Cookie Policy
Effective date: October 15, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how The Provider, doing business as Whatsgate (“Whatsgate”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), uses cookies and similar technologies on whatsgate.org and related web interfaces.
This Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
1. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?
Cookies are small text files stored on a browser or device. Similar technologies include local storage, software development kit identifiers, pixels, tags, and other technologies that store or access information on a device.
These technologies may be used to remember settings, keep users signed in, secure accounts, measure website performance, understand usage, or support advertising where enabled.
2. Categories We Use
| Category | Purpose | Consent approach |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Authentication, account security, fraud prevention, load balancing, network management, consent preference storage, and core website functions | Used where necessary to provide the website/service; generally not optional |
| Functional | Remembering optional preferences and convenience features | Used based on consent where required |
| Analytics | Measuring visits, navigation, errors, performance, and product/website usage | Used based on consent where required |
| Advertising / marketing | Attribution, campaign measurement, advertising, retargeting, or cross-site/cross-context tracking, if enabled | Used only where enabled and after consent/opt-out requirements are satisfied |
3. Current Cookie Inventory
The exact cookie and similar-technology inventory must match the technologies actually deployed on the website.
The current inventory should be displayed in the website's Cookie Settings interface and should identify, where applicable:
- cookie or technology name;
- provider;
- purpose;
- category;
- expiration/retention period;
- whether it is first-party or third-party.
Do not list a provider in this Policy unless that provider is actually deployed.
4. Stripe and Payment Pages
When you proceed to a Stripe-hosted checkout or other third-party payment page, the payment provider may set cookies or use similar technologies on its own domains for payment, authentication, fraud prevention, security, and other purposes.
Those technologies are governed by the payment provider's own privacy and cookie documentation.
5. Consent for Non-Essential Cookies
Where applicable law requires prior consent, we use non-essential functional, analytics, and advertising/marketing cookies only after the required consent has been obtained.
You can refuse non-essential cookies without losing access to core website functions, although some optional features may be unavailable.
6. Managing Your Choices
You can manage cookie choices using the Cookie Settings control available on the website.
Where presented, you can:
- accept all optional cookies;
- reject non-essential cookies;
- choose categories individually;
- change or withdraw your choice later.
Your consent preference may itself be stored using a strictly necessary cookie or similar technology.
See also Your Privacy Choices.
7. Browser and Device Controls
Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies.
Blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent account login, security features, or other essential website functionality from working properly.
Browser settings do not necessarily control all forms of local storage, pixels, server-side analytics, or app technologies.
8. Global Privacy Control
Where required by applicable U.S. state privacy law, we treat a valid Global Privacy Control (“GPC”) signal as an opt-out request for sale/sharing or targeted/cross-context behavioral advertising for the browser or device from which the signal is received.
More information is available at Your Privacy Choices.
9. Retention
Cookie expiration periods vary by purpose and provider.
Session cookies generally expire when the browsing session ends. Persistent cookies remain until their configured expiration time or until you delete them.
The Cookie Settings interface should show the relevant duration for individual cookies where available.
10. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when our technologies, providers, or legal obligations change.
The current version will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.
11. Contact
Questions about cookies or privacy:
service@whatsgate.org