Cookie Policy
Effective date: 1 June 2025. Last updated: 1 June 2025.
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies are, which ones we use on the Ardent Lens Platform, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which describes how we process the personal data that cookies may help us collect.
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device when you visit. They are widely used to make websites function efficiently, to remember your preferences, and — with your consent — to provide analytical information to website operators.
Cookies set by the website you are visiting are called "first-party cookies." Cookies set by parties other than the site you are visiting — for example, analytics or advertising providers embedded in the page — are called "third-party cookies."
Cookies can be "session cookies," which expire when you close your browser, or "persistent cookies," which remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them.
In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as local storage, session storage, and pixel tags. For simplicity, all such technologies are referred to as "cookies" in this policy.
2. Legal Basis and Consent
Under the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and EU ePrivacy Directive, we are required to obtain your consent before setting non-essential cookies on your device. Essential cookies that are strictly necessary for the Platform to function do not require consent.
When you first visit Ardent Lens, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept all cookies, reject all non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences by category. Your choice is stored for 12 months, after which we will ask again.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time using the button below or via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer.
3. Essential Cookies
Essential cookies are strictly necessary for the Platform to operate. They include cookies that manage your session when you are logged in, remember your display preferences, and store your cookie consent choices. These cookies cannot be disabled without causing significant functionality to break.
We do not require your consent to set essential cookies because they are necessary to provide a service you have explicitly requested. However, you can delete them at any time using your browser settings.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| sb-*-auth-token | Ardent Lens / Supabase | Stores your authenticated session token to keep you logged in. | Session / up to 1 week |
| theme | Ardent Lens | Remembers your preferred display mode (light or dark) to prevent flash on load. | 1 year |
| ardentlens_cookie_consent | Ardent Lens | Stores your cookie consent preferences so we do not ask again on every visit. | 12 months |
| __Secure-next-auth.session-token | Ardent Lens | Authentication session security token. | Session |
4. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Platform — for example, which articles are read, how long visitors stay, where they come from, and what devices they use. This information is aggregated and used to improve our content and user experience. It is not used to build profiles of individual users for commercial purposes.
We only set analytics cookies if you have given your consent. You can withdraw consent at any time by managing your preferences.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the site. | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Used by Google Analytics to persist session state. | 2 years |
5. Preferences Cookies
Preferences cookies allow the Platform to remember information that changes the way it looks or behaves for you personally — for example, whether you have previously dismissed a notification, or personalisation choices beyond your theme setting.
These cookies are set with your consent and can be disabled via your cookie preferences.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| ardentlens_dismissed_* | Ardent Lens | Records whether you have dismissed a notification banner or prompt. | 30 days |
6. Third-Party Cookies
Some pages on the Platform embed content or functionality provided by third parties, which may set their own cookies. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which govern how they use the data they collect.
We take reasonable steps to ensure that third-party cookies are only set with your consent where required. However, once a third-party cookie is set, the third party's own policies apply to its use. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party services whose cookies appear on pages you visit frequently.
7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have several options for managing cookies:
- Cookie preferences panel: Use the "Manage Cookie Preferences" button on this page or the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer to open our preferences panel at any time. You can change your choices by category and save your preferences.
- Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies via your browser settings. Blocking all cookies will affect the functionality of many websites, including Ardent Lens. Consult your browser's help documentation for instructions (search for "cookies" in your browser settings).
- Opt-out tools: For Google Analytics specifically, you can use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Please note that if you choose to block or delete cookies, some features of the Platform may not function correctly — including staying logged in, remembering your display preferences, or accessing premium content.
8. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, particularly when we add or remove cookies or change the purposes for which we use them. Material changes will be communicated by updating the effective date above and, where appropriate, by presenting the consent banner again so you can review and renew your preferences.
9. Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us via the Contact page.