Cookie Policy · Ashcroft Media Group

Effective date: 02 October 1997 | Last updated: 02 October 1997

This Cookie Policy explains how Ashcroft Media Group ("AMG", "we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website, mobile applications, and digital platforms (collectively, the "Services"). It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

By continuing to browse or use our Services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in this policy. If you do not agree, you should adjust your browser settings or discontinue use of the Services.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to the site owners.

We also use similar technologies such as web beacons (small transparent images), pixel tags, and local storage to help us understand how our Services are used. In this policy, we refer to all of these technologies collectively as "cookies".

Cookies can be "session cookies" (which expire when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them). They can also be "first-party" (set by us) or "third-party" (set by another domain).

2. How We Use Cookies

Ashcroft Media Group uses cookies for the following purposes:

Essential operations: To ensure our website and live reporting tools function correctly, including load balancing, security, and accessibility features.
Performance & analytics: To understand how visitors interact with our content — which articles are read, how long users stay, and where they come from — so we can improve our journalism and user experience.
Functionality: To remember your preferences, such as language, region, and display settings, so you don't have to re-enter them each visit.
Advertising & sponsorship: To deliver relevant promotional content from our partners and sponsors, and to measure the effectiveness of our campaigns. This helps fund our independent newsroom.
Social media: To enable sharing of our articles on platforms like Discord and the Streets of Los Santos forums, and to allow embedded media to function.
Security & fraud prevention: To protect our Services and our audience from malicious activity and unauthorised access.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

The table below lists the specific categories of cookies we use, with examples and typical durations. Please note that third-party cookies are governed by the respective third party's own privacy and cookie policies.

Category	Purpose	Examples	Duration
Strictly Necessary	Essential for the website to function. Cannot be switched off in our systems.	amg_session, amg_csrf, load_balancer	Session to 1 year
Performance & Analytics	Collect aggregated, anonymised data about how visitors use our site.	amg_analytics, _ga (Google Analytics), _gid	Up to 2 years
Functionality	Remember choices you make (e.g. region, dark mode, font size).	amg_prefs, amg_region, amg_theme	Up to 1 year
Advertising & Targeting	Deliver relevant ads and track campaign performance. Set by us and selected partners.	amg_ads, _fbp, partner_uid	Up to 90 days
Social & Embedded Media	Enable sharing and embedded content from third-party platforms.	discord_widget, yt_embed, forum_sso	Session to 1 year

Note: Ashcroft Media Group does not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information such as your real name or address unless you voluntarily provide it (for example, when subscribing to our newsletter or contacting us).

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our Services are set by third parties. These may include:

Analytics providers (e.g. Google Analytics) to help us measure traffic and engagement.
Advertising networks that serve promotional content on our behalf.
Social platforms (e.g. Discord, forum providers) when you interact with embedded widgets or share buttons.
Infrastructure partners (e.g. hosting and CDN providers) for security and performance.

We do not control the setting of third-party cookies. We encourage you to review the cookie and privacy policies of those third parties for more information.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can manage or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

View what cookies are stored and delete them individually.
Block third-party cookies.
Block cookies from specific sites.
Block all cookies from being set.
Delete all cookies when you close your browser.

Please note that if you block or delete cookies, some parts of our Services may not function properly. For example, you may not be able to access certain features, and your preferences may not be saved.

For more information on how to manage cookies in your browser, visit the help pages of your browser provider (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).

6. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. Because there is no industry consensus on how to interpret DNT signals, our Services do not currently respond to DNT requests. We will continue to monitor developments in this area and may update this policy accordingly.

7. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our practices. When we make material changes, we will post a notice on our website and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us: