James Benham
Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 11, 2026

Overview

This website, jamesbenham.com, is operated by James M. Benham ("James," "we," "us"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. We are committed to handling your data with transparency and care.

This site uses a small number of third-party analytics, marketing, and advertising technologies, described in full in Cookies and Tracking Technologies below. We do not sell your personal information, and we keep the list of what runs on this site short and disclosed.

Information We Collect

Contact Form

When you submit the contact form at /contact.html, we collect:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Company or publication name (optional)
  • Topic selection
  • The message you write

This information is transmitted to James's private inbox via a third-party form processor (Web3Forms). No submitted data is stored on this website's servers. Web3Forms' privacy policy governs how they process form submissions in transit.

Server Logs

Our hosting provider (Vercel) may automatically collect standard web server logs, including your IP address, browser type, referring URL, and pages visited. These logs are retained for operational and security purposes according to Vercel's data processing terms.

Fonts

This site loads typefaces (Inter and Playfair Display) from Google Fonts via fonts.googleapis.com. When your browser requests those fonts, your IP address is transmitted to Google's servers. Google states it does not use this data for advertising. See Google's Privacy Policy for details. We are working to migrate to self-hosted fonts to eliminate this third-party request entirely.

Interactive Map (Speaking Page)

The speaking-engagements map is powered by Leaflet.js with OpenStreetMap tile data. Loading map tiles may transmit your IP address to OpenStreetMap servers. See the OpenStreetMap Foundation Privacy Policy for details.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

This site loads the following third-party scripts on every page. Each one sets its own cookies or similar identifiers when it loads — nothing here requires you to log in or hand over information directly.

  • Google Analytics (Google LLC): Measures traffic and usage patterns. See Google's Privacy Policy and Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
  • Microsoft Clarity: Records anonymized session behavior (clicks, scrolling, navigation) so we can see how the site is actually used. See Microsoft's Privacy Statement.
  • HubSpot: Two separate things. Submitting the newsletter signup form sends your email directly to HubSpot regardless of the choice below, the same way submitting any form does — that's the point of clicking submit. Separately, a HubSpot tracking script that recognizes returning visitors and tracks marketing analytics only loads if you accept below. See HubSpot's Privacy Policy.
  • LinkedIn Insight Tag: An advertising and conversion-tracking pixel from LinkedIn. It can be used to measure the effectiveness of content shared on LinkedIn and to inform ad targeting. This is the one technology on this site that functions as an advertising pixel — see California Residents below for what that means for your rights. See LinkedIn's Privacy Policy.
  • Cloudflare Turnstile: A bot-protection challenge used on the contact form to block spam submissions. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.

None of the technologies listed above load until you make a choice. The first time you visit, a notice asks you to Accept or Decline. Accept loads all four; Decline keeps them off. You can change your choice anytime using the "Cookie preferences" link in the footer of any page, or control cookies directly through your browser settings (which may affect how parts of the site function).

Do Not Track & Global Privacy Control

Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal, and some send a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. There is no accepted industry standard for DNT, and this site does not technically respond to it. GPC is different: if your browser sends a GPC signal, this site treats it as an automatic opt-out and none of the technologies above load, even if you'd previously accepted — GPC is checked fresh on every visit and takes precedence. You can still explicitly choose Accept through the cookie notice afterward if you want this specific site to load them anyway; that choice is honored too. You're also welcome to contact us directly (see below) with any opt-out request, and we'll act on it manually.

How We Use Your Information

Contact form submissions are used solely to respond to your inquiry. We do not add you to mailing lists, sell your information, or share it with third parties for marketing purposes.

Data Retention

Contact form submissions are retained in James's email inbox for as long as reasonably necessary to resolve the inquiry, and are subject to standard email retention practices. If you request deletion of your submitted information, we will honor that request promptly.

Your Rights

All Visitors

  • Access: You may request a copy of personal information we hold about you.
  • Deletion: You may request that we delete personal information you submitted.
  • Correction: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information.

EU / EEA Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to data portability, the right to object to processing, and the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. The legal basis for processing contact form data is your consent, given when you submit the form.

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, to request deletion or correction, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information.

We do not sell personal information for money. We do use the LinkedIn Insight Tag described in Cookies and Tracking Technologies above, which under California's broad definition of "sharing" — disclosing personal information to a third party for cross-context behavioral advertising — could be considered a form of sharing. This site honors the Global Privacy Control signal as an automatic opt-out of that sharing — see Do Not Track & Global Privacy Control above. You can also opt out by declining in the cookie notice, contacting us using the information below, blocking the tag at the browser level, or managing it directly through LinkedIn's own advertising settings.

We will not deny you goods or services, charge you a different price, or provide a different level of service because you exercised any right under the CCPA/CPRA.

Texas Residents (TDPSA)

Texas residents have rights under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), including rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain a portable copy of personal data. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below.

Other U.S. State Residents

Residents of other U.S. states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws (for example Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and others) may have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and port their personal data, and to opt out of certain processing. To exercise any applicable rights, contact us using the information below.

Children's Privacy

This website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Contact

To exercise any of your privacy rights, or with questions about this policy, contact James directly via the contact form or by email at jbenham01@gmail.com.