Last updated: 2026-01-12

This is a privacy-first website. I built it to publish writing and share tools without tracking you.

TL;DR#

  • No analytics (no Google Analytics, Plausible, etc.).
  • No ads, ad networks, or retargeting.
  • No tracking pixels or marketing tags.
  • No accounts, comments, newsletter sign-ups, or forms on this site today.
  • Tools: any processing is described on each tool page; any server-side processing is for the tool to work and is discarded after the request.
  • Your browser may store one preference: a light/dark theme setting in localStorage (on your device).
  • Like every website, basic request data exists at the infrastructure layer (e.g., IP address in server logs) to deliver pages and keep the site secure.

1 Who We Are#

This website (“Site”) is operated by Erik MacKinnon. In this policy, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to the operator of the Site (Erik MacKinnon and, where applicable, associated business entities in British Columbia, Canada).

2 What We Collect (and What We Don’t)#

2.1 Information you provide to us#

Normally, nothing. You can read the Site without providing personal information.

If you choose to contact us (for example, by emailing help@erikmackinnon.com), we will receive what you send (such as your email address and message contents). Please don’t include sensitive personal information unless it’s necessary.

2.2 Information processed automatically to run a website#

When you visit a website, requests necessarily include technical information so the page can be delivered (for example: IP address, user-agent, requested URL, and timestamps). This Site is served via Cloudflare (a content delivery network and edge hosting provider). Cloudflare may process and temporarily store this information as part of providing:

  • Content delivery and caching
  • Performance and reliability
  • Security (e.g., bot detection and abuse prevention)

We don’t use this information to track you across sites, build advertising profiles, or sell your data.

2.3 Cookies and similar technologies#

We do not use analytics cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party tracking cookies.

We do not set cookies for marketing or analytics. However, our hosting/security provider may set strictly necessary cookies in some circumstances to protect the Site and prevent abuse.

2.4 Local storage on your device#

The Site uses localStorage to remember a single preference: whether you’ve chosen light mode. This preference stays on your device until you clear it in your browser settings.

3 Tools: Client-Side vs Server-Side Processing#

The Site includes (or will include) a Tools section with free and open-source tools.

  • Client-side processing: If a tool runs entirely in your browser, we don’t receive your inputs.
  • Server-side processing (if any): If a tool sends data to a server to generate an output, that tool page will say so. The intent is privacy-first: the data is used only to provide the requested result and is then discarded (not stored in a database, not used for analytics, and not used to train models).

Because server infrastructure can generate logs, you should assume that any server-side request may include basic request metadata (see §2.2). If you want maximum privacy, avoid entering personal information into tools unless the tool explicitly requires it.

4 How We Use Information#

We use information only to:

  • Serve the Site and its content
  • Keep the Site secure and reliable
  • Respond if you contact us
  • Comply with legal obligations (rare)

5 Sharing and Selling#

We do not sell your personal information.

We do not “share” personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (for example, under the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the CPRA).

We may share limited information with service providers only as needed to run the Site (for example, our hosting/security provider and email delivery/storage providers when you email us). These providers process data on our behalf and under their own privacy/security terms.

6 Retention#

We aim to retain as little data as possible:

  • Browsing the Site: we do not maintain user profiles or histories.
  • Infrastructure logs: handled by providers as part of operating and securing the Site; retention is controlled by those providers and our configuration.
  • Emails you send us: retained as long as needed to respond and for reasonable record-keeping, then deleted when no longer needed.
  • Theme preference: stored on your device until you remove it.

7 International Data Transfers#

The Site is served through infrastructure that may process data in multiple countries (for example, via global edge networks). If you access the Site from outside Canada, your information may be processed outside your country of residence.

8 Your Privacy Rights#

Depending on where you live, you may have privacy rights (for example under Canada’s privacy laws, the GDPR/UK GDPR, and the CCPA/CPRA). These can include the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your information, and to object to or restrict certain processing.

Because we don’t maintain accounts, analytics profiles, or marketing databases, there’s usually very little for us to identify or delete—except if you’ve contacted us by email.

To make a request, contact help@erikmackinnon.com.

8.1 Global Privacy Control / “Do Not Track”#

This Site doesn’t track you for advertising, so signals like Global Privacy Control (GPC) and “Do Not Track” don’t change how the Site behaves.

9 Children’s Privacy#

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

The Site may link to third-party websites (for example, articles or social profiles). Those sites have their own privacy practices, and this policy does not apply to them.

11 Changes#

If we change this policy, we’ll update the date at the top and post the new version on this page. If we ever add features that materially change data practices (for example: accounts, comments, newsletters, analytics), we’ll update this policy before doing so.

12 Contact#

Questions or requests: help@erikmackinnon.com