Your privacy matters
Meridian collects as little personal data as possible and uses what it collects only to operate and improve the publication. This policy explains what we collect, why, and what rights you have. It was last updated in September 2026.
What we collect
Account information
If you create an account, we collect the information you provide: your name, email address, and password (stored in encrypted form). Optional profile details — such as your country, topics of interest, and followed authors — are used only to personalize recommendations within the site.
Newsletter subscriptions
If you subscribe to a newsletter, we collect your email address and your subscription preferences. Subscription requires your explicit consent, given by you at signup. Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link, and you can manage or cancel subscriptions at any time from your account settings.
Comments and contact messages
If you comment on articles or contact us, we collect the content of your message along with the name and email address you provide, so we can moderate, respond, and keep a record of correspondence.
Reading activity
We record anonymized or pseudonymized reading activity — such as which articles are popular — to understand what our audience finds useful. Your individual reading history is visible only to you in your account and is never sold or shared with advertisers.
Analytics
We use privacy-conscious analytics to measure aggregate traffic: page views, approximate geography (country or city level, never precise location), device types, and referral sources. Analytics cookies are only set with your consent, which you can grant or withdraw through our cookie preferences at any time. See our Cookie Policy for details.
What we do not do
- We do not sell your personal data. Not to advertisers, not to data brokers, not to anyone.
- We do not use purchased email lists. Every newsletter subscriber opted in directly.
- We do not track you across other websites for advertising purposes.
How we use your data
We use personal data to operate your account, deliver newsletters you requested, respond to your messages, moderate comments, personalize on-site recommendations, and understand aggregate readership trends. We do not use it for purposes you have not consented to.
Data sharing
We share personal data only where necessary to operate the service: with infrastructure providers (hosting, email delivery, analytics) who process data on our behalf under contractual obligations, and where required by law. We do not share data with advertisers for targeting.
Data retention and security
We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purposes described above — for example, account data while your account is active, and newsletter data until you unsubscribe. We apply industry-standard security measures, including encryption in transit and at rest and access controls, to protect your information. No system is perfectly secure, but we work continuously to keep yours safe.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal data, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. To exercise any of these rights, write to hello@meridian.press with "Privacy request" in the subject line. We will respond within 30 days.
Children's privacy
Meridian is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
International transfers
Our infrastructure may process data in countries other than your own. Where data crosses borders, we rely on appropriate safeguards, including contractual protections with our providers.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to this policy, we will announce them on the site and, where appropriate, notify account holders by email before the changes take effect.