Privacy Policy

Last updated: 20 October 2026

This privacy policy explains how personal data is handled when you use L4G.online and related services operated from the United Kingdom. It is written for UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This policy does not replace the privacy information for third parties (such as Google or Discourse). Where those services process data under their own policies, their terms also apply.

Who we are

Data controller (main website): L4G.Online

Contact: support@l4g.online

If you need a postal address for correspondence (for example for formal privacy requests), email support@l4g.online and we will provide appropriate contact details where required by law.

We have not appointed a separate Data Protection Officer. For privacy matters, contact us using the email above.

We operate the public website at l4g.online. The community forum at forum.l4g.online runs on Discourse, a separate subdomain with its own accounts, cookies and administration. Forum-specific privacy information is set out in our Forum Privacy Policy.

This notice is not legal advice and does not by itself make the website compliant with UK GDPR, PECR or Google publisher rules. Independent legal review may be appropriate before launch or monetisation.

Scope: main website and forum

  • Main website (l4g.online): static pages that introduce the community and link to the forum. Based on the current site code, it does not include a contact form, user accounts or comment system on the main domain.
  • Forum (forum.l4g.online): where you create an account, post, message and interact with other users. Discourse processes personal data to provide the forum service. See the Forum Privacy Policy for details.

Personal data we may process

Information you provide directly

  • Main website: If you email us at support@l4g.online or contact us using details on our Contact page, we receive the information you choose to send (for example your name, email address and message content).
  • Forum: When you register or use Discourse, you may provide a username, email address, password, profile information, posts, private messages, preferences and other content you submit. That processing is primarily for operating the forum.

Technical and usage data

  • Server and security logs: When you visit the main website or forum, our hosting infrastructure (and Discourse) typically records technical data such as IP address, date and time of requests, pages or resources requested, browser type, referring URL and similar diagnostic information. The exact logs depend on our hosting provider and forum configuration.
  • Main website delivery: The site serves web fonts from our own hosting. It also loads Bootstrap CSS, JavaScript and icon fonts from the jsDelivr content delivery network when your browser requests those files. jsDelivr may receive technical data (such as IP address and user agent). See our Cookie Policy.

Cookies and similar technologies

See our Cookie Policy for details. In summary: the main website shows a cookie banner and stores your consent choices in local storage. Google Analytics is not active today because no measurement ID is configured; if we add one, GA will load only after you opt in to analytics. Advertising tags are not enabled yet; the forum may set cookies when you visit or sign in to Discourse.

Google Analytics (optional)

If you allow analytics cookies and we have configured a Google Analytics 4 measurement ID in our site code, we load Google Analytics to understand how visitors use l4g.online (for example pages viewed and general traffic patterns). If no measurement ID is configured, analytics scripts do not load even if you accept analytics. Google processes data under its own policies as well as our instructions where applicable. You can withdraw consent via Cookie settings in the footer (this stops future loading; it does not automatically delete data Google already collected). Google’s privacy information: Google Privacy Policy.

We do not currently implement Google Consent Mode v2 in the site code. If we enable AdSense or advanced Google tags, we may need to add Consent Mode and/or a certified consent platform — see below.

Consent, cookies and similar technologies (main website)

Non-essential analytics and (future) advertising on l4g.online are intended to run only after you opt in through our cookie banner or Cookie settings modal (assets/js/cookie-consent.js). Your choices are stored in browser local storage (l4g_cookie_consent_v1).

Important — not a Google-certified CMP: Our consent tool is a custom banner built for this website. It is not listed as a Google-certified consent management platform (CMP). It supports accept/reject, granular toggles, persistence and reopening settings from the footer, but it may not meet Google AdSense or EU user consent policy requirements on its own, especially for personalised advertising in the UK/EEA. Before enabling AdSense, verify Google’s current requirements and implement a certified CMP or Google’s supported Privacy & messaging / Consent Management Platform if required for your traffic regions.

See our Cookie Policy and ICO guidance on storage and access technologies: ICO guidance.

Purposes and lawful bases

We process personal data only where we have a lawful basis under UK GDPR. Typical purposes include:

  • Providing the website and forum — to display pages, operate community features and maintain security (lawful bases: performance of a contract where you use forum accounts; legitimate interests in running a secure community service; and, where applicable, consent for non-essential technologies).
  • Responding to enquiries — when you contact us (lawful bases: legitimate interests in responding; steps prior to contract where relevant).
  • Security and abuse prevention — logs, moderation and fraud prevention (lawful basis: legitimate interests, and legal obligation where applicable).
  • Analytics or advertising — Google Analytics only if you opt in and we configure a measurement ID (currently inactive); future advertising only when enabled and where you opt in (lawful basis: consent for non-essential cookies/ads under PECR and UK GDPR where required).
  • Legal compliance — where we must retain or disclose information (lawful basis: legal obligation).

Google advertising and AdSense

Current status: Google Analytics is prepared in our cookie consent tool but inactive because the GA4 measurement ID is not set; if we configure it, scripts will load only after you allow analytics. Google AdSense is not enabled; advertising cookies will not load until we turn on ads and you opt in.

If we enable Google advertising products (such as Google AdSense) on l4g.online, Google and other third-party vendors may use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses or similar technologies to:

  • serve ads based on your visit to this and other websites;
  • measure ad performance and limit how often you see an ad;
  • where permitted by your choices and applicable law, personalise advertising.

Important disclosure: Third parties, including Google, may place and read cookies on your browser, or use similar technologies, in connection with ad serving on our site when those features are enabled.

Learn how Google uses data from partner sites: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

Google’s own privacy policy and publisher requirements will also apply. Where UK/EU consent rules require it, we will use an appropriate consent mechanism (such as a Google-certified CMP where required) before loading non-essential advertising tags. A privacy policy alone is not a substitute for valid consent where consent is required.

Publisher resources: AdSense privacy disclosures, Google EU user consent policy, AdSense consent management guidance.

Sharing and recipients

We may share personal data with:

  • Forum platform (Discourse) — to host forum.l4g.online and related community features.
  • Hosting and infrastructure providers — organisations that host the main website, provide TLS certificates and process server logs (details depend on our live hosting arrangement).
  • Content delivery providers — such as jsDelivr when your browser loads Bootstrap CSS, JavaScript or Bootstrap Icons from their CDN.
  • Analytics (if enabled and configured) — Google when you consent and a GA4 property is configured.
  • Advertising partners (if enabled) — such as Google if AdSense or similar services are activated after appropriate consent controls.
  • Professional advisers or authorities — where required by law or to protect rights, safety and security.

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only as described above or with your direction (for example content you publish on the forum).

International transfers

Some service providers may process data outside the UK. Where personal data is transferred internationally, we aim to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as UK adequacy regulations, UK IDTA/Addendum, or Standard Contractual Clauses), depending on the provider and configuration. Details should be confirmed in agreements with our hosting provider, Discourse hosting and any advertising partners you enable.

Retention

We keep personal data only for as long as needed for the purposes described, unless a longer period is required by law. In general:

  • Contact emails: retained for as long as needed to handle your enquiry and for a reasonable period afterwards unless you ask us to delete sooner (subject to legal holds).
  • Server logs: retained according to hosting provider settings and security needs — confirm periods with our hosting provider.
  • Forum data: retained while your account exists and as configured in Discourse (including backups). Public posts may remain visible after account closure unless removed under forum rules.
  • Advertising/analytics data (if enabled): governed by the relevant provider’s settings and your consent choices.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures appropriate to a community website, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. You are responsible for keeping forum credentials confidential and using strong, unique passwords.

Your rights (UK)

Depending on circumstances, you may have the right to:

  • request access to personal data we hold about you;
  • request correction of inaccurate data;
  • request erasure, restriction of processing or object to processing;
  • data portability where applicable;
  • withdraw consent where processing is based on consent (without affecting prior processing);
  • lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

To exercise rights relating to the main website, contact support@l4g.online. For forum account data, you may also use Discourse account tools and contact us if you need assistance routing a request.

ICO: https://ico.org.uk/

Children

L4G is a gaming community service not directed at young children. The minimum age to create a forum account is the minimum age shown during forum registration (or higher if stated in our Terms of Service and forum rules). If you believe a child has provided personal data without appropriate permission, contact us at support@l4g.online.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy when our services, providers or legal requirements change. We will update the “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, provide additional notice.