Cookie Policy

How ChatvLink uses cookies and similar technologies. This policy complies with PIPEDA and BC PIPA requirements for informed consent.

1) What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, phone, tablet) when you visit a website. They help the site remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and improve your experience.

2) Cookies We Use

ChatvLink always uses strictly necessary (essential) cookies to keep you signed in and the site secure. Our own site does not use tracking or analytics cookies. Advertising cookies are used only if you click "Allow ad cookies" in the cookie banner, and only while advertising is switched on for the site (see section 4). The essential cookies are:

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration	Type
`session`	Keeps you logged in while you use the site. Contains an encrypted session ID.	Expires after 15 minutes of inactivity. You get a warning after 10 minutes and can choose to stay signed in; while you are active it is renewed automatically.	Essential / Strictly Necessary
`csrf_token`	Security token to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks on forms and API calls.	Session	Essential / Strictly Necessary
`cookie_consent`	Stores your cookie consent preference so we don't repeatedly show the consent banner.	1 year	Essential / Strictly Necessary

3) Why We Don't Need Consent for These Cookies

Under PIPEDA and the CRTC's guidelines on cookies, strictly necessary cookies do not require prior consent because they are essential for the service to function. Since we only use essential cookies, the cookie banner on our site is for transparency — to inform you — rather than to obtain legal consent.

4) Advertising and Third-Party Cookies

Advertising. We may show ads from an advertising partner (for example Google AdSense). If you choose "Allow ad cookies", that partner may set cookies and use information about your visit to show and measure ads. If you choose "Essential only" (or do not answer), no ad partner is loaded. You can change your choice at any time with the button below.

Other third parties. ChatvLink itself does not set third-party cookies. However, the following services may set their own cookies when you interact with them:

Cloudflare: the invisible human check (Cloudflare Turnstile) runs when you sign up or log in, to stop bots. It is a security service and does not show ads.
Google: if you sign in with Google OAuth, Google may set authentication cookies (e.g., SID, HSID). These are governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
Stripe: if you make a donation, Stripe may set cookies for fraud prevention (e.g., __stripe_sid, __stripe_mid). These are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.

5) Managing Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings:

Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies
Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies
Edge: Settings → Cookies and Site Permissions

Note: disabling essential cookies will prevent you from logging in and using core features of ChatvLink.

6) Local Storage

In addition to cookies, ChatvLink uses browser localStorage for non-sensitive UI preferences (e.g., theme, last visited page). No personal data or authentication tokens are stored in localStorage. You can clear localStorage through your browser's developer tools or by clearing site data.

7) Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy if our cookie usage changes. Check the "Last Updated" date below for the most recent version.