Cookie Policy

Last Updated: [Insert Date]

This Cookie Policy explains how stattracker.live ("we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control them. This policy is designed to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and relevant Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Quebec's Law 25.

By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. You can withdraw or modify your consent at any time via our cookie consent manager.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, enhance user experience, and provide information to website owners. Cookies are either "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them).

Other tracking technologies, such as web beacons, pixels, and local storage, may also be used. For simplicity, we refer to all these as "cookies" in this policy.

2. What Types of Cookies Does stattracker.live Use?

We use the following categories of cookies:

2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the operation of our website. Without them, services such as login, account management, and secure access cannot function. They are typically set in response to actions you take, such as setting privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms.

Examples: Session cookies, CSRF tokens, load-balancing cookies.
Purpose: Enable core site functionality, maintain security, and authenticate users.
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (necessary for service delivery) or contract performance.
Consent Required: No (exempt under GDPR Article 5(3) ePrivacy Directive).
Retention Period: Typically session duration or up to 24 hours.

2.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language preference, or region) and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may also be used to remember changes you've made to text size, fonts, or other parts of web pages.

Examples: Language preference cookies, region detection cookies.
Purpose: Enhance user experience by remembering preferences.
Legal Basis: Your consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a)).
Consent Required: Yes.
Retention Period: Up to 1 year.

2.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our website – for example, which pages you visit most often, how long you spend on each page, and if you encounter any errors. This helps us improve the performance and user experience of our site.

Examples: Google Analytics (_ga, _gid), Matomo cookies, Hotjar cookies.
Purpose: Analyze traffic, track user behavior, measure effectiveness of content.
Legal Basis: Your consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a)).
Consent Required: Yes.
Retention Period: Typically 2 years (for _ga), 24 hours (for _gid).
Data Shared: Anonymized/IP anonymized when possible.

2.4 Advertising and Targeting Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. They may be set through our site by advertising partners, who may combine information with other data collected.

Examples: Google Ads cookies, Facebook Pixel, DoubleClick cookies.
Purpose: Deliver targeted ads, track conversions, build retargeting audiences.
Legal Basis: Your consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a) and ePrivacy Directive).
Consent Required: Yes.
Retention Period: Up to 180 days (Google Ads), up to 90 days (Facebook).
Data Shared: With third-party advertising platforms.

2.5 Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our website. For example, we may use YouTube videos, social media sharing buttons, or payment gateways. These third parties may set their own cookies on your device, and their use is governed by their own privacy policies.

Examples: YouTube cookies, Twitter/X widgets, Stripe cookies.
Purpose: Enable third-party content and services.
Legal Basis: Your consent (where applicable) or legitimate interest of the third party.
Consent Required: Yes, for most third-party cookies.
Note: We are not responsible for third-party cookie practices; please review their policies.

3. How We Use Cookies – Detailed Breakdown

We use cookies for the following specific purposes:

3.1 Authentication and Security

Cookies help us verify your identity when you log in, protect against fraudulent activity, and ensure that your data is transmitted securely (e.g., HTTPS session cookies).

3.2 Personalization

We store your preferences (e.g., language, time zone, dashboard layout) to make your experience more tailored.

3.3 Performance Monitoring

Web analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with the site so we can improve navigation, fix errors, and optimize loading times.

3.4 Advertising and Remarketing

We may use cookies to show you ads based on your previous visits to our site (remarketing). This helps us reach users who have shown interest in our services.

3.5 Social Media Integration

If you use social media features (e.g., share buttons), cookies may be set by those platforms to track your activity across sites.

4. Your Consent and Preferences Under GDPR

In compliance with the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679), we require your explicit consent before placing any non-essential cookies on your device. Essential cookies are exempt from consent under Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive.

4.1 How We Obtain Consent

Upon your first visit to stattracker.live, we display a clear and comprehensive cookie consent banner. This banner:

Informs you that we use cookies.
Explains the types of cookies we use.
Provides a link to this detailed Cookie Policy.
Offers you the choice to "Accept All," "Reject All," or "Customize Settings."

4.2 Granular Consent

Via our cookie preference center (accessible at any time via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer), you can selectively enable or disable specific categories of cookies (e.g., analytics only, no advertising).

4.3 Withdrawing Consent

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. To do so:

Click the "Cookie Settings" link in the website footer.
Adjust your preferences using the toggle switches.
Click "Save Preferences."

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

4.4 Data Subject Rights (GDPR)

As a user in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights regarding your personal data collected via cookies:

Right of access: You can request a copy of your personal data.
Right to rectification: You can correct inaccurate data.
Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): You can request deletion of your data.
Right to restriction of processing: You can limit how we use your data.
Right to data portability: You can request a transfer of your data.
Right to object: You can object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us: privacy@stattracker.live. We will respond within 30 days.

4.5 Automated Decision-Making

We do not use cookies for automated individual decision-making, including profiling, that produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you.

5. Canadian Privacy Considerations (PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25)

We also comply with Canadian privacy laws, particularly PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25 (which came into force fully in 2024).

5.1 Meaningful Consent

Under Canadian law, consent must be "meaningful," meaning you must understand what you are consenting to. Our cookie banner and policy are designed to provide clear, plain-language information about cookie purposes and data handling.

5.2 Implied vs. Express Consent

For non-essential cookies (analytics, advertising), we obtain express consent (opt-in), consistent with the requirements of Quebec Law 25, which mandates prior consent for cookies and similar technologies.

5.3 Right to Withdraw Consent

Under Canadian law, you can withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Our cookie settings tool allows immediate withdrawal.

5.4 Data Retention

We retain cookie-related data only as long as necessary for the purposes described, in accordance with PIPEDA's principle of limiting retention.

5.5 Cross-Border Data Transfers

If your data is transferred outside Canada (e.g., to the U.S. for analytics processing), we ensure adequate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses (SCCs) or equivalent mechanisms.

6. How to Control and Delete Cookies

In addition to our cookie consent manager, you can control cookies through your browser settings. Below are links to instructions for major browsers:

Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

6.1 Opt-Out Tools

You can opt out of Google Analytics specifically by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. For advertising cookies, you can visit the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out Page or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-Out Page.

7. Cookies Set on Our Website – Detailed List

The following table lists the main cookies we may use. Note that this list may change as we update our features and services. For a real-time list, please refer to our cookie consent manager.

Cookie Name	Provider	Type	Purpose	Duration
PHPSESSID	stattracker.live	Strictly Necessary	Session management, user authentication	Session
csrf_token	stattracker.live	Strictly Necessary	Cross-site request forgery protection	Session
cookie_consent	stattracker.live	Strictly Necessary	Stores your cookie preferences	1 year
lang	stattracker.live	Functional	Remembers your language preference	1 year
_ga	Google Analytics	Analytics/Performance	Distinguishes unique users	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics	Analytics/Performance	Distinguishes unique users (24h)	24 hours
_gat_gtag_*	Google Analytics	Analytics/Performance	Throttles request rate	1 minute
_fbp	Facebook (Meta)	Advertising/Targeting	Delivers Facebook ads, conversion tracking	90 days
IDE	Google DoubleClick	Advertising/Targeting	Ad personalization and measurement	180 days
YSC	YouTube	Third-Party	Registers unique ID for YouTube videos viewed	Session
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	YouTube	Third-Party	Estimates user bandwidth for YouTube	180 days

Note: This table is indicative. Please check your cookie preferences for a real-time inventory.

8. International Data Transfers

As a global service, some cookie data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your residence, including the United States (where our analytics and advertising partners are based). For users in the EEA and UK, we ensure that such transfers are governed by Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, or other appropriate safeguards. For Canadian users, transfers to the U.S. are subject to PIPEDA's requirements for adequate protection.

9. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies, applicable laws, or operational practices. When we make material changes, we will notify you via a banner on the website and update the "Last Updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

10. Contact Us & Data Protection Officer (DPO)

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our data processing practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@stattracker.live
Postal Address: Stattracker Live, Attn: Privacy Officer, [Insert Physical Address, e.g., 123 Data Lane, Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1, Canada]

For EU users, you may also contact our EU Representative (if appointed) or lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (e.g., the Irish Data Protection Commission if our lead authority). For Canadian users, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) or the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI) for Quebec residents.

11. Specific Provisions for Quebec Users (Law 25)

Under Quebec's Law 25, you have additional rights:

You must consent to cookies before they are placed (no implied consent).
You have the right to access and obtain information about automated decision systems used (if any).
You can request that we stop disseminating your personal information (e.g., de-indexing).

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@stattracker.live.

12. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

Our website does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals from web browsers, as no uniform standard has been adopted. However, you can use our cookie consent manager and browser settings to control tracking.

Thank you for trusting stattracker.live with your data. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing you with a transparent and secure experience.

This Cookie Policy was last updated on [Insert Date].