COOKIE POLICY

THE DEEP FILES
Investigations • Documents • Evidence

Last Updated: 23 September 2026

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how THE DEEP FILES (“we”, “us”, or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit thedeepfiles.com.

This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy.

We are committed to transparency regarding the technologies used on our website and to providing visitors with appropriate choices concerning non-essential cookies.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website.

Cookies can perform different functions, including enabling essential website features, remembering preferences, measuring website performance, improving security, and, where applicable and permitted, supporting advertising or other third-party services.

Similar technologies, such as local storage, pixels, tags, scripts, and software development technologies, may perform comparable functions. References to “cookies” in this policy may therefore include similar technologies where appropriate.

3. Types of Cookies We May Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the website to function properly.

They may be used for purposes such as:

Website security;
Network management;
Fraud and abuse prevention;
Cookie-consent management;
Maintaining essential website functionality; and
Remembering privacy choices.

Because these technologies are necessary to provide the website or a service specifically requested by the visitor, they may not always require consent.

Functional Cookies

Functional cookies may allow the website to remember choices or preferences and provide enhanced functionality.

These may include language preferences, interface settings, or other user-selected options.

Where legally required, these cookies will only be activated after consent.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

We may use analytics technologies to understand how visitors interact with THE DEEP FILES.

Depending on the services enabled on the website, these technologies may help us understand information such as:

Pages visited;
General traffic patterns;
Website performance;
Approximate session duration;
Referral sources;
Technical errors; and
General interaction with website features.

Where consent is legally required, analytics cookies will not be activated until the visitor has provided that consent.

Advertising and Marketing Cookies

If advertising or marketing technologies are used, cookies or similar technologies may be used to measure advertising performance, limit repeated advertisements, or support advertising delivery.

Where required by applicable law, advertising or marketing cookies will only be activated after the visitor has provided consent.

THE DEEP FILES may use third-party advertising providers. The specific providers used may change over time and, where required, will be identified through our consent-management system or cookie settings.

Embedded Content and Third-Party Services

Articles and investigations published by THE DEEP FILES may contain embedded or linked content from third-party platforms, including video, social-media, document, mapping, or other external services.

These third parties may use their own cookies or similar technologies when their services are loaded.

Where required by law, third-party content capable of placing non-essential cookies may be restricted until the visitor provides the appropriate consent.

4. First-Party and Third-Party Cookies

Cookies may be classified as:

First-party cookies, which are set directly by THE DEEP FILES or through the website infrastructure; and

Third-party cookies, which are set by external service providers whose technologies are integrated into the website.

Third-party providers are responsible for their own processing activities in accordance with their respective privacy and cookie policies.

5. Legal Basis and Consent

Where applicable, THE DEEP FILES processes information associated with cookies in accordance with relevant privacy and electronic communications laws, including applicable requirements under European data-protection law.

Strictly necessary cookies may be used without consent where legally permitted.

Non-essential cookies, including certain analytics, advertising, personalization, and third-party tracking technologies, will be used only where an appropriate legal basis exists and consent has been obtained where required.

Consent should be freely given, specific, informed, and capable of being withdrawn.

Rejecting non-essential cookies should not prevent visitors from accessing the basic editorial content of THE DEEP FILES, except where a particular external feature technically requires a third-party service.

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

When visiting THE DEEP FILES, you may be presented with a cookie-consent interface allowing you to:

Accept non-essential cookies;
Reject non-essential cookies;
Select particular categories of cookies; and
Change or withdraw your choices later.

You may also control cookies through your browser settings.

Deleting or blocking certain cookies may affect some optional website features.

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

7. Cookie Retention

Cookies may be session cookies, which normally expire when the browser session ends, or persistent cookies, which remain for a specified period unless deleted earlier.

Retention periods depend on the purpose of the cookie and the service responsible for setting it.

Where available, more specific information about active cookies and their duration may be provided through the website’s cookie-management interface.

8. International Data Transfers

Some third-party technology providers may process information outside the European Economic Area.

Where personal data is transferred internationally, applicable safeguards will be used where required by data-protection law.

Further information concerning international transfers and the processing of personal information should be provided in our Privacy Policy and, where relevant, by the applicable third-party provider.

9. Changes to This Cookie Policy

THE DEEP FILES may update this Cookie Policy when our website, technologies, service providers, or applicable legal requirements change.

The “Last Updated” date at the beginning of this policy will indicate when the policy was most recently revised.

Material changes may also be communicated through the website where appropriate.

10. Contact

Questions concerning this Cookie Policy, privacy, or the use of cookies on THE DEEP FILES may be directed to:

THE DEEP FILES
The Hague, Netherlands
Email: contact@thedeepfiles.com
Website: thedeepfiles.com

Cookie Policy