This policy explains how Malta Business Journal uses cookies and similar technologies on maltabusinessjournal.com, why they are used and how you can control non-essential technologies.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files stored on a browser or device when you visit a website. Similar technologies include local storage, software development kits, pixels, tags and identifiers that store or access information on a device. In this policy, ‘cookies’ includes these comparable technologies unless the context requires otherwise.
2. Who is responsible
Malta Business Journal is responsible for its use of cookies. The legal operator and registered details appear in the website footer and Contact page. Questions may be sent to legal@maltabusinessjournal.com.
3. When consent is required
Strictly necessary cookies may be used without consent where they are required to transmit a communication or provide a service you explicitly requested, such as security, load balancing, authentication or remembering your cookie choice. Analytics, advertising, social-media and other non-essential cookies are disabled until you make an affirmative choice where consent is required.
Consent is optional, specific by category, informed and capable of withdrawal. Rejecting non-essential cookies does not prevent access to the core publication. Closing or scrolling past the banner does not constitute consent, and non-essential categories are not pre-selected.
4. Cookie categories
| Category | Purpose | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Operate core pages, route traffic, secure forms, prevent abuse, keep a session active and remember privacy choices. | Always active where necessary |
| Functional | Remember optional settings or enable a feature you choose, such as embedded media or enhanced personalisation. | Off until consent where non-essential |
| Analytics | Measure readership, referrals, performance and errors so we can understand and improve the Service. | Off until consent |
| Advertising | Measure campaigns, manage frequency, attribute results or personalise advertising where offered. | Off until consent |
| Social media | Enable third-party embeds, sharing or interaction that may allow the platform to recognise a user or device. | Off until consent |
5. The current cookie register
The Cookie Settings panel is the authoritative current register of cookies and similar technologies in use. For each technology, it should display its name, provider, purpose, category, whether it is first- or third-party and its expiry or duration. This register may change when a provider is added, removed or reconfigured; new non-essential technologies remain blocked until an appropriate consent choice is available.
6. First-party and third-party cookies
First-party cookies are set by Malta Business Journal or on its behalf. Third-party cookies are set or accessed by another service, for example an analytics, video, social-media or advertising provider. A third party may act as our processor for defined purposes or as a separate controller under its own terms. The preference centre should identify the provider and link to relevant information where practical.
7. Managing your choices
On your first visit, the banner gives you three clear options on the same layer: Accept All, Reject Non-Essential and Manage Choices. You can later change or withdraw consent at any time through the permanent Cookie Settings link in the website footer. Withdrawing consent is as easy as giving it, although it does not make earlier consent-based processing unlawful.
Browser controls can also delete or block cookies, but blocking strictly necessary storage may affect requested functionality. Device and browser settings vary, and deleting cookies may cause the consent banner to appear again.
8. Embedded content
An article may include video, audio, maps, social posts or other third-party embeds. Where the provider would set a non-essential cookie or receive device data, the embed should remain blocked until the relevant consent is given. You may still follow an ordinary external link, subject to the third party's own policies.
9. Consent records
We retain a limited record of the consent choice, time, policy or banner version and relevant device or browser identifier so that we can respect and demonstrate the choice. The consent record is kept only as long as reasonably required for those purposes and legal accountability.
10. Changes to this policy
We update this policy and the live cookie register when our technology or legal requirements change. If a change creates a new consent purpose, we will ask for a new choice before using the relevant non-essential technology where required.
11. Contact
Questions about cookies or privacy choices may be sent to legal@maltabusinessjournal.com. More information about our handling of personal data appears in the Privacy Policy.