What we collect, and what we do not
Last updated October 20, 2026.
Who we are
The controller of your personal data is Synthetic Anvil (syntheticanvil.com), an independent publication published by Alessandro Moreira from Curitiba, Brazil. For anything in this policy, write to lab@syntheticanvil.com. The same address reaches the person in charge of data protection (the encarregado, under Brazil's LGPD), who is Alessandro Moreira.
What we collect and why
- Newsletter. When you subscribe to The Quench we store your e-mail address, the date, the page you subscribed from and a hashed version of your IP address. We use the address to send the newsletter, once a week, and the hashed IP only to stop abuse such as mass sign-ups.
- Tips. When you send a tip we store what you typed, the e-mail address if you chose to give one, and the date. We use it only to look into the story and, if you asked, to reply or credit you.
- Server logs. Like any website, our hosting provider records the IP address and browser (user agent) of each request. These logs are kept for up to 30 days to keep the site secure and working.
- Analytics. Only if you allow it, we use Google Analytics 4 to count visits and see which pages are read. Google Analytics 4 does not store full IP addresses, and we do not use its advertising features. Without your consent the Analytics script is not loaded at all.
- Advertising. We do not show ads right now. When ads are enabled, they will come from Google AdSense, appear in fixed, labeled slots, and load only with your consent.
- Affiliate links. Some links pay us a commission if you buy. The page says so where it applies. Clicking one sends no personal data from us to the merchant.
Legal bases
We process personal data only when the law gives us a reason to:
- Your consent for analytics and advertising cookies, for the newsletter, and for tips you choose to send (LGPD art. 7, I; GDPR art. 6(1)(a)). You can withdraw it at any time, and withdrawing does not affect what happened before.
- Our legitimate interest in keeping the site secure and stopping abuse, for server logs and the hashed IP on sign-ups (LGPD art. 7, IX; GDPR art. 6(1)(f)). We keep this data minimal and short-lived so it does not outweigh your interests.
Cookies
Essential storage runs the site and remembers your cookie choice. Everything else waits for your consent, and you can change it at any time.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
sa-consent (local storage) | Remembers your cookie choice. Set by us. | 12 months | Essential |
_ga | Tells visits apart so we can count them. Set by Google Analytics. | 2 years | Analytics |
_ga_* | Keeps the state of a visit. Set by Google Analytics. | 2 years | Analytics |
__gads, __gpi, IDE (DoubleClick) | Show ads, limit repeats and measure them. Set by Google AdSense, only when ads are enabled. | Up to 13 months | Advertising |
Analytics and advertising cookies are set only after you allow them. If you withdraw analytics consent, we delete the _ga cookies from your browser.
Third parties and transfers
Google LLC, in the United States, receives data when you allow analytics or advertising. That transfer is covered by Google's data processing terms and the standard contractual clauses. The newsletter list and tips live on our own server, in a Hostinger data center; nobody else gets them. We do not sell personal data. When you follow an affiliate link we send no personal data to the merchant, and from that click on the merchant's own privacy policy applies.
Retention
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe. Unsubscribing deletes your address from the list.
- Tips: 12 months, then deleted.
- Server logs: 30 days.
- Analytics: up to 14 months in Google Analytics, then deleted by Google.
Your rights
Under the LGPD and the GDPR you can ask to access your data, correct it, delete it, receive it in a portable format, object to how we use it, and withdraw consent at any time. To withdraw, use Cookie settings or the unsubscribe link in every newsletter.
To exercise any right, write to lab@syntheticanvil.com. We answer LGPD requests within 15 days and all others within 30 days. If you think we got it wrong, you can complain to the ANPD in Brazil or to the data protection authority where you live.
California residents: we do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA, and we honor Global Privacy Control. If your browser sends it, we treat it as a choice for essential cookies only.
Children
Synthetic Anvil is not directed to anyone under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their data. If you believe a child sent us personal data, write to us and we will delete it.
Security
The whole site runs over HTTPS. Only the editor can access the newsletter list and tips, and IP addresses on sign-ups are stored hashed, not in plain form.
Changes
When this policy changes we update the date at the top. Material changes are also announced in the newsletter.
Contact
Synthetic Anvil, published by Alessandro Moreira, Curitiba, Brazil. lab@syntheticanvil.com.