My name is Lorenzo D’Agostino and I’m a journalist based in Barcelona (ES). For the purposes of this policy you can contact me by email at info@lorenzodagostino.com.
www.lorenzodagostino.com is my personal website, its only purpose is to showcase my work and help you get in touch with me.
As an investigative journalist, I’m committed to accuracy and transparency—and this Cookie and Privacy Policy is no exception. However, the reality is that achieving total transparency on the web is nearly impossible.
Corporations have turned the internet into a marketing hellscape, mining every detail of our personality and behavior. While I’ve taken steps to limit the use of unnecessary cookies, I can’t guarantee that navigating this site won’t send data to companies like Google, WordPress, or X. Tech giants use that data for purposes far beyond my control. Instead of curbing their powers, governments pass regulations which flood the internet with cookie banners. These banners give the illusion of user control when in reality, we’re just clicking «accept» on something we haven’t read—while governments pat themselves on the back for “taking action.” In truth, these rules barely affect the tech giants, who find loopholes and workarounds, while they weigh down small players like local news outlets, or individual journalists just trying to maintain a simple portfolio.
You’ll know from my work that I enjoy taking on on law enforcement institutions, especially those with a history of intimidating journalists. This is why I can’t risk running a non-compliant site. I’ll at least try to make this policy as informative as possible.
Here’s what you actually need to know: If you contact me via email or the contact form, I’ll store your email address and might use it to get in touch with you in the future. You always have the right to demand that I stop doing so, and I will oblige.
Now, a quick explanation of cookies and how they work, followed by the legal jargon I’m required to provide. At the end, you’ll find instructions on how to disable tracking cookies so you won’t have to deal with pointless banners again.
What Are Cookies and How They Work?
Cookies are small bits of data that websites store on your device when you visit them. Think of them as tiny memory notes that help websites remember who you are. They can remember your login info, what you’ve added to your shopping cart, or even your language preferences. They were conceived to make online life a little easier—but that’s no longer their main purpose.
What Are Tracking Cookies and Why Are They Used?
Now, let’s talk about tracking cookies. These little spies follow you around the internet, collecting data on your habits, preferences, and movements like an overly attentive stalker. They’re used mainly by marketers to build a profile of you, so they can target you with ads that feel eerily personal. Want to know why you keep seeing ads for those shoes you looked at once? Thank tracking cookies.
Tracking cookies are the backbone of a system designed to monetize your every click and scroll. They may promise a “personalized experience,” but really, they’re just a way for corporations to sell your data to the highest bidder.
To understand the implications of online tracking, consider the revelations from Facebook Australia’s leaked documents in 2017: Facebook pitched to investors their ability to target kids as young as 14 with advertisements just when they feel “insecure”, “worthless” and “need a confidence boost”. (Facebook said the documents were “intended to help marketers understand how people express themselves”).
Now, some legal jargon.
This website might collect various types of information, including:
Personal Data: Information you provide voluntarily, such as your name and email address when you fill out forms on this Website.
Usage Data: Information collected automatically about your interaction with this Website, such as your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on the Website.
Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the operation of this Website. They enable you to navigate and use features such as accessing secure areas.
Functional Cookies: These cookies may store information about your login details or customization choices.
Analytics Cookies: These cookies help understand how visitors interact with this Website. Third-party services like Google Analytics may be involved in this process.
Marketing Cookies: These cookies are used to track visitors across websites to display targeted ads. They may be set by third-party services like Facebook and TikTok.
This website includes links to third-party services, such as social media buttons (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok) and embedded content from Wakelet. These third parties may set their own cookies and data collection practices. I am not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these services. I encourage you to review their privacy policies for more information.
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
To exercise these rights, please contact us at the email address provided at the top of this page.
Upon your first visit to this Website, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by following the browser specific instructions provided below, courtesy of ChatGPT.
I may update this Cookies and Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. I encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how I am protecting your information. This policy was last updated on 26 September 2024.
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