Cookie Policy
Last updated: October 2, 2026.
What Cookies and Similar Technologies Are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember actions and preferences over time. Similar technologies include web beacons, pixels and local storage that can store or access information on your device. These tools can record details such as your IP address, browser type, pages visited and time spent on the site. In Canada, their use is governed by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act when personal information is involved.
Why the Site Uses Cookies
hotzenrak operates a commercial news website serving Canadian readers. Cookies help deliver current articles, maintain basic site functions and understand audience interests without creating unnecessary profiles. They support reliable performance on news pages and allow measurement of how content is consumed across devices. Without them many features would not work as intended.
Categories of Cookies We Employ
Strictly necessary cookies enable core navigation and security. Functional cookies remember choices such as language or display preferences. Analytics or performance cookies collect aggregated statistics on visitor behaviour. Advertising or targeting cookies may be used to limit ad repetition and measure campaign results. Social media cookies can appear if sharing features are present, although our site does not host active social plugins that track users across sessions.
First-Party Versus Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set directly by hotzenrak and stay within our domain. They handle session management and basic preferences. Third-party cookies come from external providers such as content delivery networks or measurement services. These may be placed when a page loads an external script. We limit third-party use to services that support Canadian privacy standards and require contractual safeguards.
Session Versus Persistent Cookies
Session cookies exist only while your browser is open and are deleted when you close it. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a defined period or until manually removed. Necessary cookies often expire at the end of the session. Analytics cookies may persist for up to twenty-four months to allow year-over-year comparison of readership trends. Retention periods are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain justified.
Data Handled and Purpose of Each Category
Necessary cookies process minimal identifiers needed for page loading and form security. Functional cookies store non-sensitive settings such as text size. Analytics cookies record page views, referral sources and device information in aggregated form to improve content layout. Advertising cookies may capture interaction data to report on ad performance without creating individual profiles for Canadian visitors. All data is handled in accordance with PIPEDA consent principles.
Consent or Exemption Basis Under Canadian Law
Under PIPEDA, consent is required when personal information is collected. Strictly necessary cookies are exempt because they are essential for the service requested. Other categories rely on implied or express consent obtained through our site-wide cookie banner. Visitors may withdraw consent at any time. We do not use cookies for purposes that would require explicit opt-in under CASL unless the activity falls outside the current policy scope.
Cookie Providers and Durations
The following providers illustrate typical tools used on a Canadian news platform. Necessary session cookies from our own servers last until the browser closes. Analytics cookies from Google Analytics persist for up to two years and collect aggregated visit data. Performance cookies from content networks expire after twelve months. Advertising identifiers from approved partners are refreshed every ninety days. Full lists are maintained in our consent manager and updated as services change.
How the Consent Manager Works
Our cookie banner appears on first visit and allows selection of categories. You can accept all, reject non-essential cookies or adjust preferences. Choices are stored for twelve months. To change settings later, return to the banner link in the footer or contact us. Withdrawal of consent does not affect previously collected aggregated data but stops further processing in the rejected categories.
Browser-Level Controls and Consequences
Most browsers allow blocking or deleting cookies through settings. Disabling necessary cookies may prevent the site from loading articles or submitting contact forms. Blocking analytics cookies reduces our ability to improve content but does not stop core reading functions. Persistent cookies can be cleared manually. These controls operate independently of our consent manager.
International Transfers and Related Policies
Some third-party providers may process data outside Canada. We select partners that maintain comparable protection levels. A full description of data handling practices appears in our Privacy Policy, which is referenced here for cross-border transfer details.
Policy Changes and Contact Information
We review this policy periodically and update it when practices or regulations change. The current version is dated October 2, 2026. For questions about cookies or to exercise rights under PIPEDA, please use the contact form on our Contacts page or reach [email protected], 1-866-306-4636 or P.O. Box 500 Station A, Toronto, ON, Canada M5W 1E6. We respond to all legitimate inquiries within thirty days.