Privacy Policy
Last updated: 16/07/2026
This policy explains what we do with your personal data when you use readingmaps.com. We're the "data controller" for that data, which means we're responsible for it.
We've tried to write this in plain English rather than legalese. If anything's unclear, please ask.
1. Who we are
Reading Maps (readingmaps.com), operated by Aires Loutsaris, United Kingdom.
Contact: [email protected]
2. What we collect
Information you give us. If you email us, submit a route, report a mistake, or sign up to the newsletter, we receive whatever you send: usually your name, your email address, and the content of your message.
Information collected automatically. Like almost every website, our hosting and infrastructure providers record technical information when you visit, which may include your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, the pages you view, and the date and time of your visit.
Map usage. When a map loads, your browser requests map tiles directly from MapTiler. See MapTiler's own privacy policy for what they do with it.
We don't take payments, so we never see your card details.
3. Why we use it, and our lawful basis
| What we use it for | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Replying to your email or message | Legitimate interests (responding to you) |
| Reviewing and publishing route corrections and suggestions | Legitimate interests (running and improving the site) |
| Keeping the site secure and working | Legitimate interests (security, fraud prevention, diagnostics) |
| Sending you the newsletter | Consent |
| Meeting our legal obligations | Legal obligation |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, we've considered whether it's fair to you, and we think it is. You can object at any time (see "Your rights").
Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it whenever you like, and withdrawing it won't affect anything we did before you did.
4. Who we share it with
We don't sell your data. We never have and I'm not going to.
We do use service providers who process data on our behalf:
- MapTiler - map tiles and imagery
- Open Library / Internet Archive - book data and cover images
- TMDB - film data and poster images
- Zoho - email
We may also disclose data if we're legally required to, or to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
5. Where your data goes
Some of our providers are based outside the UK, including in the United States. Where data is transferred outside the UK, we rely on the safeguards permitted under UK data protection law, such as UK adequacy regulations or the International Data Transfer Agreement / Addendum.
6. How long we keep it
- Emails and correspondence: as needed
- Route submissions and corrections: indefinitely, because they form part of the site's editorial record. Your name and email are kept separately and are not published.
- Server logs: as retained by our providers - typically up to 14 months.
- Newsletter details: until you unsubscribe.
7. Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- be told what we do with your data (that's this page);
- access a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
- have it corrected if it's wrong;
- have it deleted in certain circumstances;
- restrict how we use it;
- object to our using it, including for direct marketing (we'll always stop for direct marketing);
- portability - receive certain data in a machine-readable format;
- withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on it.
To exercise any of these, email [email protected]. We'll respond within one month. It's free, unless a request is clearly unfounded or excessive.
8. Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, please tell us first and we'll try to put it right.
9. Children
This site isn't aimed at children and we don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 13. If you think a child has sent us their details, please contact us and we'll delete them.
10. Changes
We'll update this page if our practices change, and change the date at the top. If a change is significant we'll say so on the site.