About

Welcome!

Digital Evergarden is my corner of the internet where I share insights from my works or thoughts on travelling.

You’ll find my contact details at the bottom of the page. Thanks for stopping by!

Privacy Policy

At Digital Evergarden, one of my main priorities is the privacy of my visitors. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of information that are collected by Digital Evergarden and how I use and protect that information. I am committed to complying with applicable privacy laws, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and Australia’s Privacy Act & Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

If you have additional questions or need more information about this Privacy Policy, please feel free to contact me. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through my website (Digital Evergarden) and not to any information collected offline or via other channels. Please note that I do not offer user accounts or subscriptions on this blog – you can browse all content without providing any personal information. The only time you might share personal data here is when you choose to leave a comment on a post.

By using my website, you hereby consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

Information I Collect

I do not collect any personally identifiable information from you just by your browsing the site. However, like many websites, I do collect some data in two scenarios: general site visits (for analytics) and user comments.

Site Analytics: I use privacy-first Cloudflare Web Analytics to collect anonymous statistics about website traffic. Cloudflare Web Analytics does not use cookies or local storage on your browser, and it does not “fingerprint” you by using your IP address or other data for tracking. It simply provides me with aggregated information (such as page views and browser types) to help me understand how the site is used. When you are just reading posts on Digital Evergarden, you remain completely anonymous to me.
Comments: When you choose to post a comment, the comment system will collect and display the information you provide, along with some technical details. Specifically, when you leave a comment, the following information is collected:
- Nickname or Username: The name you enter will be displayed publicly alongside your comment.
- Email Address (optional): If you provide an email, it may be used to display your avatar via the Gravatar service. Your email address itself is not visible to other visitors. (Providing an email is optional; if you do, it helps confirm your identity for the comment and show your profile picture.)
- Website URL (optional): If you provide a personal or website URL, it will be displayed with your comment as a hyperlink on your name.
- Comment Content: The text content of your comment. This will be visible publicly on the site once you submit.
- Timestamp: The date and time when your comment is posted are recorded and shown publicly (this helps in context, especially for technical discussions).
- Browser User-Agent: The user-agent string from your browser (also displayed publicly with your comment). This information can help in troubleshooting technical issues (for example, it shows what browser/version you were using).
- IP Address (via Cloudflare): When you submit a comment, the IP address logged is the address of the Cloudflare server node that relays your request. Your actual IP address is not stored in our system. This means from my perspective as the site owner, I cannot see your precise personal IP. You remain effectively anonymous, as only a Cloudflare IP is recorded for technical purpose.

All information you choose to provide in the comment form (nickname, optional email, URL, and the comment itself), as well as the time and user-agent, will be publicly visible on the site alongside your comment. I (the site owner) do not have access to any other personal identifiers beyond what you share. In summary, aside from the details you voluntarily submit, I cannot personally identify you.

Here is an example of the data that is stored when you post a comment (for illustration purposes only):

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{
  "_id": "285abcd84d5348ba8711fd445a18779d",
  "uid": "7c8f80c3991f43278cd6a3b012559b1c",
  "username": "Tim",
  "mail(optional)": "[email protected]",
  "mailMd5(optional)": "1B30499332F42357C4BBCE117209EB6A",
  "link(optional)": "http://example.com",
  "ua": "Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/18.0 Safari/605.1.15",
  "ip (of the CDN, not your physical IP)": "172.68.225.116",
  "master": false,
  "url": "/p/about/",
  "href": "https://example.com/p/about/",
  "comment": "Hello World",
  "pid": null,
  "rid": null,
  "isSpam": false,
  "created": 1722326571528,
  "updated": 1722330127515
}

Lastly, to keep the discussion free of spam, comment submissions are checked by an anti-spam service. When you post a comment, the content of your comment (and some associated data, like the user-agent or a non-identifying hash) is sent via API to the Akismet Anti-Spam service. Akismet (provided by Automattic) helps detect and filter out spam comments. This transmission is encrypted, and no personally identifying information such as your actual IP address is included in what is sent to Akismet. In addition, if you provided an email for your comment, an encrypted hash of that email address is used with the Gravatar service (also by Automattic) to fetch your avatar image. This allows your chosen avatar to appear next to your comment. (Only the hash of your email is shared with Gravatar, not the email itself.)

How I Use Your Information

I use the collected information in various ways, all of which are aligned with the operation of the blog and the services you expect. These uses include:

To display and operate the site: For example, showing your comments on the blog posts (including your name, content, timestamp, etc.), and remembering your preferences on the site.
To understand and analyze usage: I use anonymous analytics to see how many visitors read my blog and which posts are popular, so I can improve content and performance.
To prevent spam and abuse: Information like user-agent and comment content (and the use of Akismet) help me filter out spam comments and protect the site from fraudulent or malicious activity.
To maintain security: Technical data (such as the Cloudflare-provided IP and user-agent) may be used to diagnose issues, block malicious actors, or otherwise ensure the website runs safely and securely.
To respond to you: If you contact me directly or exercise any of your data rights (explained below), I will use your information (such as an email address, if provided) to communicate with you and fulfill your request.

I will not use your personal information for any marketing purposes. In fact, I do not send out newsletters or promotional emails at all. You will not be contacted by me unless it is to respond to a direct inquiry or request from you.

Third-Party Services

To provide the functionalities and performance of this blog, I rely on a few third-party services. I only share data with these third parties as necessary, and solely for the purposes outlined in this policy. The third-party services used on Digital Evergarden include:

Cloudflare (Content Delivery Network and Analytics): Cloudflare is used to deliver the website content quickly and securely across the globe. When you access Digital Evergarden, your connection is routed through Cloudflare’s servers. As a result, Cloudflare will process your IP address and basic device information to serve you the pages. However, as noted above, my Cloudflare Web Analytics is configured to be privacy-friendly: it does not set cookies or track individual users, and it does not reveal your real IP to me. Cloudflare acts as a data processor to help me with website performance and security. (You can refer to Cloudflare’s privacy policy for more details on their data practices.)
Akismet (Anti-Spam Filtering): Akismet is a service that helps identify spam comments. Whenever you submit a comment, Akismet’s servers (operated by Automattic) will automatically analyze the comment content and certain metadata (like user-agent or proxy IP) to determine if it’s spam. This helps keep the comment section clean. The information sent to Akismet is limited to what is necessary for spam detection and is transmitted securely. No information is used by Akismet beyond spam filtering, and if a comment is flagged as spam, I review it before deletion. (For more information, you can check Automattic’s privacy policy, as they operate Akismet.)
Gravatar (Avatar Service): Gravatar, also operated by Automattic, is used to display user profile images next to comments. If you provide an email address when commenting, an encrypted hash of your email is shared with Gravatar’s service to see if you have a profile image associated with that email. If you do, the Gravatar image is fetched and displayed. This allows you to have a personalized avatar on your comment. Aside from the hashed email (which is a one-way encrypted version of your email), no other personal data is given to Gravatar. If you prefer not to use this feature, you can choose not to include your email when commenting, and no data will be sent to Gravatar.
Comment Hosting Platform: The comment functionality on Digital Evergarden is powered by an embedded comment system (an open-source solution) that stores and manages comments on my behalf. When you post a comment, the content and associated information (name, email hash, etc.) are stored in a database managed by this commenting system. This data is used only to display your comment on the site and for moderation (for example, to remove spam or respond to your requests). The comment service does not use your information for any other purposes. It acts as an extension of the blog to facilitate discussions. All data stored in the comment system remains under the control of Digital Evergarden and is not shared with any other parties.
Google AdSense: Advertisements on the website provide by Google AdSense. This means our webpages may display personalized ads tailored to your interests, based on your browsing activities and other online behaviors.

I do not share your personal information with any third parties for purposes of marketing. The external services listed above are strictly used to support core functionalities of the site (content delivery, analytics, spam protection, and avatars). Each of these providers has their own privacy safeguards, and your data is not used by them beyond the scope of providing their service to me.

Cookies

Like many websites, Digital Evergarden uses “cookies” (small text files stored on your device) and similar technologies, but only for functional purposes. Specifically, cookies on this site may be used to remember your preferences and to facilitate certain features in the comment system. For example, a cookie might store your chosen site language or dark/light mode preference, so you don’t have to select it on each visit. Cookies may also be used by the comment system to prevent duplicate actions (such as preventing a single user from voting multiple times on the same comment). These cookies do not contain personally identifying information and are not used to track your activities across other sites.

Google AdSense may use advertising cookies (such as the NID cookie or the DoubleClick cookie) to gather information about your visits to this site and other sites across the internet. These cookies help Google recognize your browser, understand your preferences, personalize ad content, avoid repeatedly showing you the same ads, and measure advertising effectiveness. Google may associate information collected via cookies with your other online information, especially if you are logged into your Google Account. Digital Evergarden itself does not directly collect, store, or have access to sensitive personal information used for advertising purposes. The processing of your personal data for advertising purposes is managed by Google in accordance with its own privacy policies. For detailed information about Google’s use of cookies and data for advertising, please visit Google’s Privacy & Terms. You can also manage your privacy preferences and opt out of personalized ads at any time through Google’s Ad Settings.

Cloudflare Web Analytics, works without cookies. You have the option to disable cookies through your browser settings; however, please be aware that if you do so, some parts of the site might not function optimally. For instance, if cookies are disabled, you might be able to vote multiple times unintentionally on a comment. If you choose to disable cookies and experience any issues with the site, you can always re-enable them or contact me for assistance.

CCPA Privacy Rights

Under the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), California residents have specific rights regarding their personal information. If you are a California consumer, you have the right to:

Know what personal information is collected: You can request that I disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data I have collected about you.
Delete personal information: You can request that I delete any personal data I have collected about you (with certain exceptions allowed by law).
Opt out of the sale of personal information: You can request that I do not sell your personal data. Note: Digital Evergarden does not sell any personal information to third parties, so this right is already honored by default.
Non-discrimination: You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising any of your CCPA privacy rights. I will not deny you services or provide a different level of service because you exercised your rights under CCPA.

If you make any such request, I have one month to respond to you. To exercise your CCPA rights, you can contact me using the contact information provided on this site. Once I verify your identity (to ensure the security of your data), I will proceed to fulfill your request to the extent required by law.

I would like to make sure you are fully aware of all your data protection rights under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). If you are a user in the European Economic Area (EEA) or otherwise subject to GDPR, you are entitled to the following rights:

The right to access: You have the right to request copies of the personal data I hold about you. I can provide you with a copy of the information I have collected on request.
The right to rectification: You have the right to request that I correct any information you believe is inaccurate, or complete any information you believe is incomplete.
The right to erasure: You have the right to request that I erase your personal data, under certain conditions. For example, if the data is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, or if you withdraw your consent, you can request deletion.
The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request that I restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. This might apply if you contest the accuracy of the data or if you need me to retain the data but not use it (for instance, for a legal claim).
The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to my processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. You can object, for example, to data processing for direct marketing (though I do not engage in direct marketing) or to any processing based on legitimate interests.
The right to data portability: You have the right to request that I transfer the data I have collected to another organization, or directly to you, in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, where technically feasible and lawful to do so.

If you are in the EU/EEA and would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact me. I may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests. I will respond to your request within one month. There is no fee for making a request unless it is manifestly unfounded or excessive, in which case (as permitted by the GDPR) a reasonable fee may apply or the request may be refused with explanation.

Australian Privacy Rights (APPs)

I also strive to handle personal information in accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). If you are an Australian user, you have rights in relation to the personal information I hold about you, including:

Right to access: You can request access to the personal information I have about you. I will provide you with the information, generally within a reasonable time frame, subject to any exceptions under the law.
Right to correction: If any personal information I hold about you is inaccurate, out-of-date, or incomplete, you have the right to request a correction. I will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
Right to deletion (upon request): While the Australian Privacy Principles do not explicitly grant an unqualified right to erasure as in the GDPR, I will honor requests to delete your personal information wherever possible. For example, if you have left a comment and later wish to have it removed from the site (along with any associated personal data), you can contact me and I will delete it upon your request.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights or have concerns about your privacy, please contact me. I will respond to Australian privacy requests within a reasonable time (typically within one month). I am committed to addressing any issues in accordance with the APPs, including being transparent about how I handle your information and ensuring its security.

Children’s Privacy

Protecting the privacy of children is especially important. I encourage parents and guardians to observe and guide their children’s online activity and to help enforce this Privacy Policy with their children. Digital Evergarden does not knowingly collect any personal identifiable information from children under the age of 13. The content on this blog is intended for a general audience and not directed at children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not submit any personal information on this website (for example, by posting a comment with your details).

If a parent or guardian believes that their child under 13 has provided personal information on Digital Evergarden, I strongly encourage them to contact me immediately. I will then promptly delete such information from my records. In the event that I discover any personal data belonging to a child under 13, I will remove it as soon as possible. Digital Evergarden is committed to complying with applicable laws such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States, which protect children’s privacy.

(Last updated on Apr 16, 2025)

Copyright and AI Usage Policy

All original content on Digital Evergarden – including all posts, articles, images, and other media – is created by and owned by the blog owner (All Rights Reserved). You are welcome to read and share links to the content, but you may not reproduce or use any part of the original content in ways not permitted by copyright law without obtaining explicit permission from me.

Want to reference or use something I’ve written?

For any purpose: Please get in touch before using the content to ask for permission.
For non-profit use: Just let me know beforehand how you plan to use it. A simple notification is all that’s needed.

In particular, I strictly prohibit the use of my content for any form of AI model training or corpus building. No individual or organization is allowed to use any content from Digital Evergarden in datasets for training artificial intelligence, machine learning models, or large language models (LLMs), nor for developing generative AI systems or any similar computational models. This includes (but is not limited to) using the text of my blog posts, images, or any other material found here as training data for AI algorithms. Any such use of my content without my explicit written consent is expressly forbidden.

Thank you for respecting these terms. If you have any questions about using my content or would like to request permission for a specific use, please contact me directly. Your understanding and cooperation help ensure that my work is not misused, and I truly appreciate it.

Contact Details

Email: admin[at=>@]hee.ink