Legal
Policies
Our commitments on privacy, use of this site, and accessibility.
01
Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2025
Who we are
The Digital State is a UK-based podcast produced by Paul Scully and Asad Ansari, exploring the intersection of government, technology, and public policy. References to 'we', 'us', or 'our' in this policy refer to The Digital State.
What data we collect
We collect personal data only when you voluntarily provide it — for example, when you subscribe to our newsletter or submit an enquiry via the contact form. The data we collect may include your name, email address, and organisation.
How we use your data
We use your data solely to respond to your enquiry, send you episode notifications and editorial content if you have subscribed, and improve the service we offer. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.
Legal basis for processing
We process your data on the basis of consent (where you have opted in to communications) or legitimate interest (where you have made a direct enquiry). You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe link in any email we send.
Data retention
We retain subscriber data for as long as you remain subscribed, and enquiry data for up to 24 months. You may request deletion of your data at any time by writing to hello@thedigitalstate.co.uk.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data; to restrict or object to its processing; and to data portability. If you believe we have mishandled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
Cookies
This website uses only essential cookies necessary for the site to function. We do not use tracking, advertising, or analytics cookies. No third-party cookies are set without your explicit consent.
Contact
For any data protection enquiry, please write to hello@thedigitalstate.co.uk.
02
Terms of Service
Last updated: June 2025
Acceptance of terms
By accessing or using The Digital State website and podcast content, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use this site.
Content ownership
All content published on The Digital State — including episodes, articles, graphics, and trademarks — is the intellectual property of The Digital State and its hosts unless otherwise stated. You may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit any content without prior written permission.
Permitted use
You may listen to, share, and link to our content for personal and non-commercial purposes. Brief quotations with clear attribution are permitted. Any other use requires express written consent from The Digital State.
Guest content
Opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not represent the views of The Digital State, its hosts, or any affiliated organisations. Guest appearances do not constitute an endorsement of any product, service, or organisation.
Accuracy of information
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information published on this site. However, content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or policy advice. We accept no liability for errors or omissions.
Third-party links
This website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies independently.
Limitation of liability
To the extent permitted by law, The Digital State shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this website or its content.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Changes to these terms
We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service at any time. Continued use of the site following any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
03
Accessibility Statement
Last updated: June 2025
Our commitment
The Digital State is committed to making its website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
What we have done
We have designed this site with high colour contrast ratios, keyboard-navigable interfaces, and ARIA labels on interactive elements. All animations respect the 'prefers-reduced-motion' operating system setting. Images include descriptive alt text. Heading structure is logical and consistent throughout.
Known limitations
Podcast video content is hosted on YouTube and we are unable to guarantee the accessibility of its player. We are working to provide transcripts for all episodes.
Transcripts
We are committed to publishing transcripts for all episodes. Where transcripts are not yet available, please contact us and we will provide one on request.
Assistive technologies
This site has been tested with common screen readers including NVDA and VoiceOver. If you experience difficulties using an assistive technology, please let us know so we can address the issue.
Feedback and contact
If you encounter an accessibility barrier on this site or wish to request content in an alternative format, please contact us at hello@thedigitalstate.co.uk. We aim to respond within five working days.
Enforcement
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) at equalityadvisoryservice.com.
For any questions about these policies, contact hello@thedigitalstate.co.uk.
Back to home