Cookie Policy
Effective [EFFECTIVE DATE]. Last updated November 4, 2026.
This policy explains the cookies and similar technologies used by The Forum app and the website at [DOMAIN], run by [OPERATOR]. Our Privacy Policy explains everything else about how we handle personal information.
The short version
- The Forum app doesn't use browser cookies. It stores what it needs on your phone, and some of it is sent to us as described below.
- The Forum shows ads from Google. Google's ad software uses device identifiers to show, count and limit ads, and may personalize them unless you say no.
- Our website sets no cookies for advertising or analytics.
What these technologies are
Cookies are small files a website stores in your browser. Apps use similar technologies: storage on your device, identifiers, and small images (sometimes called pixels or web beacons) that tell a server when something has been viewed. This policy calls all of these "cookies and similar technologies".
In The Forum app
Stored on your phone by The Forum
| What | Why | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-in session | Keeps you signed in, if you have an account | Until you sign out or delete the app |
| Install ID | A random code sent with reading activity, so we can tell visits apart without knowing who you are | Until you delete your account or the app |
| Reading activity waiting to be sent | Holds activity while you have no signal | Until it is sent (at most the latest 1,000 events) |
| Reading profile, settings and saved stories | Personalizes your feed, on your phone only | Until you reset them or delete the app |
| Offline stories, pictures and narration | Lets you read with no signal | Until they are replaced or you delete the app |
| Station list | For the optional station check | Until it is updated or you delete the app |
All of these are needed for features you use. Only the sign-in session, the install ID and reading activity are ever sent to us.
Google Mobile Ads
Google's ad software shows ads between stories, never inside one. It uses device identifiers and your IP address to choose ads, limit how often you see an ad, count ads and prevent fraud. Ads may be personalized using what Google knows about your interests. On iPhone, The Forum asks your permission first through Apple's tracking prompt; if you say no, Google doesn't get your iPhone advertising identifier and ads aren't personalized with it. Where US state law requires it, Google's message lets you opt out of the sale or sharing of your information for ads. Our Privacy Policy has the details. Learn more in Google's explanation of how it uses information from apps.
Partner counter images
Some partner newsrooms' licenses require them to count their readers. When you open one of their stories, the app loads a tiny counter image from the newsroom's server, which receives your IP address and device information. Partner stories are always labeled with the newsroom's name.
On our website
We don't use cookies for advertising or analytics on [DOMAIN]. Cloudflare, which delivers the site, may set strictly necessary security cookies, such as __cf_bm (to tell people from bots, lasts 30 minutes) or cf_clearance (remembers that you passed a security check). These don't track you across other websites. Because we only use strictly necessary cookies, we don't show a cookie banner. If we ever add other cookies, we will update this policy and ask for your choice first where the law requires it.
Your choices
- Ads on your phone: on iPhone, turn off Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Tracking, then Allow Apps to Request to Track. On Android, delete or reset your advertising ID in Settings, then Google, then Ads.
- Everything The Forum stores on your phone: delete the app. Deleting your account also replaces your install ID.
- Website cookies: block or delete cookies in your browser settings. The site still works, although you may see an extra security check.
- Global Privacy Control: we honor it, as our Privacy Policy explains.
Changes and contact
We will update this policy when we change what we use, and change the date at the top. Questions: thane@th.enterprises, [OPERATOR], [ADDRESS].