Privacy policy
Last updated: November 6, 2026
This policy explains what information The Bhutanese Pulse collects when you read our website or contact us, why we collect it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.
The short version
- You do not need an account to read The Bhutanese Pulse, and we do not ask readers for personal information.
- We do not sell or rent personal information, and we do not run advertising trackers.
- Google Analytics cookies are used only if you choose Accept in our cookie notice. You can change your choice at any time with Cookie settings at the bottom of every page.
- If you email us, we use your message to reply and for our reporting. Email is not a secure channel for confidential material.
Who we are
The Bhutanese Pulse is an independent digital publication based in the United States. It is responsible for the information described in this policy. You can reach us about privacy at editor@thebhutanesepulse.org.
Information we collect
When you read our website. Like almost every website, our hosting provider automatically receives technical information with each request: your IP address, browser and device type, the page requested, the referring page, and the time. This is used to deliver the site, keep it secure, and diagnose problems, and it is kept only for a limited period.
Privacy-friendly visitor counts. We use Vercel Web Analytics to count page views. It does not use cookies, does not follow you across other websites, and gives us only aggregate figures such as page views, referring sites, countries, and device types.
Google Analytics, only with your consent. If you choose Accept in our cookie notice, we load Google Analytics through Google Tag Manager. Google Analytics uses cookies to measure how readers use the site: pages viewed, time spent, approximate location (such as country or city), device and browser type, and how you arrived. Google processes this information on our behalf. Google states that Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses. If you choose Decline, or make no choice, Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager are not loaded at all.
When you contact us. If you email us, we receive your email address, your message, and anything you attach. We use it to reply, to consider story tips and pitches, and to correct our work. We keep correspondence within our editorial team.
Staff and contributor accounts. People who write or edit for us have an account in our publishing system. It stores their name, email address, role, and a securely hashed password. Signing in sets a cookie that keeps them signed in for up to 8 hours.
Newsletter. We do not currently run a newsletter. If we start one, we will update this policy to describe it before collecting any sign-ups.
Cookies and similar storage
- bp-analytics-consent (stored in your browser): remembers whether you accepted or declined analytics cookies. It stays until you clear your browser data.
- payload-theme (stored in your browser): remembers whether you chose the light or dark theme.
- _ga and _ga_… (cookies set by Google Analytics): set only after you choose Accept. They distinguish visits and usually expire after up to two years. If you later decline, we delete them.
- payload-token (cookie): used only for staff and contributors who sign in to our publishing system. It expires after 8 hours.
Information stored in your browser, such as your theme and cookie choice, stays on your device and is not sent to us.
How we use information
- To run, secure, and improve the website, and to fix problems.
- To understand which stories readers find useful (only with your consent, for Google Analytics).
- To respond to messages, evaluate tips and pitches, and publish corrections.
- To manage the accounts of people who write and edit for us.
- To meet legal obligations.
Who we share it with
We share information only with service providers that help us run the publication, and only as needed for that purpose:
- Vercel: website hosting, privacy-friendly visitor counts, and storage of the images we publish.
- Neon: the database that stores our articles and staff accounts.
- Google: Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager, only if you choose Accept.
- Our email provider: to receive and send email.
We may also disclose information when the law requires it. We do not sell or rent personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers or data brokers.
Links and sharing
The share links on our stories (Facebook, WhatsApp, X, and email) are ordinary links. Nothing from those services loads on our pages unless you click one. Our fonts and images are served from our own website and hosting provider. When you visit our Facebook page or another site we link to, that site’s own privacy policy applies.
Readers outside the United States
Our service providers store and process information in the United States. If you are in the European Union, the United Kingdom, or another place with similar laws, we rely on your consent for Google Analytics, and on our legitimate interests in running a secure website and answering the messages you send us for the other uses described here.
Your choices and rights
- Use Cookie settings at the bottom of any page to accept or decline analytics cookies at any time.
- Block or delete cookies in your browser settings. The website works without them.
- Ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct or delete it. Depending on where you live, you may also have the right to object to or restrict how we use it, and to complain to your local data protection authority.
To make a request, email editor@thebhutanesepulse.org. We will respond within one month.
How long we keep information
We keep emails and tips for as long as they are useful for our reporting and records. Google Analytics data is kept for the period set in our Analytics account and then deleted. Our hosting provider keeps request logs for a limited period. Staff accounts are deleted when they are no longer needed.
Security
The website uses encrypted connections (HTTPS). Passwords are stored as secure hashes, access to our publishing system is limited by role, and repeated failed sign-in attempts lock an account temporarily. No system is perfectly secure, and ordinary email is not a secure or anonymous channel, so please do not send confidential material, or anything that could put you or a source at risk, by email.
Children
The Bhutanese Pulse is a news publication for a general audience. It is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle information, we will update this page and the date at the top.
Contact
Questions or requests about privacy: editor@thebhutanesepulse.org