: Request copies of your personal data held by us.
• The right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• The right to erasure: Request that we delete your personal data under certain statutory conditions.
• The right to restrict processing: Request that we limit how your data is processed.
• The right to data portability: Request transfer of your data to another organization.
• The right to object: Object to our processing of personal data for direct marketing or analytics.

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@specvl.com. We respond to verified statutory inquiries within 30 calendar days.

6. California Consumer Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act gives you specific rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Know: The categories and specific pieces of personal information collected, disclosed, or sold.
• Right to Delete: The right to request the deletion of your personal data collected by us.
• Right to Opt-Out: The right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Non-Discrimination: We will never discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

We do not sell personal information in exchange for monetary consideration. However, under California law, sharing cookies with programmatic ad networks may constitute a "share." You can opt out at any time using our Cookie Consent Banner or by emailing privacy@specvl.com with the subject line "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information."

7. Children's Information (COPPA)

spec vl. is a professional B2B publication designed for software founders, engineers, and growth operators. We do not knowingly collect personal identifiable information from children under the age of 16. If you believe your child has submitted personal details on our site, please contact us immediately at privacy@specvl.com and we will promptly remove such records from our databases.