Privacy Policy
Body of Evidence is a journalism and podcast website focused on endometriosis and adenomyosis, run and edited by Beth McCowen. This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected when you use this website, how it is used and stored, and the choices you have about your data.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, you can contact Beth at beth@body-of-evidence.com.
What data is collected and why
Body of Evidence aims to collect and use only the minimum personal information needed to run the website and communicate with readers and listeners.
Contact form (Jetpack)
When you use the contact form on this site, powered by Jetpack, the following information is collected:
- Your name (if you choose to provide it)
- Your email address
- The content of your message
- Technical information such as your IP address and browser user agent, which may be logged automatically by WordPress.com/Jetpack for security and spam protection.
This information is used so that Beth can read and respond to your message, manage reader and listener queries, and protect the site from spam and abuse.
Site usage data
Like many websites, Body of Evidence may collect anonymised or aggregated information about how the site is used. This can include information such as which pages are visited, approximate location (based on IP address), and the type of device or browser used. This information helps Beth understand what content is useful and how the site is performing, so it can be improved over time.
How your data is stored and protected
Body of Evidence is hosted on WordPress.com, which is operated by Automattic Inc. Data collected through the site, including contact form submissions, is stored on servers managed by WordPress.com/Automattic. Automattic implements technical and organisational measures designed to protect your information, such as encryption in transit, access controls, and regular security monitoring.
We access contact form submissions via secure logins. Only I (and, if necessary, trusted technical support from WordPress.com/Automattic) has access to this data. Your information is not sold, rented, or shared with advertisers.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, but reasonable steps are taken to protect your data and limit access to it.
How long your data is kept
Contact form messages are kept for as long as needed to respond to your enquiry and maintain a reasonable record of correspondence, for example to follow up on previous conversations or to understand the context of future messages.
Anonymised or aggregated site usage data may be kept for longer to help monitor trends over time, but this information does not identify you personally.
To exercise any of the rights outlined by data protection laws, or to raise a concern about how your data is used, please contact Beth at beth@body-of-evidence.com. Beth may need to verify your identity before acting on your request.
Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, to remember your preferences, and to help site owners understand how people use their sites.
Body of Evidence does not use cookies for advertising or to sell your data. However, because the site is hosted on WordPress.com and uses Jetpack, some cookies may be set automatically by WordPress.com/Automattic to:
- Ensure the site functions correctly and securely
- Help protect the site from spam and abuse
- Measure basic, anonymised site usage and performance
You can usually control and manage cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them. Be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect how the site functions.
Third-party services (WordPress.com and Jetpack)
Body of Evidence is built and hosted on WordPress.com and uses Jetpack, both provided by Automattic Inc. When you visit the site or use the contact form, some of your information is processed by Automattic as a “data processor” on Beth’s behalf, and in some cases as an independent “data controller” (for example, for security logging and analytics).
Automattic may process data on servers located outside your country, including in the United States. They describe how they handle data, including any international transfers, in their own privacy documentation. You can learn more here:
Other than these services, Body of Evidence does not knowingly share your personal data with third parties, and it does not run third-party advertising or sell your data.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law, in how the site is run, or in the services used to host and support it. When the policy is updated, the “last updated” date at the top of this page may be changed to show when the latest version took effect.
If any significant changes are made that affect how your personal data is used, reasonable steps will be taken to let you know, such as updating this page and, where appropriate, highlighting the changes in a post or site notice.