Cookie Policy
Effective Date: 11/14/2025
Last Updated: 11/14/2025
Notice: This cookie policy is provided for informational purposes. For comprehensive legal compliance, consult with data protection specialists familiar with South African POPIA and international privacy regulations.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners about how users interact with their sites.
Report Focus News uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and provide personalized content relevant to your interests.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly.
Examples:
- Authentication cookies to keep you logged in
- Security cookies to prevent fraud
- Load balancing cookies for website performance
- Cookie consent preferences
Duration: Session or up to 1 year
Can be disabled: No (website won't function properly)
Analytics Cookies
Purpose: Help us understand how visitors use our website.
Examples:
- Google Analytics cookies (page views, bounce rate, session duration)
- Heat mapping tools to understand user behavior
- A/B testing cookies for website optimization
- Traffic source tracking
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can be disabled: Yes
Functional Cookies
Purpose: Enhance your experience and remember your preferences.
Examples:
- Language and region preferences
- Font size and accessibility settings
- Newsletter subscription preferences
- Article reading progress
- Comment form information
Duration: Up to 1 year
Can be disabled: Yes (may affect functionality)
Advertising Cookies
Purpose: Display relevant advertisements and measure ad effectiveness.
Examples:
- Google AdSense targeting cookies
- Social media advertising pixels
- Retargeting and remarketing cookies
- Frequency capping to limit ad repetition
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can be disabled: Yes
Social Media Cookies
Purpose: Enable social media sharing and interaction features.
Examples:
- Facebook share and like buttons
- Twitter/X social integration
- LinkedIn sharing functionality
- WhatsApp sharing features
Duration: Varies by platform
Can be disabled: Yes (social features won't work)
How We Use Cookies
Website Functionality
- Remember your login status and preferences
- Maintain security across page visits
- Store your accessibility and display preferences
- Keep track of newsletter subscription status
Analytics and Performance
- Measure website traffic and popular content
- Understand how users navigate our site
- Identify technical issues and improve performance
- Track conversion rates and user engagement
Content Personalization
- Show relevant news based on your reading history
- Recommend related articles and topics
- Customize content for your geographic location
- Remember your comment and interaction preferences
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services we use to enhance your experience. These include:
Analytics Services
- Google Analytics: Website traffic analysis and user behavior insights
- Google Tag Manager: Manages marketing and analytics tags
Advertising Networks
- Google AdSense: Displays relevant advertisements
- Facebook Pixel: Social media advertising and conversion tracking
Social Media Platforms
- Facebook: Social sharing and like buttons
- Twitter/X: Tweet and share functionality
- LinkedIn: Professional sharing features
Content and Services
- YouTube: Embedded video content
- Newsletter Services: Email subscription management
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
Opt-Out Options
- Google Analytics: Browser Add-on
- Advertising Cookies: Your Online Choices
- Network Advertising: NAI Opt-Out
Mobile Device Settings
- iOS: Settings → Privacy → Tracking → Allow Apps to Request to Track
- Android: Settings → Privacy → Ads → Reset advertising ID
Cookie Consent Management
When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:
- Accept all cookies for the full website experience
- Customize your preferences by cookie category
- Reject non-essential cookies (some features may not work)
- Change your preferences at any time using our cookie settings
Manage Your Cookie Preferences: You can update your cookie settings at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer.
Regional Compliance
South Africa - POPIA Compliance
We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Cookies containing personal information are processed lawfully with appropriate consent and security measures.
European Union - GDPR Compliance
For EU visitors, we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive, requiring explicit consent for non-essential cookies.
International Compliance
We follow international best practices for data protection and cookie usage, respecting privacy rights regardless of your location.
Data Retention
- Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent Cookies: Remain until expiry date or manual deletion
- Analytics Data: Aggregated data retained for up to 26 months
- Advertising Data: Typically retained for 12-24 months
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Notify users through our website or email newsletters
- Request fresh consent if required by law
- Provide clear information about the changes
Contact Us About Cookies
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Privacy Officer: legal@reportfocusnews.com
Data Protection: legal@reportfocusnews.com
General Inquiries: contact@reportfocusnews.com
Address: Report Focus News, Johannesburg, South Africa
This Cookie Policy is part of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Please review these documents for complete information about our data practices.