Last updated: June 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how hissangul.com (“this website,” “we,” “I,” or “us”) collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you visit the site at https://hissangul.com. It also explains your choices and rights. By using this website, you agree to the practices described here.

This site is operated by Hissan Gul as an independent personal and professional website.

The short version

I collect very little personal information, and only for clear reasons: to respond when you contact me, to keep the site secure, to understand how the site is used, and to run advertising. I do not sell your personal information. The site uses cookies and third-party tools (such as Google and Meta) for analytics and advertising, and you can control or opt out of most of these. The full detail is below.

Who we are

This website’s address is https://hissangul.com. For any privacy question or request, contact me at [your contact email].

Information we collect

When you contact me or submit a form. If you fill in a contact form or email me, I collect the details you choose to provide — typically your name, email address, and message. I use this only to respond to you and to follow up about your enquiry.

Comments. If commenting is enabled and you leave a comment, the site collects the information shown in the comment form, plus your IP address and browser user-agent string, which help detect spam. If you use the Gravatar service, an anonymised string (a “hash”) created from your email address may be sent to Gravatar to check whether you use it; their policy is at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Once a comment is approved, your profile picture is visible publicly alongside your comment.

Server logs and security data. Like almost all websites, the hosting server automatically records technical information when you visit — including your IP address, browser type, device, referring page, and the date and time of access. This is used to operate the site, diagnose problems, and protect against abuse and security threats.

Media you upload. If you are able to upload images to the site, please avoid uploading images that contain embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as visitors could download those images and extract that location data.

I do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information (such as data about health, religion, or political views), and I ask that you do not send such information through the site.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. This site uses them in a few ways:

  • Functional cookies keep the site working and remember basic preferences. If you leave a comment, you may opt in to saving your name, email, and website in cookies so you don’t have to re-enter them next time; these last about one year. Login and screen-option cookies apply only to site administrators.
  • Analytics cookies help me understand how visitors use the site (see Analytics below).
  • Advertising cookies are set by advertising partners to measure and personalise ads (see Advertising below).

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings, and where required by law, the site will ask for your consent before non-essential cookies (analytics and advertising) are set.

Analytics

This site may use analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to understand how visitors find and use the site — for example, which pages are popular and which devices people use. These tools may set cookies and process information like your IP address (often shortened/anonymised) and browsing behaviour on this site. This helps me improve the content and the site. You can opt out of Google Analytics using Google’s browser add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Advertising and tracking technologies

This website uses, or may in future use, advertising and measurement tools — and may also display advertising as a source of revenue. This section explains that clearly.

Advertising and measurement platforms I use or may use:

  • Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram). A small piece of code that measures the results of advertising, understands actions taken on the site, and builds audiences for ads on Meta platforms. It may set cookies and share event data with Meta. You can manage your ad preferences in your Facebook/Instagram settings, and Meta’s data policy is at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/.
  • Google Ads and Google’s advertising services. Used to measure ad performance and to show relevant ads (including remarketing) across Google’s network. Google may use cookies and similar identifiers. You can control personalised advertising at https://myadcenter.google.com and https://adssettings.google.com.
  • YouTube advertising and embedded videos. Embedded YouTube videos and any related advertising are governed by Google/YouTube’s policies and may set cookies when you interact with that content.
  • Other tracking pixels. I may add further measurement or advertising pixels over time (for example, from other ad or analytics providers). When I do, they are covered by this same section, and this policy will be updated to name material additions.

Advertising displayed on this website (current or future). This website may host advertising from third parties — including advertising networks and ads sold directly to companies or organisations — as a source of revenue. Where this happens:

  • Third-party advertisers and ad networks may set their own cookies or use similar technologies to serve and measure ads, including ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites (interest-based or “retargeted” advertising).
  • These third parties control their own data practices; their cookies and collection are governed by their privacy policies, not this one. I encourage you to review the policy of any advertiser or network whose ads appear here.
  • I do not control, and am not responsible for, the data practices of third-party advertisers, though I will work only with partners who represent that they comply with applicable law.

How to opt out of interest-based advertising. In addition to the platform controls above, you can opt out of many advertisers at once through these industry tools:

  • Digital Advertising Alliance: https://optout.aboutads.info
  • Network Advertising Initiative: https://optout.networkadvertising.org
  • Your browser’s “Do Not Track” or privacy settings.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles and pages on this site may include embedded content (for example, videos, images, posts, or social media). Embedded content from other websites behaves exactly as if you had visited that other website. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content — including if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

How we share your data

I do not sell your personal information. I share data only in these limited situations:

  • Service providers who help run the site — for example, hosting, email delivery, spam filtering, analytics, and advertising partners — who process data on my behalf or under their own policies as described above.
  • Spam detection. Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam-detection service.
  • Password resets. If a registered user requests a password reset, their IP address is included in the reset email.
  • Legal and safety reasons. I may disclose information where required by law, regulation, legal process, or a lawful government request, or to protect the rights, property, security, or safety of the website, its visitors, or others.

How long we keep your data

  • Contact and enquiry messages are kept only as long as needed to handle your enquiry and for a reasonable period afterwards for record-keeping, then deleted.
  • Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely so follow-up comments can be recognised and approved automatically. You can ask to have yours removed.
  • Registered users’ profile information is kept while the account exists; users can view, edit, or delete their information at any time (the username cannot be changed). Administrators can also see and edit that information.
  • Server logs and analytics are retained for a limited period for security and statistical purposes.

Your rights over your data

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights:

  • Access — request a copy of the personal data held about you.
  • Correction — ask to fix inaccurate information.
  • Erasure — ask that personal data held about you be deleted. (This does not include data that must be kept for administrative, legal, or security reasons.)
  • Export — if you have an account or have left comments, request an exported file of your personal data.
  • Objection / opt-out — object to certain processing, and opt out of personalised advertising and the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information as those terms are defined under laws such as California’s CCPA/CPRA. I do not sell personal information.
  • Withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these, email [your contact email]. I will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law. Exercising your rights will not lead to any discriminatory treatment.

International visitors and data transfers

This website is operated from Pakistan and is available worldwide. If you visit from outside Pakistan — including the European Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States — your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in Pakistan and in other countries where my service providers operate, which may have data-protection laws different from those in your country. By using the site, you understand that your information may be processed in these locations. Where required, I rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

Legal basis and compliance

I aim to handle personal data lawfully and transparently.

  • Pakistan. At the date of this policy, Pakistan does not have a single, comprehensive, enacted data-protection law. The principal law addressing the misuse of electronic data is the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA), as amended in 2025, which is a criminal statute rather than a general privacy framework. A Personal Data Protection Bill has been prepared and approved by the Federal Cabinet but has not yet been passed by Parliament; if and when it becomes law, this policy will be updated to comply with it. I handle data consistent with PECA and with the principles of the proposed Bill.
  • International visitors. Because the site reaches visitors abroad, I voluntarily aim to follow the core principles of the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) — including transparency, lawful purpose, data minimisation, consent for non-essential cookies, and the data-subject rights listed above.

The legal bases I rely on, where GDPR-style analysis applies, include your consent (for non-essential cookies and advertising), my legitimate interests (operating, securing, and improving the site), and legal obligations.

Children’s privacy

This website is intended for adults and is not directed to children. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through this site, contact me by visiting https://hissangul.com/contact/ and I will delete it.

Data security

I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information, including serving the site over a secure (HTTPS) connection and using reputable hosting and service providers. However, no website or transmission over the internet is completely secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes to this policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time — for example, when I add a new analytics or advertising tool, or when the law changes. The “Last updated” date at the top will reflect the latest version, and material changes will be made clear on this page.

Editorial and content disclaimer

The articles, frameworks, opinions, and other writing published on this website reflect my own professional experience and observations at the time of writing. They are shared to be useful, but they are general in nature and are notprofessional, legal, financial, medical, or other formal advice, and they do not create any client or advisory relationship.

What worked in my experience may not apply to your situation, and the digital landscape — including tools, platforms, pricing, features, and processes — changes constantly. Before acting on anything you read here, and especially before making any major or life-impacting decision, please independently verify the current pricing, terms, capabilities, and details of any product, tool, platform, or process mentioned, directly with the relevant provider. Any action you take based on this content is at your own discretion and risk.

Contact

For any question, request, or concern about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact by visiting https://hissangul.com/contact/