Last updated: 6 September 2026
This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected when you visit
startinchina.com (“the site”), how it is used, and the choices you have. The
site is a personal blog run by Thijs Terlouw. If you have any questions, contact
.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, the site’s server and its analytics tools automatically
record standard technical information when you visit: your IP address, browser
type and version, operating system, referring page, the pages you view, and the
date and time of your visit. This information is used to understand how the site
is used and to keep it secure and working correctly.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your browser. The site
and its third-party partners use cookies to remember settings, measure traffic,
and (where advertising is shown) to select and measure ads. You can block or
delete cookies through your browser settings; some parts of the site may work
less well if you do.
Advertising – Google AdSense
The site may display advertising served by Google and its partners through the
Google AdSense program.
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your
prior visits to this and other websites. - Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads
to you based on your visit to this site and/or other sites on the Internet. - You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting
Google Ads Settings.
You can also opt out of a third-party vendor’s use of cookies for personalised
advertising at aboutads.info
and youronlinechoices.eu. - Where required, you will be asked for consent before personalised ad cookies
are set.
For more information see Google’s
How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
Analytics
The site uses Google Analytics and Jetpack/WordPress.com Stats to collect
aggregated, mostly anonymised statistics about visitors (pages viewed, approximate
location, device and browser, referring sites). This data is used only to improve
the site’s content. See the
Google Privacy Policy
and the Automattic Privacy Policy.
Comments and spam filtering
If you leave a comment, the name, email address and website you enter, your IP
address, and your browser user-agent string are stored so the comment can be
displayed and moderated. Comment data is checked against the Akismet anti-spam
service to decide whether it is spam. Your email address is never published.
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content such as Google Maps, YouTube
or other videos, and images. Embedded content from other websites behaves exactly
as if you had visited that other website, which may collect data about you, use
cookies, and monitor your interaction with that content.
How long data is kept
Comments and their metadata are kept indefinitely so follow-up comments can be
recognised and approved automatically. Analytics and advertising data are kept
according to the retention policies of Google and Automattic.
Your rights
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have the
right to request a copy of the personal data held about you, to ask for it to be
corrected or deleted, and to object to certain processing. To make a request,
email . You also have the right to complain to
your local data protection authority.
Children
The site is not directed at children under 16 and does not knowingly collect
personal information from them.
Changes to this policy
This policy may be updated from time to time. The “last updated” date at the
top shows when it was last changed.