Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 18, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Seattle Breaking ("we," "us," or "the Site"), operated at seattlebreaking.com, collects, uses, and shares information about visitors. By using the Site, you agree to this policy.
1. Information we collect
Seattle Breaking is primarily a static news aggregation site. We do not operate user accounts, collect names, email addresses, or require any form of registration. The data we handle is limited to the following:
- Automatic log data collected by our hosting provider (Vercel), including IP address, browser user-agent, referrer URL, and timestamps of requests. This data is used for security, performance monitoring, and abuse prevention.
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies set by third-party services we use (see Section 3).
2. Sources of news content
Incident data displayed on the Site is sourced from publicly available datasets published by the City of Seattle, including the Seattle Fire Department Real-Time 911 feed and the Seattle Police Department Call Data feed, both available through the Seattle Open Data portal. We do not receive private or personally identifying information from these sources.
3. Third-party services
We use the following third-party services, each with its own privacy practices:
- Google AdSense — serves advertisements on the Site. Google and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on prior visits to this or other websites. You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
- Google Analytics 4 — measures aggregate site traffic (page views, referrers, device types). Analytics is enabled by default for visitors and can be disabled by clicking "Opt out" on the cookie banner shown on first visit, or by clearing the
sb_cookie_consentlocalStorage key and selecting "Opt out" again. You can also opt out globally by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. - Vercel — hosts the Site and collects server logs for operational purposes.
- OpenStreetMap / CARTO — provides map tiles displayed on the Site.
- Seattle Open Data (Socrata) — upstream source of dispatch data.
4. Cookies
The Site uses cookies in three categories:
- Essential storage — a single localStorage entry (
sb_cookie_consent) used to remember your opt-out choice. It does not track you. - Analytics cookies — set by Google Analytics 4 to measure aggregate page views, referrers, and device categories. Enabled by default; opt out via the cookie banner on first visit.
- Advertising cookies — set by Google AdSense and its partners to serve and measure ads. Enabled by default for visitors who do not opt out via the cookie banner. If you opt out, AdSense is not loaded and these cookies are not set on subsequent visits.
5. Your choices (EEA / UK / California users)
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or California, you have specific rights regarding your personal information. These include the right to know what information is collected, the right to have it deleted, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for advertising. You can exercise these rights by emailing us at the contact address below.
6. Children's privacy
The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
7. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date above reflects the most recent changes.
8. Contact
Questions, data access requests, or concerns about this policy can be sent to privacy@seattlebreaking.com.