Privacy Policy for Watchdog Witness
Effective Date: 3 January 2026
Last Updated: 11 June 2026
1. Who We Are
Watchdog Witness (referred to as “we”, “us”, or “our” in this policy) is a website dedicated to exposing bad tradesmen, landlords, and other professionals.
Website: https://watchdogwitness.com
Contact Email: [INSERT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HERE]
Country: Ireland
For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679, we are the Data Controller of your personal information.
2. What Data We Collect
We may collect the following types of personal data:
| Data Type | Examples | When Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Data | Name, username | When you leave a comment or contact us |
| Contact Data | Email address | When you contact us or leave a comment |
| Technical Data | IP address, browser type, device type, time zone | Automatically when you visit the site |
| Usage Data | Pages visited, time spent, clicks | Via analytics cookies (with your consent) |
| Communication Data | Message content, attachments | When you fill out a contact form |
We do not knowingly collect sensitive data (e.g., health information, political opinions, religious beliefs) or data from children under 16.
3. How We Collect Your Data
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Direct interactions | You fill out a contact form, leave a comment, or email us directly |
| Automated technologies | Cookies and analytics tools (with your consent) collect technical and usage data |
| Third-party sources | Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics) may provide aggregated usage data |
4. Why We Collect Your Data (Legal Basis)
We collect and process your personal data only when we have a legal basis to do so under GDPR:
| Purpose | Legal Basis |
|---|---|
| To respond to your enquiries | Legitimate interest (to answer questions about our investigations) |
| To moderate and display comments | Legitimate interest (to maintain a safe, constructive discussion forum) |
| To analyse site traffic and improve content | Consent (you have the right to withdraw cookie consent at any time) |
| To comply with legal obligations | Legal obligation (e.g., if a court orders disclosure) |
5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to enhance your experience. You can manage cookie preferences through our cookie consent banner.
Types of cookies we use:
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Consent Required |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Site functionality (logging in, security) | No (exempt under ePrivacy) |
| Analytics/Performance | Counting visits, page views, traffic sources | Yes |
| Functional | Remembering your preferences (e.g., comment details) | Yes |
You can withdraw consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies or adjusting your cookie settings via our banner.
6. How Long We Keep Your Data
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Contact form submissions | 12 months from last contact |
| Comments | Retained indefinitely (unless you request deletion) |
| Analytics data | 26 months (aggregated, anonymised where possible) |
| Server logs (IP addresses) | 30 days |
7. Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share data with the following third parties:
| Third Party | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting provider | Site hosting and security | Technical data, IP addresses |
| Email service | Sending and receiving contact form enquiries | Name, email address, message content |
| Google Analytics | Site traffic analysis | Aggregated usage data, anonymised IP |
| Law enforcement | If required by law | Any data specified in a legal order |
All third parties are contractually obligated to protect your data and comply with GDPR.
8. Your Rights Under GDPR
As a data subject in the European Union, you have the following rights:
| Right | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Right to access | You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you |
| Right to rectification | You can correct inaccurate or incomplete data |
| Right to erasure (Right to be forgotten) | You can request deletion of your data in certain circumstances |
| Right to restrict processing | You can limit how we use your data |
| Right to data portability | You can request a machine-readable copy of your data |
| Right to object | You can object to processing based on legitimate interests |
| Rights related to automated decision-making | We do not use automated decision-making or profiling |
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: watchdogwitness@proton.me
We will respond within one month as required by GDPR.
9. Your Right to Complain
If you believe we have violated your data protection rights, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) :
Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2, D02 RD28
Ireland
Website: https://www.dataprotection.ie
Phone: +353 57 868 4800
10. Security of Your Data
We take data security seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:
- SSL encryption (HTTPS) for all data transmitted between your browser and our server
- Secure, password-protected hosting environment
- Regular software updates and security patches
No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., news articles, court records, other investigative sources). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal data.
12. Children’s Privacy
Watchdog Witness is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page indicates when changes were made. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, your data rights, or wish to exercise any of your GDPR rights, please contact us at:
Watchdog Witness
Email: watchdogwitness@proton.me
Website: https://watchdogwitness.com
