Privacy & Cookie Policy

Last updated: 3 November 2026

This policy explains how Baltic Focus handles personal information when you visit balticfocus.org or contact us, and how you can manage cookies.

1. Who is responsible for your data

Baltic Focus is an independent analytical publication operated by Galina Molockova, Founder and Editor, based in Riga, Latvia. She is responsible for the personal data processed in operating this website.

For privacy questions or requests, email info@balticfocus.org.

2. Information we process and why

Website operation and security. When you access the website, our hosting and technical service providers process information needed to deliver pages and maintain the service. This can include your IP address, request time, requested page, browser and device information, and security or error logs. We rely on our legitimate interests in providing a reliable website, preventing abuse and investigating faults.

Correspondence. If you email us, we receive your email address, name if supplied, message and any attachments. We use these to respond, handle corrections and enquiries, and manage editorial or business correspondence. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in managing these communications, or taking steps at your request before entering a contract where relevant. Providing this information is voluntary, but we may be unable to answer without suitable contact details.

Audience measurement. We use Google Analytics through Google Site Kit to understand which pages are visited and how people interact with the website. Measurement data can include page views, interactions, referral sources, approximate location, device and browser details, and browser or session identifiers where permitted. Optional analytics cookies are used on the basis of your consent.

3. Cookies and your choices

Cookies are small files stored in your browser. Some support essential website functions; others help measure visits or support third-party services. They identify a browser or device, not necessarily a named person.

Our consent panel offers Accept all, Reject optional and Preferences. Optional categories are off until you choose to allow them. Necessary cookies, including those used to remember your choice, remain available. Selecting Preferences lets you manage categories separately.

You can reopen the panel at any time using the Cookie settings button on the website. Withdrawing consent changes future cookie use and does not invalidate processing carried out before withdrawal. You can also delete or block cookies in your browser; doing so may remove saved choices or affect login and other functions.

Cookies or category	Purpose	Typical duration
Consent cookies: cmplz_* and wp_consent_*	Remember and communicate your cookie choices.	Complianz choices: up to 365 days. WP Consent API choices: up to 30 days.
Analytics: _ga and _ga_*	Distinguish browsers and maintain Google Analytics session information, when analytics storage is allowed.	Google default: up to two years. Browser restrictions and tag settings may shorten this; expiry may be renewed on a later visit.
WordPress login and settings cookies	Support authentication and preferences for authorised website users.	Depending on the cookie: a session, two days, up to two weeks for remembered logins, or up to one year for display settings.
Optional preference and marketing storage	Support optional preferences or advertising-related features when enabled and allowed.	Depends on the service and feature used; these categories can be managed in Cookie settings.

Not all of these cookies are present on every visit. Their availability depends on your choices, browser, login status and the services used.

4. Google Analytics and Consent Mode

Google Consent Mode receives the choices made in the cookie panel and adjusts supported Google tags. Declining analytics cookies prevents permission for analytics cookie storage; it does not necessarily stop every connection to Google. In the current advanced Consent Mode setup, Google tags may send limited measurement and consent signals without using analytics cookies. These signals can include technical and page information and may be used by Google to model aggregate activity.

Analytics reports are estimates: consent choices, browser restrictions, blocking software and modelling affect what is recorded. For further details, see Google Analytics cookie information and Google’s explanation of Consent Mode.

5. Other Google services and external websites

Google advertising code is also present on this website. Google services may receive technical request information, including an IP address and browser details, when their code connects to Google. The Marketing category communicates advertising-related consent choices to supported tags. Which advertising features operate depends on the service configuration.

Authorised users may also use Google to sign in to the website. This involves Google authentication and the account information needed for access. Ordinary readers do not need to sign in to read publicly available articles.

Links to LinkedIn, source documents and other websites lead to services operated independently of Baltic Focus. If you use those services, including subscribing to a LinkedIn newsletter, their own privacy policies apply. Embedded third-party content, where included, may also connect to its provider.

6. Service providers and international transfers

We use providers for website hosting, email, security and analytics. They receive information needed to perform their services, subject to the arrangements applicable to those services. We may also disclose information where required by law or necessary to protect legal rights.

Google services can involve processing by Google Ireland Limited and other Google entities, including outside the European Economic Area. The applicable transfer arrangements depend on the service and destination. Google explains its safeguards, including relevant adequacy frameworks and contractual protections, in its international data transfer information. See also Google’s Privacy Policy. You may contact us for information about providers and safeguards relevant to your request.

7. How long information is kept

Cookie lifetimes are described above. Analytics records are subject to the retention settings of the Google Analytics property; aggregated reports may remain available for longer. Cookie expiry and the retention of records on a provider’s servers are separate matters.

We retain correspondence for as long as needed to address the enquiry, maintain relevant editorial or business records, and meet legal obligations or handle potential disputes. Technical logs and backups follow the relevant provider’s operational retention and deletion cycles; information needed to investigate a security incident may be kept longer for that purpose.

8. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, you can ask to see personal data held about you, correct inaccurate information, request deletion, limit processing, or receive eligible data in a portable form. You may object to processing based on legitimate interests and withdraw consent at any time. These rights are subject to applicable conditions and exemptions. We do not use website visitor data to make decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects on individuals.

Send requests to info@balticfocus.org. We may need proportionate information to verify your identity and locate the relevant records. We normally respond within one month, with extensions where the law permits.

You may complain to the Latvian Data State Inspectorate (Datu valsts inspekcija), or to the relevant supervisory authority where you live or work.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when website services or data-handling practices change. The date at the top identifies the latest version. Where a change requires renewed consent, we will request it through the consent panel.