Who we are
The Phantasia Project is run by JD, based in the United Kingdom. This site is an independent, free information resource about the imagination spectrum - aphantasia, hyperphantasia, and prophantasia. It is not a commercial operation and does not sell products or services.
For any privacy-related questions: thephantasiaproject@gmail.com
What personal data we collect and why
We collect the minimum data necessary to operate the site. Here is everything we collect and the reason for each:
- Email address (newsletter signup) - collected if you voluntarily sign up to receive updates about new posts and videos. Used only to send those updates. Never shared with third parties. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send.
- Email address (gallery submission) - collected optionally when you submit an entry to the What Others See gallery. Used only to notify you when your entry has been approved and gone live. Not stored beyond that notification or shared with anyone.
- First name and country (gallery submission) - displayed publicly alongside your gallery entry if you provide them, exactly as you write them. If you leave these blank, your entry appears anonymously. You can request removal of your entry at any time.
- Gallery entry text - the written description you submit. This is displayed publicly on the site after manual review and approval. Do not include sensitive personal information in a gallery submission.
We do not collect: IP addresses, device identifiers, browsing history, location data, or any data about how you use the site beyond what is described above. We do not use cookies for tracking or advertising purposes.
The legal basis for processing (UK GDPR)
For newsletter emails: consent - you opt in voluntarily and can withdraw that consent at any time by unsubscribing.
For gallery submissions: consent - you choose to submit and are informed at the point of submission that your entry will be reviewed and may be displayed publicly.
For gallery notification emails: legitimate interests - you provided your email specifically to receive this notification. We send one email and retain nothing after that.
How long we keep your data
- Newsletter email addresses: until you unsubscribe, or until we close the newsletter - whichever comes first.
- Gallery submission notification emails: deleted once the notification has been sent.
- Approved gallery entries (name, country, text): displayed on the site indefinitely unless you request removal, at which point we remove them within 24 hours.
Third-party services
We use a small number of third-party services to operate the site. Each involves some data processing:
- Formspree - used to receive gallery form submissions and newsletter signups via email. Form data passes through Formspree's servers before being delivered to us. Formspree's privacy policy is at formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy.
- Google Fonts - this site loads typefaces from Google's font delivery network. When it does, your browser makes a request to Google's servers, which may log your IP address. This is standard for sites using Google Fonts. Google's privacy policy is at policies.google.com/privacy. We do not use Google Analytics or any other Google tracking product.
- Netlify or equivalent hosting provider - the site is served from a hosting provider whose servers may log basic access information (IP address, pages requested, timestamps) as part of standard server operation. These logs are not used to identify individual users and are subject to the hosting provider's own retention policy.
We do not use: advertising networks, tracking pixels, social media embeds that collect data, or any analytics platform. The site has no cookies beyond those that may be set by Google Fonts, which we do not control and do not read.
Your rights under UK GDPR
If you are in the UK or EU, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access - you can ask what data we hold about you.
- Right to erasure - you can ask us to delete your data. For gallery entries, email us and we will remove your entry within 24 hours. For newsletter subscriptions, unsubscribe via any email we've sent.
- Right to rectification - you can ask us to correct inaccurate data.
- Right to portability - you can ask for a copy of your data in a machine-readable format.
- Right to object - you can object to processing based on legitimate interests.
- Right to restrict processing - in certain circumstances you can ask us to limit how we use your data.
To exercise any of these rights, email thephantasiaproject@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days.
Complaints
If you believe we have handled your data unlawfully, you have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). You can do so at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or by calling 0303 123 1113. We would always prefer to resolve concerns directly first - please email us before escalating.
Children
This site is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has submitted data to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page. We will not retroactively change how we use data you've already provided without seeking fresh consent.