1. Who we are
CriterAI Ltd (“CriterAI”, “we”, “us”, “our”) operates the websitewww.criterai.co.uk (the “Site”). We are the controller of any personal data collected via cookies on the Site. For privacy queries, emailprivacy@criterai.co.uk or write to:
Data Protection Officer, CriterAI Ltd, Welton Pumping Station, Watford Road, Daventry, NN11 2NE.
2. Why this notice matters
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (“UK GDPR”), thePrivacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (“PECR”) and theData (Use and Access) Act 2025 (“DUAA 2025”) we must tell you what cookies we use, why we use them, the lawful basis for doing so and how you can control them. Recent amendments to PECR introduced five narrowly-defined exceptions where certain cookies no longer need prior consent, provided specific conditions are met.
3. What are cookies and similar technologies?
“Cookies” are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. We also use local storage, pixels and scripts (“Tracking Technologies”). Throughout this notice we call all of these “cookies”.
4. Our lawful bases for using cookies
| Category | Main purpose | Lawful basis / PECR exception |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary & communication cookies | Load balancing, page navigation, network security, authentication | Communication or Strictly Necessary exceptions - consent not required |
| Preference cookies | Remember language, dark-mode or layout choices | Appearance exception - consent not required but you may object at any time |
| Analytics cookies | Collect aggregate statistics (page views, dwell time) to improve the Site | Statistical Purposes exception - consent not required; users given a simple free opt-out |
| Advertising / targeting cookies | Build profiles, deliver personalised adverts, measure campaigns | Consent under PECR & UK GDPR Art 6(1)(a). These will only load if you actively opt-in |
5. Cookies we set
Below is a snapshot. The full, up-to-date list (name, provider, purpose, expiry) is available on request.
| Name | Provider | Expiry | Purpose | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
criterai_session | First-party | Session | Maintains logged-in state | Strictly necessary |
lang_pref | First-party | 1 year | Stores language choice | Preference |
_stats | First-party | 24 hrs | Counts page views (aggregated) | Analytics |
_ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | 2 yrs | Aggregated site usage - configured to IP-anonymise & daily aggregate | Analytics |
_gads | 13 months | Measures ad impressions | Advertising (consent-based) |
6. How we obtain, record and manage consent
We display a banner the first time you visit. You can:
- Accept all cookies;
- Reject optional cookies; or
- Customise each category.
Your choices are stored in a first-party cookie for 6 months, after which we will ask again or sooner if the cookie set changes. Consent records are retained securely as required by the ICO’s guidance on consent management.
7. How to withdraw or modify your choices
- Banner settings: Click “Cookie settings” in the footer at any time.
- Browser controls: Most browsers let you delete or block cookies.
- Analytics opt-out: To object to analytics placed under the Statistical Purposes exception, switch off “Analytics” in the banner; we will immediately disable collection.
- Advertising opt-out: You can also manage Google ad-personalisation atadssettings.google.com.
8. International transfers
We only transmit analytics data to processors that act solely on our instructions for service-improvement purposes, fulfilling Schedule A1 para 5 of PECR as amended. Where such processors are outside the UK we put in place appropriate safeguards under UK GDPR Chapter V.
9. Changes to this notice
This policy is kept under regular review. Updates will appear here and the banner will prompt you where required. Significant changes (e.g. adding new cookie categories) will always trigger a fresh consent request.
10. Your rights
For personal data collected via cookies you have the rights of access, erasure, restriction, objection and portability. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
11. Complaints
If you are unhappy with our use of cookies, please contact us first. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office(ico.org.uk).