Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 5, 2026

AdriaDefense respects the privacy of its readers, subscribers, contributors, partners and website visitors.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit AdriaDefense, subscribe to our newsletters, contact us or otherwise interact with our services.

1. Who We Are

AdriaDefense is an independent English-language defense and security publication covering Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe, with additional reporting on relevant NATO, European and global defense markets.

AdriaDefense is published and operated by:

Bytewerk FZE
Al Smookh Business Center
Umm Al Quwain
United Arab Emirates

For the personal data described in this Privacy Policy, Bytewerk FZE acts as the data controller unless otherwise stated.

Website: adriadefense.com
Privacy and general inquiries: info@adriadefense.com
Commercial and media partnerships: partner@adriadefense.com

2. Personal Data We Collect

The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with AdriaDefense.

Information You Provide

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including:

  • Email address when you subscribe to a newsletter or contact us
  • Name, job title and organization when provided
  • Contact information submitted through forms or correspondence
  • Information included in editorial tips, interview requests or other communications
  • Information submitted in advertising, partnership or commercial inquiries
  • Newsletter preferences and subscription information

Please avoid sending sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for a legitimate editorial or business purpose.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit AdriaDefense, certain technical and usage information may be collected automatically by our website infrastructure and service providers.

Depending on the technologies enabled on the website and your privacy choices, this may include:

  • IP address or information derived from an IP address
  • Browser and device information
  • Operating system
  • Approximate geographic location
  • Referral source
  • Pages viewed
  • Date and time of visits
  • Interaction and usage information
  • Cookie identifiers or similar technical identifiers

We may use analytics services to understand how visitors use AdriaDefense and to improve the website and our content.

3. How We Use Personal Data

We may process personal information to:

  • Provide and operate the AdriaDefense website
  • Deliver newsletters and other requested communications
  • Manage newsletter subscriptions and preferences
  • Respond to editorial inquiries, news tips and interview requests
  • Respond to advertising, partnership and commercial inquiries
  • Communicate with contributors, partners and professional contacts
  • Understand website usage and improve our content and services
  • Measure the performance of our website and communications
  • Maintain the security and integrity of our website and systems
  • Prevent fraud, abuse and unauthorized activity
  • Maintain appropriate business and administrative records
  • Establish, exercise or defend legal claims
  • Comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations

AdriaDefense does not sell personal information to third parties for monetary consideration.

Where the European Union General Data Protection Regulation or similar data protection legislation applies, we process personal data under one or more appropriate legal bases.

These may include:

Consent: where you voluntarily subscribe to newsletters, accept non-essential cookies or provide consent for another specific purpose.

Legitimate interests: where processing is reasonably necessary to operate and secure our publication, respond to professional communications, understand our audience or manage our business, provided those interests are not overridden by your applicable rights and freedoms.

Contractual necessity: where processing is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into an agreement or to perform an agreement with you or your organization.

Legal obligation: where processing is required to comply with applicable law.

You may withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

5. Newsletter and Email Communications

When you subscribe to an AdriaDefense newsletter, we process the information necessary to manage your subscription and deliver the requested communications.

This may include your email address, subscription status, preferences and technical information associated with newsletter delivery and engagement.

We may use a third-party email service provider to process and deliver newsletter communications on our behalf.

You can unsubscribe from newsletter communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.

Transactional, administrative or individually requested communications may still be sent where necessary and legally permitted.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

AdriaDefense may use cookies and similar technologies for website functionality, security, analytics and other purposes.

Strictly necessary technologies may be used where required to operate or secure the website.

Non-essential technologies, including certain analytics, advertising or third-party technologies, will be activated subject to consent where consent is required by applicable law.

Where available, you can manage your preferences through the cookie consent controls provided on the website.

You may also manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain technologies may affect some website functionality.

7. Analytics

AdriaDefense may use analytics services, including Google Analytics, to understand website traffic and how readers interact with our content.

Depending on our configuration and your privacy choices, analytics information may include device and browser information, approximate location, pages viewed, referral information and website interactions.

Analytics services may use cookies or similar technologies where permitted and, where required, after obtaining appropriate consent.

We use analytics information to understand readership patterns, measure website performance and improve AdriaDefense content and services.

8. Service Providers and Third Parties

We may use trusted third-party providers to help operate AdriaDefense.

Depending on the services currently used, these providers may support:

  • Website hosting and infrastructure
  • Analytics
  • Newsletter and email delivery
  • Content management
  • Website security
  • Cloud storage
  • Embedded video or multimedia
  • Social media functionality
  • Business communications and administration

These providers may process personal information only to the extent necessary to provide their services or as otherwise permitted under applicable law and their contractual arrangements.

Third-party websites and platforms accessed through links or embedded content may process information under their own privacy policies.

9. Social Media and Embedded Content

AdriaDefense may link to or embed content from third-party platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube, X or other digital services.

When you interact with third-party content or platforms, those providers may collect information about your interaction in accordance with their own privacy policies.

Where third-party technologies require consent before activation, we will seek consent where required by applicable law.

10. International Data Transfers

AdriaDefense operates internationally and is published by Bytewerk FZE in the United Arab Emirates.

Our readers, service providers and business relationships are located across multiple countries. As a result, personal information may be processed or transferred outside the country in which it was originally collected, including outside the European Economic Area.

Where applicable data protection law requires specific safeguards for international transfers, we will use an appropriate transfer mechanism or other legally recognized safeguard.

Depending on the circumstances, these safeguards may include adequacy decisions, Standard Contractual Clauses or other mechanisms permitted under applicable law.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet applicable legal, regulatory, security and business requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and purpose of processing.

For example:

  • Newsletter subscription information may be retained while your subscription remains active and for an appropriate period afterward where necessary to maintain suppression or compliance records.
  • Business and partnership correspondence may be retained for as long as necessary to manage the relationship and relevant legal or administrative requirements.
  • Editorial correspondence and news tips may be retained where they have continuing journalistic, evidentiary or public-interest relevance.
  • Analytics information is retained according to the configuration and retention settings of the relevant analytics service.

Where personal information is no longer required, we may delete, anonymize or securely archive it where permitted by applicable law.

12. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

These measures may include access controls, secure communications, account security and appropriate safeguards provided by our technology and service providers.

No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security, and users should take appropriate precautions when transmitting information online.

13. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.

Where the GDPR applies, these may include the right to:

  • Request access to your personal data
  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Request deletion of personal data in certain circumstances
  • Request restriction of processing
  • Object to certain processing
  • Request data portability where applicable
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
  • Lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority

These rights are subject to applicable legal conditions, limitations and exemptions.

In particular, certain rights may be limited where personal data is processed for journalistic purposes and applicable law provides exemptions necessary to protect freedom of expression and information.

To submit a privacy request, contact info@adriadefense.com.

We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

14. Editorial and Journalistic Data

As a news organization, AdriaDefense may process personal information as part of legitimate journalistic activities, including reporting, research, source communications, interviews, verification and publication.

Data protection laws may provide specific exemptions or limitations for processing carried out for journalistic purposes in order to balance privacy rights with freedom of expression and information.

Requests concerning information contained in published editorial material will therefore be assessed in accordance with applicable law, journalistic standards, freedom of expression and the public interest.

Editorial correction requests can be sent to info@adriadefense.com.

15. Children’s Privacy

AdriaDefense is intended primarily for a professional and general news audience and is not designed or directed specifically at children.

We do not knowingly solicit personal information from children through our newsletter or commercial services.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact info@adriadefense.com.

AdriaDefense may contain links to third-party websites.

We do not control the privacy practices of external websites and are not responsible for how third parties collect or process personal information.

We encourage users to review the privacy policies of external services they choose to access.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, technologies, business operations or applicable legal requirements.

The current version will be published on this page together with the date of the latest update.

Material changes may be communicated through additional means where required by applicable law.

18. Contact

For questions, requests or concerns relating to privacy or personal data:

Bytewerk FZE / AdriaDefense
Al Smookh Business Center
Umm Al Quwain
United Arab Emirates

Privacy and general inquiries:
info@adriadefense.com

Website:
adriadefense.com