Privacy and cookies

The British Film Database is a personal, non-commercial site. It has no accounts, no sign-up forms and no adverts, and it doesn't sell or share anything about its visitors. If you have a question about your data, email contact@datumdigital.co.uk.

Google Analytics, only if you agree

When you first visit, a box asks whether you're happy for your visit to be counted. If you choose Accept, the site loads Google Analytics, which sets two cookies (_ga and _ga_GE757Z4TCL) that last up to two years. They let me see how many people visit, which pages they read and what they search for on the site, how they found it (for example from a search engine), what kind of device and browser they use, and roughly where in the world they are. Google Analytics doesn't store IP addresses.

If you choose Reject, or don't choose, Google Analytics isn't loaded at all: nothing is sent to Google and no cookies are set.

Google Analytics is provided by Google, which processes the information on my behalf under its data processing terms, and may do so outside the UK. Google's advertising features are switched off, and the settings that let Google use the information to improve its own products are turned off too. Detailed records are deleted after two months; after that only totals are kept.

Changing your mind

Your choice is remembered in your browser's local storage (not a cookie), so you aren't asked on every page. You can change it at any time with Cookie settings at the foot of every page. If you withdraw your agreement, the Google Analytics cookies are deleted. Clearing your browser's data for this site does the same and means you'll be asked again.

Other things your browser fetches

  • Posters are shown straight from TMDB's image server (image.tmdb.org), so, as with any website your browser visits, TMDB sees your IP address when the images load. No cookies are involved.
  • Search runs in your browser, using files from this site. Your searches are only counted if you've accepted analytics, as described above.
  • Fonts come from this site, not from Google Fonts.
  • Hosting: the site is hosted by Netlify, which keeps standard records of requests, including IP addresses, for security and to keep the site running.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you can ask what information is held about you, ask for it to be corrected or deleted, and object to it being used. Google Analytics doesn't record who you are, so the quickest way to stop it is to choose Reject in Cookie settings. For anything else, email contact@datumdigital.co.uk. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Last updated 25 October 2026.