Privacy policy
Last updated: September 22, 2026.
DarkTales is a personal horror-fiction project. This policy explains what information is collected when you read, and why. The short version: no accounts, no names, no tracking across the web — just anonymous reading statistics that help improve the site.
Anonymous reading statistics
When you visit, the site counts page views, story reads, approximate reading time, and aggregate details such as country, device type, and referring site. Your browser also keeps a random ID (stored on your device only) so repeat visits from the same browser can be counted as one visitor per day. None of this identifies you — no name, email address, or IP address is stored alongside it.
Session analytics (Microsoft Clarity)
With your consent, the site uses Microsoft Clarity to understand how readers use DarkTales — anonymous session replays and heatmaps. Anything you type is masked and never recorded. If you arrive through a newsletter link, you may be recognized as a subscriber under a random ID — never your name or email. Visitors in the EU/EEA are asked for consent first; visitors elsewhere can opt out at any time via the "Analytics: opt out" link in the footer.
Cookies and local storage
DarkTales stores a few small values in your browser: your analytics consent choice, the random visitor ID, newsletter subscription flags, and whether you have seen the subscribe notice. These values are never shared with advertisers.
Newsletter
If you subscribe, your email address is stored so new-story emails can reach you. Every email carries an unsubscribe link; unsubscribing removes your address from the mailing list. Subscriber-only perks (such as the free Red Room e-book) are delivered through a random download token in your welcome email.
Advertising
DarkTales does not currently show third-party ads. If advertising is introduced in future, third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you; you may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings.
Children
DarkTales publishes horror fiction and is intended for adult readers. It does not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted here with a new "last updated" date.
Contact
Questions about this policy: contact@readdarktales.com.