Modern Scot is an independent Scottish news publication covering current affairs, public life, business, culture, environment, energy, infrastructure, rural affairs and local government across Scotland. Edited and published from the Scottish Highlands, Modern Scot reports on Scotland as it is lived, governed, built and changed today.
Last updated: 5 May 2026
Modern Scot respects reader privacy. To strengthen your privacy, this website is designed to be read without requiring visitors to create accounts, log in, leave comments or provide personal information. We do not allow public comments on articles and we do not operate reader accounts.
Our website address is:
Modern Scot is edited and published in the Scottish Highlands.
For privacy questions, correction requests or data enquiries, contact:
What personal information we collect
Modern Scot collects as little information as possible. When someone visits the website, limited technical information may be visible through ordinary website hosting, security and server logs. This may include your:
IP address
Browser type
Device type
Approximate location derived from technical connection data
Pages requested
Time and date of visit
Referring website, where available
This information is used only for ordinary site operation, security, troubleshooting and basic protection against malicious traffic. We make no attempt to identify individuals based on this data.
Modern Scot does not use this information to build reader profiles.
Comments
Modern Scot does not allow public comments on articles. Because comments are disabled, we do not collect comment form data, commenter email addresses, commenter website details or comment related profile information.
Reader accounts and logins
Modern Scot does not allow readers to create accounts or log in to the website. Because reader accounts are not used, we do not collect reader usernames, passwords, account profiles or login histories. Administrative login tools may be used by authorised site editors or technical administrators only.
Newsletter
Modern Scot offers an optional newsletter. Newsletter subscription is self service. Readers may subscribe or unsubscribe themselves. Newsletter distribution is handled through Modern Scot and your email address is not transfered to a 3rd party. This means your email address stays with us, and within Scotland. Modern Scot does not sell, rent, or create a reader profile from your email address. No attempt is made to try to identify you. Newsletter subscribers can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. Modern Scot uses your email only to send the newsletter or related updates to you. If you delete your email by “unsubscribing” then you are deleted from our database. You can opt to subscribe again at any time.
Contact by email
If you contact Modern Scot by email, we may receive your name, email address and any information you choose to include in your message. This information is used only to read, respond to or handle the matter you raised, such as a correction request, right of reply request, press release, story lead or general enquiry. We do not add people who contact us by email to the newsletter unless they separately subscribe. We do not retain your information, and it will be deleted once we have successfully addressed your concerns. Unless we are required by law to retain your data, we delete it normally within 7 to 30 days.
Cookies
Modern Scot aims to use only essential or functional cookies required for the operation, security or administration of the website. We avoid the use of Google Analytics to track website performance. We do not use cookies to sell behavioural advertising. We do not allow readers to log in or comment, so ordinary visitors should not receive comment cookies or reader account cookies from Modern Scot. Some cookies may be set by WordPress, security tools, embedded content, newsletter forms or other necessary website functions. These may help the site operate correctly, protect against abuse, or remember technical preferences. Readers can manage or delete these cookies through their browser settings. Because we avoid collecting data as much as possible, we only sell flat rate advertising that never includes user behavior or statistics. We do this to provide reader privacy as much as possible.
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on Modern Scot normally do not include embedded content from third parties. However, in some cases, an article may include embedded content from other websites, such as videos, images, maps, social media posts, documents or article previews. Embedded content from another website behaves as though the visitor has visited that other website directly. Those websites may collect data, use cookies, embed third party tracking or monitor interaction with the embedded content, especially if the visitor has an account with that service and is logged in to it. Modern Scot is not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites. We make every effort to alert readers if 3rd party content is included on the page(s) they are visiting. However, we work hard to avoid 3rd party content.
Advertising
Where Modern Scot carries advertising, it is sold on a flat rate basis. Modern Scot does not promise advertisers behavioural tracking, reader profiling or personal data about visitors. Modern Scot does not provide advertisers with individual reader information. We sell flat rate display ads that are not connected to tracking. We do this to protect reader privacy as much as possible.
Analytics and tracking
Modern Scot does not use reader tracking to build audience profiles. Limited technical server, hosting or security data may be visible for site operation and protection. This may include IP address, device type, browser type and approximate location. This technical data is not used for behavioural advertising or reader profiling. We do not created or maintain audience data. We attempt to avoid this at all costs.
How long we keep data
Modern Scot keeps personal data only for as long as needed. Technical website logs and security data are normally deleted after approximately 7 to 30 days, unless they must be kept longer to investigate security incidents, abuse, legal issues or technical problems. Newsletter subscription data is kept for as long as the reader remains subscribed, or as required to manage unsubscribes and lawful suppression lists. Email correspondence may be kept for as long as needed to deal with the matter raised, maintain editorial records, handle legal obligations, or protect the publication’s legitimate interests. But, as a rule, under normal use, your data is removed instantly when you unsubscribe.
Who we share data with
Modern Scot does not sell personal data. Personal data may be processed by trusted service providers that help operate the website, newsletter or email systems. These may include:
Website hosting providers
Website security tools
Technical support providers
These services process data only as needed to provide their service, maintain security, deliver newsletters, or support the operation of Modern Scot. Information may also be disclosed where required by law, court order or lawful authority. Under normal use, you data is deleted when you unsubscribe.
International transfers
Some service providers may store or process data outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, Modern Scot expects service providers to use appropriate safeguards required by data protection law. Modern Scot’s uses servers located in the EU where privacy rights are stronger than in the United States.
Legal basis for processing
Modern Scot may process limited personal data on the following bases:
Legitimate interests: to operate the website, protect it from abuse, maintain security, respond to enquiries, keep editorial records and understand basic technical performance.
Consent: where a reader voluntarily subscribes to the newsletter.
Legal obligation: where information must be retained or disclosed to comply with the law.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, individuals may have rights over their personal data, including the right to:
Ask what personal data is held about them (we have no records or user profiles, so there will be none)
Ask for inaccurate data to be corrected (the only thing you can correct is your subscriber email address)
Ask for personal data to be deleted where appropriate (we do not collect any data about you)
Object to certain processing (we do not process any data about you)
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent (you may unsubscribe from the newsletter)
Ask for processing to be restricted in some circumstances (we do not process anything)
Complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (we do not hold any data to report)
Newsletter subscribers can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in newsletter emails.
To make a privacy request, contact:
Modern Scot takes reasonable steps to keep the website and any limited personal data secure. No website or email system can be guaranteed completely secure, but Modern Scot aims to minimise the amount of personal information collected and to retain technical data only for as long as necessary.
Links to other websites
Modern Scot articles may link to external websites. We are not responsible for the content, security or privacy practices of external websites.
Changes to this policy
Modern Scot may update this privacy policy from time to time. The latest version will be published on this page with an updated date. LAST REVIEWED ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2026.
