Cookies, Tracking Technologies & Consent Policy
Transparency About How Our Website Uses Browser Technologies
1. Introduction
VALCORED News Network is committed to helping readers understand the technologies used to operate and improve our digital publishing services.
Websites may use cookies, local storage, tracking pixels and related technologies to deliver content, remember preferences, maintain security and support optional services.
Some technologies are necessary for ordinary website operation. Others may support analytics, advertising or personalisation.
This policy explains these technologies, their potential purposes and the choices available to visitors.
It should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of information that a website or associated service may store through a web browser.
Cookies can support functions such as remembering a session, maintaining preferences or recognising a returning browser.
Cookies may be temporary or persistent.
Session Cookies
These are generally used during a browsing session and may be removed when the session ends, depending on browser behaviour.
Persistent Cookies
These may remain until an expiry period is reached or they are removed.
First-Party Cookies
These are associated with the website being visited.
Third-Party Cookies
These may be associated with external services involved in delivering embedded content, advertisements or other functionality.
The classification of a cookie does not, by itself, determine whether its use is lawful or whether it involves personal information.
3. Other Browser Technologies
VNN’s digital services may also rely on technologies beyond traditional cookies.
These include:
Local Storage: Browser storage that can retain preferences or locally saved information.
Session Storage: Browser storage ordinarily associated with an active browsing session.
Tracking Pixels: Technical elements that may communicate usage information to a service provider.
Service Workers: Browser technologies used to support functions such as caching and installed web-app behaviour.
Cache Storage: Locally retained resources that may help certain pages or functions load.
Device or Advertising Identifiers: Identifiers that may be processed by compatible services where enabled.
These technologies may present different privacy and security considerations.
4. Categories of Technologies
4.1 Strictly Necessary Technologies
These support essential website functions such as delivering requested pages, maintaining basic security or processing necessary technical requests.
Depending on the configuration, examples may include:
- Session management.
- Load balancing.
- Security controls.
- Anti-spam functions.
- Basic website functionality.
- Essential accessibility or user preference settings.
The use of necessary technologies should remain proportionate.
4.2 Functional Technologies
These support optional convenience features, potentially including:
- Language preferences.
- Reader display settings.
- Saved stories.
- Recently viewed articles.
- Remembered interface preferences.
- Certain personalisation features.
The actual information stored depends on which functions have been enabled.
4.3 Analytics and Performance Technologies
These may help website operators understand technical performance and audience interaction.
Examples include page-view measurement, navigation analysis and performance diagnostics.
Analytics technologies may involve personal information even when their purpose is statistical measurement.
Their deployment should be assessed against relevant privacy obligations.
4.4 Advertising Technologies
If advertising services are enabled, associated technologies may support advertisement delivery, frequency measurement, campaign reporting or personalisation.
Some advertising technologies may involve tracking across different websites or services.
Where required by law, appropriate notice and valid consent must be obtained.
4.5 Embedded Media Technologies
Videos, social media posts, maps or interactive content hosted by third parties may introduce their own cookies or related technologies.
The operation of these technologies depends on the external provider and how the content is embedded.
5. Technologies Currently Used by VNN
The specific cookie and tracking inventory must reflect actual website configuration.
This information should be maintained as an accurate inventory and reviewed when plugins, advertising networks or other website functions change.
6. Why We Use These Technologies
Where applicable, VNN may use website technologies to:
- Deliver news pages and requested content.
- Maintain technical website security.
- Reduce spam or automated misuse.
- Remember optional reader preferences.
- Support saved-story features.
- Provide compatible web-app functions.
- Measure website performance.
- Understand aggregate usage patterns.
- Support approved advertising operations.
- Enable embedded multimedia content.
We aim to avoid deploying unnecessary tracking technologies.
7. Consent and Reader Choice
Different laws impose different requirements concerning cookies and related technologies.
VNN will assess whether consent is required for particular activities and jurisdictions.
Where valid consent is required, non-essential tracking should not be activated before that consent has been obtained.
Where a consent-management interface is provided, readers should be able to make choices using the functions actually offered.
VNN will not treat the mere publication of this policy as proof that lawful consent has been obtained.
Current Cookie Consent System
- Consent Tool
- Valcored Consent, built into this website.
- Preference Controls
- A banner with equal “Accept all” and “Reject all” buttons, and “Settings” with a separate switch for: Embedded videos and posts. Strictly necessary storage is always on.
- Method to Withdraw Consent
- Choose “Cookie settings” at the bottom of any page to change or withdraw your choice at any time. Cookies a provider has already set can also be cleared in your browser settings.
Any stated consent controls must be operational before they are advertised to readers.
8. Australian Privacy Requirements
Australian privacy law does not create one universal cookie-consent rule applying identically to all websites and tracking activities.
However, cookies and tracking technologies may involve obligations under applicable privacy law.
The Australian privacy regulator has specifically identified risks associated with third-party tracking pixels, particularly where sensitive information could be collected or disclosed.
VNN should evaluate the necessity, configuration and data-handling practices of relevant tracking tools.
Sensitive information should not be disclosed to advertising or analytics platforms without an appropriate legal basis.
9. International Requirements
Some jurisdictions impose additional obligations concerning cookies, tracking and personal information.
Where such laws apply to VNN’s operations, the organisation should implement the necessary notices, choices and consent mechanisms.
Any regional consent interface or privacy-rights process should reflect actual legal applicability and technical capability.
10. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most modern browsers provide settings that allow users to review, block or delete cookies and certain stored information.
Readers may use their browser’s privacy settings to manage these technologies.
Depending on the browser, available options may include:
- Blocking third-party cookies.
- Deleting existing cookies.
- Clearing local website data.
- Managing website permissions.
- Restricting tracking.
- Using private browsing modes.
- Managing notification permissions.
Blocking essential technologies may affect some website functions.
Browser controls may not prevent all forms of tracking or remove information already processed by third parties.
11. Saved Articles and Local Storage
Where VNN offers saved-story functionality, the feature may use browser or device storage.
Saved information may remain available on the same device until removed or cleared, depending on implementation.
Browser-data deletion may remove saved preferences or locally stored stories.
VNN should not promise that locally saved material will synchronise across devices unless an account-based synchronisation system genuinely exists.
12. Installable Web-App Functionality
VNN may offer an installable web-app experience on compatible devices.
Installing the web app may permit browser-managed storage or caching needed to support the experience.
An installed web app is not necessarily equivalent to a separately distributed native mobile application.
Removing the installed app may not remove every browser record or cookie associated with the underlying website.
Users may need to review browser storage and device settings where appropriate.
13. News Alerts and Notifications
If VNN introduces optional push notifications, readers may be asked to grant permission through their browser or device.
Notification permission should be requested in a manner consistent with applicable requirements.
Users should be able to manage or revoke permission through the relevant browser or device settings.
Where VNN has not enabled push notifications, this section does not imply that such a service is currently available.
14. Embedded Videos and Social Media Content
Articles may contain external multimedia elements.
Depending on configuration, external providers may receive technical information when their content loads.
VNN should consider privacy-preserving embedding methods where practical.
Users who choose to interact with external services may become subject to the privacy practices of those providers.
VNN does not control every technological process operated by an independent third party.
15. Advertising and Sensitive News Topics
News-reading activity may reveal sensitive interests or circumstances.
For example, a person’s interaction with certain health, political or religious topics may create privacy implications.
VNN should take particular care before allowing advertising pixels to collect information that could reveal sensitive personal information.
Advertising tools should be configured to minimise unnecessary disclosure.
Where their collection practices cannot be made appropriate, removal or alternative advertising methods should be considered.
16. Retention and Expiration
Cookies and browser-storage technologies may remain active for different periods.
Retention depends on the purpose, provider and technical configuration.
VNN should maintain accurate information about material persistent identifiers and relevant retention settings.
A service provider’s default settings should not be described as VNN’s configured settings unless confirmed.
17. Changes to Tracking Technologies
Website technology may change when themes, plugins, advertising systems or other services are updated.
VNN should review material tracking changes and update its disclosures as necessary.
Where a change introduces processing requiring new consent, VNN should obtain that consent before undertaking the relevant activity.
18. Contact Us
For questions about cookies, tracking or privacy:
VALCORED News Network
- Privacy Email
- Website
- valcorednews.com
Readers may also refer to our Privacy Policy for information about personal information requests and complaints.
19. Our Commitment
VNN believes readers should be informed about how digital technologies affect their privacy.
We aim to balance reliable website functionality, responsible audience measurement and appropriate commercial operations with transparency and respect for individual choice.
Your experience with the news should not depend on hidden or misleading data practices.
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