Privacy & cookies note

This is a personal blog run by Priya at PersonalSpark. I don't sell data, run a marketing department, or profile visitors for advertisers. Still, a few things happen when you browse or write to me — and Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) says I should explain them plainly.

Who is responsible

I'm the data controller for this site: Priya, reachable at [email protected] or Blk 6 Jalan Berseh, #02-10, Singapore 200006. If you have questions about your information, email me directly — no ticket queue, just a person at a home desk.

What I collect

Contact form. When you use the Say hello form, I receive your name, email address, message text, and the fact that you ticked the consent box. I use these only to read and reply. I do not add you to a newsletter — there isn't one.

Cookies. This site sets a small cookie to remember your cookie choice (accept all, reject non-essential, or customise) for about six months. If you accept analytics cookies, I may see aggregated, anonymous information about which pages are read — things like page views and rough referral sources, not your personal browsing across the web.

Server logs. My hosting provider may automatically log technical data — IP address, browser type, timestamps — for security and troubleshooting. I don't use those logs to identify individuals unless something breaks and I need to diagnose it.

Why I collect it

Contact details: to respond to you. Consent record: to meet PDPA requirements. Cookie preference: so the banner doesn't nag every visit. Analytics (if you allow): to understand which entries people enjoy, so I can write more thoughtfully — not to sell anything, because there's nothing to sell.

Lawful basis & consent

I rely on your consent for the contact form and for non-essential cookies. The consent checkbox on the form is never pre-ticked. You can change cookie choices by clearing site cookies in your browser and revisiting — the banner will appear again.

Retention

Emails from readers are kept in my inbox until I've replied and the thread feels finished — usually weeks, sometimes longer if we're exchanging corrections about a place name. I delete obvious spam. Server logs rotate on a schedule set by my host, typically within 90 days.

Sharing with others

I don't sell or rent your data. I don't share it with advertisers. The only third parties involved are practical ones: my email provider when I receive your message, and my hosting company that serves these pages. They process data on my behalf to keep the site running.

Your PDPA rights

Under the PDPA you may ask me to confirm whether I hold your personal data, request access or a copy, ask for corrections, or withdraw consent (which may mean I can't reply to a future message). Email [email protected] with the subject "Data request" and I'll respond within a reasonable time.

If you believe I've handled your data wrongly, you may contact the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) in Singapore: pdpc.gov.sg.

Children

This blog isn't aimed at children. If you're under 13, please ask a parent before writing to me.

Personal disclaimer

Everything on PersonalSpark is my personal writing — opinions and memories, not professional advice. The privacy note is the same spirit: plain honesty about a small site, not a corporate policy maze.

Security

No system is perfect. I choose hosting with sensible defaults, keep software updated, and don't store passwords in plain text because there are no accounts here. If you share personal information in a message, treat email like a postcard — reasonably private, not armour-plated.

International visitors

PersonalSpark is written in Singapore and hosted here. If you contact me from overseas, your data may cross borders to reach my inbox. I still handle it under the practices described on this page.

Links to other sites

Occasionally I link outward — for example to the PDPC. Those sites have their own privacy rules. Read them if you leave mine.

Contact about privacy

Questions about this note? Email [email protected] or call +65 6228 4176. I'll answer as plainly as I wrote this page — no legalese arms race, just what I actually do with the little data I touch.

Changes

If I change how this site handles data, I'll update this page and the date above. Material changes will be noted here — no silent surprises. I may also mention significant updates in a journal entry if it feels neighbourly to do so.