Starliner.net is a reader-facing website about space exploration and speculative futures. This page explains what information we collect when you visit, why we collect it, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to anyone who visits starliner.net or its subpages. It covers the website itself and the third-party services embedded in it. It does not cover external sites we link to; those have their own privacy policies.
Information we collect
We do not ask you to create an account, sign in, or submit personal details in order to read the site. The only personal information Starliner.net directly receives is what you voluntarily send by email to the address on our Contact page.
When your browser loads a page on Starliner.net, it automatically provides technical information to our hosting provider and to the third-party services listed below. This typically includes:
- IP address (used for routing and, by third parties, for coarse location and fraud prevention)
- Browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen size
- The URL you requested and the URL you came from (referrer)
- Date and time of the request
- Language preference sent by your browser
Cookies and similar technologies
Starliner.net uses cookies and equivalent storage (such as localStorage) for two purposes: to keep the site working correctly and to understand how pages are used in aggregate. The analytics cookies are set by Google. See the Cookie Policy for the full list and for guidance on opting out.
Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand which pages readers find useful and how the site is performing. Google Analytics sets cookies and processes technical data described above in order to generate aggregate reports. IP addresses are handled according to Google's current documentation for the service; we do not attempt to re-identify individual visitors from analytics data.
You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google's official opt-out browser add-on, by blocking or deleting cookies or using tracking protection in your browser, or by using the controls described in the Cookie Policy.
Advertising
Starliner.net does not currently display advertising, and no advertising code runs on the site. If that changes, we will update this policy before any ads appear.
Third-party services
The following third parties may receive information when you visit the site:
- Google — Analytics and Fonts. Fonts are loaded from fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com, which receive your IP address and the page URL in order to deliver the font files.
- Hosting provider — Receives the technical request information described above in order to serve pages.
Each of these parties has its own privacy policy governing how that information is used.
How we use information
Information collected through Starliner.net is used to:
- Deliver pages and assets to your browser reliably
- Understand aggregate readership (what people read, on what devices, from where in general terms)
- Protect the site against abuse, spam, and automated scraping
- Reply to messages you send to our contact email
We do not sell personal information. We do not use information about you to build profiles beyond the aggregate analytics described above.
Legal bases (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with similar rules, the legal bases under which we process information are:
- Legitimate interests — for operating the site, measuring aggregate usage, and keeping the site secure.
- Consent — where local law requires consent for analytics cookies. The site does not currently display a cookie consent banner; you can refuse or withdraw consent at any time by blocking or deleting Google Analytics cookies or installing Google's opt-out add-on, as described in the Cookie Policy.
- Contractual necessity — where you email us and we need to reply.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights over information that identifies you:
- The right to know what is held about you and to request a copy
- The right to request correction of inaccurate information
- The right to request deletion
- The right to object to certain processing, including direct marketing
- The right to withdraw consent for processing based on consent
- The right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority
Readers in California have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and its amendments, including the right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information as those terms are defined in the statute. Starliner.net does not sell personal information. To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected] with a brief description of your request.
Data retention
Server access logs are retained for a short period for security and troubleshooting purposes and are then discarded or anonymised. Aggregate analytics data is retained according to the retention settings configured in Google Analytics; these settings can be adjusted at any time and are currently set to the minimum period consistent with running the site. Emails you send us are retained only as long as needed to answer them.
Children
Starliner.net is a general-audience site and is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16, where applicable). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
International transfers
The services that power this site, including Google Analytics and Google Fonts, are operated globally and may process information outside the country from which you are visiting. These transfers are carried out under the safeguards described by the relevant third party in their own privacy documentation.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "last reviewed" date at the bottom of this page. Continued use of Starliner.net after changes become effective constitutes acknowledgement of the updated policy.
Contact
For any privacy-related question or request, email [email protected]. For general ad policy information from Google, see the Google ads policy.
Last reviewed on 2026-10-03.