Privacy Policy

This policy explains what information Penblock (“we”) collects when you use penblock.com, how it is used, who receives it, and the choices you have. There are no user accounts or passwords on this site.

What we collect

• Email address, only if you subscribe to the daily digest. We store the address, whether you have confirmed it, and send dates. We ask you to confirm by email before we send anything.
• Usage and device data such as pages viewed, approximate location derived from your IP address, browser and device type, collected by our hosting provider's logs and by Google Analytics.
• Topics you follow. The list is kept in your own browser (local storage), not on our servers. When you open the Following page, the topic names are sent to our server only to build your feed; we do not link them to you.
• Messages you send us, if you email us.

How we use it

To deliver the site and the daily email, to understand which pages are useful and improve them, to keep the site secure and prevent abuse, and to show advertising that pays for the site. We do not sell your email address, and we do not use it for anything except the digest you asked for.

Cookies, analytics and advertising

We use Google Analytics to measure traffic and Google AdSense to show ads. Google and its partners may set cookies or use similar technologies to measure usage and to show and measure ads, including personalized ads based on your browsing. Where the law requires it (for example for visitors in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland) you are asked for your consent first and can change your choice at any time using Privacy choices.

You can opt out of personalized advertising in Google's Ads Settings or at aboutads.info. Learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. Blocking cookies in your browser also limits tracking, though some site features may then work less well.

Who processes data for us

• Vercel hosts the site and keeps request logs.
• Supabase stores our database, including the email subscriber list.
• Resend delivers our confirmation and digest emails.
• Google provides Analytics and AdSense.
• Anthropic's AI models help us summarize and classify publicly available news. Visitor data, including email addresses, is never sent to them.

These providers act on our behalf or under their own privacy terms, and some are based in the United States, so your data may be processed outside your country.

How long we keep it

Subscriber records are kept while you are subscribed. If you unsubscribe we stop sending and keep only a minimal record that the address opted out, so we honor that choice; email us and we will delete it entirely. Server and analytics data is kept for the periods set by those providers.

Your rights and choices

You can unsubscribe at any time with the link in every email. Depending on where you live (including under the GDPR, UK GDPR and California law) you may have the right to access, correct, delete or export your personal data, to object to or restrict certain processing, to withdraw consent, and to complain to your local data-protection authority. We do not sell personal information; we treat ad personalization as something you can opt out of, as described above. Email michael@twolw.com to make a request.

Children

Penblock is for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 where local law sets that age). We do not knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes and contact

We will post any changes here and update the date above. Questions about this policy: michael@twolw.com. See also our disclaimer and about page.