Privacy Policy
Last updated: 12 October 2025
We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we use it. This Privacy Policy explains how Gov Petitions (“Gov Petitions”, “we”, “us”) processes data when you visit our website, create an account, start or sign petitions, or contact our team. We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.
Who we are
Gov Petitions is operated by a UK-based civic technology team focused on empowering residents to raise issues with their elected representatives. You can reach us at contact@britainsnews.co.uk, which is also the address for all privacy enquiries.
Personal data we collect
- Account information: your name, email address, postcode, hashed password, verification status, and account preferences.
- Petition activity: petitions you create, signatures you give, comments or updates you post, delivery details, and timestamps associated with each action.
- Technical and security data: IP addresses stored as hashed identifiers with a secret pepper, device and browser metadata, and logs that help us prevent spam or abuse.
- Communications: support tickets, moderation requests, feedback, and any attachments you send to us.
- Cookies and consent records: essential session cookies, analytics cookies, advertising identifiers, and the choices you make through our cookie banner. For full details see our Cookie Policy.
How we use personal data
- To provide and secure the petition platform, including verifying signatures and keeping accounts safe.
- To communicate with you about your account, petitions, moderation decisions, or service updates.
- To monitor performance, run analytics, and improve accessibility and reliability of the site.
- To display, personalise (where consented), and measure advertising through Google AdSense and other partners.
- To comply with legal obligations, handle complaints, and prevent fraudulent or harmful activity.
Lawful bases for processing
Depending on the activity, we rely on one or more lawful bases: contract (providing the petition service you requested), legitimate interests (keeping the platform secure and useful), consent (optional analytics and advertising cookies, marketing communications), and legal obligation (record keeping, responding to lawful requests).
Sharing and processors
We share information with carefully selected service providers who help us operate Gov Petitions, including hosting providers, email delivery services, analytics platforms, and advertising partners. These organisations only process data on our instructions and must keep it secure. We never sell personal data.
Cookies and similar technologies
Essential cookies keep you signed in, maintain session security, and remember your accessibility settings. With your consent, we also use analytics cookies (to understand how people use Gov Petitions) and advertising cookies (to personalise and measure ads delivered via Google AdSense and trusted partners). You can review each category in our Cookie Policy and update your choices at any time by selecting Cookie Settings.
Data retention
Account information remains active while you hold an account and for up to 12 months after closure unless we need to retain it to resolve disputes or comply with law. Petition pages form part of the public record and may stay online after you close your account, with personal contact details removed. Security logs are typically kept for 12 months, and verification tokens usually expire within 90 days.
Your rights
You have the right to request access to your data, ask for corrections, request deletion, restrict or object to certain processing, and obtain a copy in a portable format. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time through the cookie banner or by emailing us. To exercise your rights, email contact@britainsnews.co.uk and we will respond within one calendar month. If you are unhappy with our response you can complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.
International transfers
Some of our service providers operate outside the UK/EEA. When data is transferred internationally we use safeguards such as the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses or other lawful mechanisms to protect your information.
Children
Gov Petitions is designed for people aged 16 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children and will delete such information if we become aware of it.
California privacy notice
We do not sell personal information for money. Some advertising partners may treat the limited identifiers we share (such as consented cookie IDs) as “sharing” under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA). California residents can request access, deletion, or opt out of sharing by emailing contact@britainsnews.co.uk.
Contact and updates
To make a privacy request, contact our data protection team at contact@britainsnews.co.uk. We update this policy when our practices change; any revisions will be published on this page with a new “Last updated” date.