Privacy Policy

Timesofsweden.com, operating under the name Times of Sweden, respects the privacy of its readers, contributors, sources and business contacts.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data may be collected when you visit Timesofsweden.com, contact us or interact with services available through the website. It also explains why we process this information, how long we may retain it and what rights you have.

1. Who we are

Times of Sweden is an independent digital news publication based in Sweden.

The data controller responsible for personal data processed through Timesofsweden.com is:

Operating Times of Sweden
Email: hej@timesofsweden.com

For questions concerning privacy or the use of your personal data, write to us with the subject line “Privacy Request.”

2. Scope of this Policy

This Privacy Policy mainly covers personal data connected with:

  • visits to Timesofsweden.com;
  • website security and technical operation;
  • cookie and consent preferences;
  • messages, news tips and correction requests;
  • commercial, advertising or affiliate enquiries;
  • analytics and advertising services, where enabled and consented to.

Editorial processing and publication may also be governed by applicable rules concerning journalism, freedom of expression, media responsibility and data protection.

3. Personal data we may collect

Information you provide directly

We may receive personal data when you contact us by email or through a website form. This may include:

  • your name;
  • your email address;
  • your organisation or professional role;
  • the contents of your message;
  • files, photographs or documents you choose to send;
  • information connected with a news tip, correction request or business enquiry.

Please do not send sensitive personal data unless it is necessary and you understand the risks involved. When contacting us about a confidential matter, clearly state that the information is confidential.

Technical and usage information

When you visit the website, our servers and technical service providers may process information such as:

  • IP address;
  • browser and device type;
  • operating system;
  • language settings;
  • referring page;
  • pages visited;
  • date and time of access;
  • approximate location derived from an IP address;
  • error logs, security events and diagnostic information.

Some of this information is necessary to deliver the website, prevent abuse and maintain security.

We may store information about:

  • whether you accepted or rejected optional cookies;
  • the categories of cookies you selected;
  • the date and time of your choice;
  • a technical identifier used to remember your preferences.

More information is available in our Cookie Policy.

Analytics and advertising information

Where analytics, personalised advertising or similar services are enabled, information about your use of the website may be processed only in accordance with your cookie choices and applicable law.

Depending on your consent, this may include information about page views, interactions, advertising impressions and general audience characteristics.

4. Why we process personal data

We may process personal data for the following purposes.

Operating and protecting the website

We process necessary technical information to:

  • display the website correctly;
  • maintain performance and availability;
  • identify technical errors;
  • detect malicious traffic, fraud and security threats;
  • prevent unauthorised access or misuse.

This processing is generally based on our legitimate interest in operating a secure and reliable publication.

Responding to messages and enquiries

We process the information you provide to:

  • answer questions;
  • review news tips;
  • investigate correction requests;
  • respond to privacy or copyright claims;
  • discuss advertising, partnerships or other professional matters.

The legal basis may be our legitimate interest, steps requested before entering an agreement, performance of an agreement or compliance with a legal obligation.

Measuring and improving the website

With your consent, we may use analytics technologies to understand how readers use the website and to improve navigation, performance and content presentation.

Advertising and affiliate activity

With your consent where required, advertising and affiliate partners may process information to deliver, measure or personalise advertising and to record whether a purchase or other action followed an affiliate link.

We may process or preserve information where necessary to:

  • comply with applicable law;
  • respond to a valid request from an authority;
  • establish, exercise or defend legal claims;
  • protect the rights or safety of Times of Sweden, our readers or other persons.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

Timesofsweden.com may use cookies, local storage, pixels and similar technologies.

Strictly necessary technologies may operate without consent where they are required to provide a service requested by the visitor or to protect the website.

Optional technologies, including analytics, advertising and certain embedded media tools, should not be activated until the required consent has been given.

You can review or change your choices through the Cookie Settings link available on the website.

6. Who may receive personal data

We do not sell personal data.

Personal data may be processed by carefully selected service providers that help us operate the website. These may include providers of:

  • website hosting;
  • content delivery and security services;
  • email services;
  • website maintenance;
  • consent management;
  • analytics;
  • advertising and affiliate measurement;
  • cloud storage;
  • legal, accounting or technical advice.

These providers may only process information for authorised purposes and subject to appropriate contractual or legal safeguards.

We may also disclose information:

  • where required by law;
  • in response to a valid legal request;
  • where necessary to protect legal rights or security;
  • as part of a future reorganisation, transfer or sale of the publication, subject to appropriate safeguards.

7. Transfers outside the EEA

Some technology providers may process information outside Sweden or outside the European Economic Area.

Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we seek to use a lawful transfer mechanism, such as:

  • an adequacy decision;
  • approved standard contractual clauses;
  • another safeguard recognised under applicable data protection law.

The actual location of processing may depend on the service providers used by the website.

8. How long we retain information

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

Typical retention periods may include:

  • ordinary contact messages: up to 24 months after the matter is closed;
  • unsuccessful or irrelevant commercial enquiries: generally for a shorter period;
  • technical and security logs: normally up to 90 days, unless longer retention is needed to investigate abuse or a security incident;
  • consent records: for as long as required to demonstrate and manage the visitor’s choices;
  • legal, contractual or accounting records: for the period required by applicable law;
  • correction, copyright and privacy requests: for as long as necessary to document the handling of the request and protect legal rights.

Information may be retained for longer where required by law, an ongoing dispute or a legitimate security investigation.

9. Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

  • request access to your personal data;
  • request correction of inaccurate information;
  • request deletion of your information;
  • request restriction of processing;
  • object to processing based on legitimate interests;
  • receive certain information in a portable format;
  • withdraw consent at any time;
  • lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

Some rights are subject to exceptions. For example, we may need to retain information to comply with law, defend legal claims or protect journalistic freedom and freedom of expression.

To exercise a right, email hej@timesofsweden.com with the subject “Privacy Request.”

We may ask for reasonable information to verify your identity before completing a request.

10. Complaints

You may submit a complaint to the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection, known as Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten or IMY, if you believe that your personal data has been processed unlawfully.

We encourage you to contact us first so that we have an opportunity to examine the matter.

11. Children’s privacy

Times of Sweden provides general news and information and is not designed specifically for children.

We do not knowingly request personal data from children. A child or guardian who believes that personal information has been submitted unnecessarily may contact us at hej@timesofsweden.com.

12. Security

We use reasonable organisational and technical measures intended to protect personal data from accidental loss, unlawful access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You should therefore avoid sending highly sensitive information through ordinary email unless appropriate protection has been arranged.

13. External websites and embedded content

Articles may include links to third-party websites or embedded content such as videos, maps, social media posts or documents.

Third-party services operate under their own privacy policies. Their processing is not controlled by Times of Sweden.

Where required, optional embedded services should remain blocked until you provide the relevant consent.

14. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change.

The date at the top of the page shows when the Policy was most recently updated. Material changes may also be communicated through a notice on the website.

15. Contact

Privacy questions and requests should be sent to:

hej@timesofsweden.com