Privacy policy at al-bab

In case you are wondering about the pop-up box (which you should have seen by now) asking you to agree to the use of cookies, here's a short note of explanation. 

It doesn't indicate a change in the use of cookies at al-bab. It's to make the existing situation more transparent and bring the website into line with EU privacy rules and with Google's new EU user consent policy.

As you may have noticed, the advertising on al-bab's pages comes via Google AdSense, and Google is asking websites that use this service (and some other services too) to fit in with its new policy. Google explains: "This requires that you obtain EU end users’ consent to the storing and accessing of cookies and other information, and to the data collection, sharing, and usage that takes place when you use Google products."

Google adds: "This policy change is being made in response to best practice and regulatory requirements issued by the European data protection authorities. These requirements are reflected in changes recently made on Google’s own websites."

At present, "cookie consent" at al-bab applies only to the home page and blogs posts but I shall be extending this gradually over the next few weeks to cover the entire site. It's going to take a while because all 2,500-or-so pages have to be uploaded again with some additional code.

I have also posted a privacy policy which explains how and why al-bab uses cookies plus some other things such as how clicking on ads or using Disqus to post comments may affect your privacy.