Information We Receive Automatically
When you visit the Philosophy & Ethics Library, our server records routine log data: your IP address, the type and version of browser and operating system you use, the pages you view, the date and time of each request, and the website that referred you if you followed a link. This information is used to diagnose technical problems, protect against abuse, and understand general usage patterns so that the catalogue can be maintained and improved. Log data is kept for a reasonable period and then deleted or anonymised.
Information You Choose to Send
If you contact us through the email address shown on the site, we receive the contents of your message and the email address you send from. We use this only to respond to your enquiry and do not add it to any marketing list. We do not ask for or store account registrations, payment details, or postal addresses.
Site Preferences
A small number of settings — for example, whether you have dismissed a notice or chosen a display preference — may be stored locally in your browser using mechanisms such as local storage or session storage. This data stays on your device and is not sent to our server unless you actively submit a form.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies for the operation of the site and, where enabled, for analytics and advertising. A cookie is a small text file stored by your browser. We distinguish between:
- Essential cookies — needed for basic functions such as remembering your cookie consent choice. These do not require prior consent.
- Analytics cookies — used, if you have consented, to collect aggregated data about how visitors use the site (e.g., which pages are most popular). We may use a service such as Google Analytics for this purpose. The information collected includes your IP address (which is anonymised where possible), browser type, and browsing behaviour. This data helps us improve the catalogue.
- Advertising cookies — used, if you have consented and where advertising is displayed, to make advertisements more relevant to you. We may allow Google and other third-party ad networks to serve cookies and use web beacons (small transparent images) to measure the effectiveness of ads. These technologies may collect information about your visits to this and other websites to provide interest-based advertising. You can learn more about how Google uses data at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
You can control cookies through your browser settings and through consent management tools provided on the site. Blocking essential cookies may affect site functionality.
Analytics and Advertising
Where analytics are enabled, we process non-personal usage statistics to understand which works and categories — such as Ethics or Logic — are of most interest to readers. This helps us decide which public-domain texts to feature next.
Where advertising is enabled, third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites. You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings (adssettings.google.com). We do not control the data practices of these third parties; we encourage you to review their privacy policies.
Web Beacons
Pages or emails may contain web beacons (also known as clear gifs or pixel tags) that help us count visitors who have viewed a page or opened an email. These are used only for aggregate analytics and are not linked to personal identities.
How We Use Your Data
We use the data we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and secure the website.
- To understand how readers interact with the catalogue and to improve its content and usability.
- To communicate with you if you have contacted us.
- To serve relevant advertisements, where enabled, and to measure their performance.
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of use.
Data Sharing and Service Providers
We do not sell your personal information. We may share non-personal, aggregated data publicly or with partners such as analytics and advertising providers. We use limited service providers (e.g., hosting, email, analytics) who have access to data only as necessary to perform their functions and are contractually bound to protect it. These providers may be located in countries with different data protection laws.
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure, or access. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Server logs are retained for a limited period and then deleted or anonymised. Email correspondence is retained only for the duration of the enquiry and any follow-up.
Your Choices and Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, correct, delete, or port your data, and the right to object to or restrict processing. You may also have the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent. To exercise these rights, please contact us at the email address below. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.
You can control cookies and similar technologies through your browser settings and through the consent tool on this site. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the site.
For analytics and advertising cookies, you can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on (tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout). You can opt out of personalised advertising by Google at adssettings.google.com.
Children's Privacy
This site is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal data, we will take steps to delete it. We encourage parents and guardians to monitor children's online activity.
External Links
The catalogue may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
International Access
The Philosophy & Ethics Library is based in New Zealand and is accessible from many countries. If you access the site from outside New Zealand, please be aware that your data may be transferred to, stored, and processed in New Zealand or other countries where our service providers operate. By using the site, you consent to such transfer, storage, and processing in accordance with this policy.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page, and if the changes are material, we may notify you by a notice on the site. Your continued use of the site after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.