Privacy and cookies
Last updated: 3 October 2026
The short version: this site does not track you, has no analytics, no adverts and no accounts. The only personal information I ever receive is what you choose to email me. The longer version is below.
Who I am
I'm Zaira Christa, an individual based in London, United Kingdom. I'm the person responsible for your personal data on this site (the "controller" under UK GDPR). You can reach me at zcbarakat@gmail.com.
What I collect
| What | Why | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Your name, email address and message, if you write to me | To read and reply to you | The contact form does not send anything through this site. Pressing "Send your regards" opens your own email app with the message filled in. Nothing is sent until you press send there. Once it arrives, it sits in my Gmail inbox (Google). |
| Technical connection data (such as your IP address and browser type) | Delivering the site and keeping it secure | Held briefly in standard server logs by whoever hosts this site. I don't have access to this in a way that identifies you, and I don't use it for anything. |
The legal basis for handling your email is my legitimate interest in replying to people who contact me about work (and, where you're asking me to do something, taking steps at your request). I keep emails for as long as the conversation needs, and then for no more than two years unless we end up working together, in which case I keep what the work requires.
I don't sell your data, share it for marketing, or use it to make automated decisions about you.
Cookies and similar storage
This site sets no cookies of its own. The only cookies that can appear come from Spotify, and only if you accept them (see below). The site does use your browser's local storage for two small things, both of which stay on your device and are never sent to me or anyone else:
| Name | What it does |
|---|---|
zc-squish | Remembers how you stretched or squished the letters on the home page, so they're still squished when you come back. |
zc-consent | Remembers whether you accepted or rejected cookies, so the pop-up doesn't keep asking. |
Both exist only to make the site behave the way you asked it to, so they don't need consent. You can delete them any time by clearing this site's data in your browser.
You can change your mind whenever you like with "Cookie settings" in the footer of the Contact page. Rejecting also closes the song if it's playing.
Third parties
- Spotify. On the home page, the sun button plays a song through a Spotify player. Nothing from Spotify loads unless you have accepted cookies. If you haven't, clicking the sun just asks you. Once you accept, the site loads Spotify's player script in the background so the song can start the moment you click the sun, and your browser connects to Spotify, which will see your IP address and may set its own cookies or similar identifiers under its own privacy policy. If you reject, Spotify never hears from you. Close the player and it's removed from the page.
- Google (Gmail). Email you send me is stored by Google as my email provider.
This site loads no external fonts, analytics, advertising or social media widgets.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you can ask me to show you the personal data I hold about you, correct it, delete it, restrict or object to how I use it, or give you a copy of it. Email me and I'll respond within one month. Deleting an email thread is usually all it takes.
If you're unhappy with how I've handled your data, please tell me first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
Children
This site isn't aimed at children and I don't knowingly collect anything from them.
Changes
If I add anything that changes this (analytics, say, or a different contact form), I'll update this page and the date at the top before it goes live.