Privacy Policy

Who we are

Beyond the Craft is the operator and data controller for this website. It is an anonymous, independent educational project and is not an official website of UGLE, Freemasonry or any Masonic body.

Privacy enquiries can be sent to beyondthecraft1604@gmail.com. We do not publish a personal home address.

What this policy covers

This policy covers information processed through the Beyond the Craft website. External websites linked from our pages operate under their own privacy policies and controls.

Information collected automatically

When hosting, security, analytics or advertising services are active, technical information may be collected automatically. This may include your IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, approximate location, pages visited, referring pages, engagement information and advertising identifiers where consent applies.

We use or permit this information only for the purposes described below, including delivering the site, maintaining security, preventing fraud, understanding service performance and providing advertising where enabled and permitted.

Google Analytics

The Site uses Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate traffic and improve its educational content. Google Analytics loads only when you grant analytics consent through the Site's privacy controls.

Google Analytics may process page views, article-reading progress, country and order selections, map and route-finder interactions, search use and result counts, outbound source visits, affiliate-link clicks, approximate location, browser, device and operating-system information, referring pages and identifiers stored in Analytics cookies. The Site does not send search query text to Google Analytics. Advertising signals and ad-personalisation signals are disabled in the Site's Analytics configuration. Read Google's Privacy Policy.

Amazon affiliate links

The Reading List contains links to Amazon.co.uk that include the affiliate tag beyondthecraf-21. If you follow one of these links, Amazon may receive referral information and process information about your visit or purchase under its own privacy notice. Beyond the Craft may receive commission information, but does not receive your full payment-card details from Amazon.

Affiliate links are marked as sponsored and open on Amazon's website. You can read Amazon's Privacy Notice before using them.

Mailing list requests

The newsletter page and occasional signup prompts invite readers to request updates about new guides, essays, Reading List changes, regalia additions and source reviews. In the current default mode, the form prepares an email request for you to send to Beyond the Craft; the Site does not silently transmit your address or store the address in localStorage.

If a newsletter provider is connected later, that provider may process signup data under its own terms and privacy notice. Beyond the Craft will update this policy before enabling a live provider endpoint.

The legal basis for newsletter email is your consent. You may withdraw that consent at any time by replying to an update or contacting beyondthecraft1604@gmail.com.

Google AdSense

The Site may use Google AdSense to display advertisements. AdSense is not currently enabled on the Site. If it is enabled, Google and its partners may use cookies, device identifiers and similar technologies to provide, measure and improve advertising.

Ads may be personalised or non-personalised depending on your consent, location and applicable requirements. Google may use information from visits to this and other websites for advertising purposes. Read Google's Privacy Policy and review Google Ad Settings.

Where consent is required, AdSense and its non-essential technologies will not be loaded unless the necessary consent has been obtained through the applicable consent mechanism.

Cookies and similar technologies

Strictly necessary technologies may be used to provide requested features, maintain security and remember your privacy choice. Analytics and advertising cookies or other non-essential storage are used only when the relevant service is enabled and the required consent applies.

You can accept, reject or manage non-essential technologies through the consent controls. Use the Privacy Choices link at any time to review or withdraw your choice. See our Cookie Policy for further details.

Our legal bases

• Consent: for analytics, advertising, personalisation and non-essential cookies or similar technologies where consent is required.
• Legitimate interests: for proportionate site operation, service security, abuse detection and fraud prevention, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Legal obligations: where processing is needed to meet an applicable legal or regulatory requirement.

Sharing and service providers

Information may be processed by providers that support website hosting, security, email delivery and advertising. Google acts under its own terms and privacy documentation when AdSense is enabled. We do not sell personal information directly.

International transfers

Google and other service providers may process information outside the UK or European Economic Area. Where required, transfers should be protected by an adequacy regulation, contractual safeguards or another lawful transfer mechanism. Provider policies contain further information about their locations and safeguards.

Data retention

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including security, correspondence and legal requirements. Privacy choices stored by this Site expire after 180 days unless changed sooner. Advertising providers apply their own retention periods, as described in their policies and consent information.

Your rights

Depending on your location and the circumstances, you may have rights to access, rectify or erase personal information; restrict or object to processing; receive portable data; and withdraw consent at any time. These rights are not absolute and may not apply to every type of processing.

To exercise a right, email beyondthecraft1604@gmail.com. We may need enough information to identify the relevant records and verify the request.

Complaints

Please contact us first so we can try to resolve your concern. UK users may also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Users elsewhere may contact their local data protection authority.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the Site, service providers or applicable requirements change. The revised version will be posted here with a new “Last updated” date.

Contact

For privacy questions or rights requests, contact Beyond the Craft at beyondthecraft1604@gmail.com.