Cookies Policy
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
1. Introduction
This Cookies Policy explains how The Modern Reference (“TMR”, “we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies on www.themodernreference.com (the “Website”).
The Members’ Area of tmr Circle, available at thecircle.themodernreference.com, is operated through the Circle platform (CircleCo, Inc.); bookings for our events are made through Luma, and the short version of The Letter is distributed through Substack. These services place their own cookies, described in their respective cookie notices, which are presented to you when you access them.
This Policy explains:
what cookies and similar technologies are;
which cookies We use and why;
the legal basis for their use;
how long they are retained;
how you can manage your cookie preferences; and
your rights regarding cookies and related personal data processing.
This Cookies Policy should be read together with Our Privacy Policy, which provides further details regarding Our processing of personal data.
2. What are cookies and similar technologies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They enable websites to function properly, remember user preferences, improve user experience and collect information about how visitors use a website.
We may also use similar technologies such as:
pixels;
web beacons;
tags;
local storage technologies;
software development kits (SDKs); and
other tracking technologies.
Throughout this Policy, these technologies are collectively referred to as “cookies”.
3. Why We use cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
ensuring the security and functionality of the Website;
remembering user preferences;
maintaining user sessions;
measuring the Website performance;
analysing visitor behaviour and the Website usage;
enabling interaction with social media services; and
measuring and optimising marketing activities.
4. Categories of cookies We use
a) Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the operation, security and administration of the Website.
These cookies may be used to:
maintain user sessions;
remember cookie preferences;
ensure the Website security and fraud prevention;
facilitate navigation;
provide functionality expressly requested by the user; and
maintain technical Website functionality.
Without these cookies, certain features of the Website may not run properly.
As these cookies are used for Our legitimate interests in operating a secure and functional Website and, where applicable, performance of the membership, We do not ask your consent for such cookies.
b) Functional and preference cookies
These cookies allow the Website to remember choices made by users and provide enhanced functionality, for instance, your choice regarding:
language preferences;
accessibility settings;
region selections; and
interface customisation.
As these cookies are non-essential, We will ask for your consent. By clicking on “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the use of these cookies.
c) Analytics and performance cookies
These cookies help Us understand how visitors interact with the Website and enable Us to improve its performance and usability.
The information collected may include:
pages visited;
navigation paths;
time spent on pages;
browser type;
device information;
traffic sources; and
Website performance metrics.
As these cookies are non-essential, We will ask for your consent. By clicking on “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the use of these cookies.
d) Social media cookies
These cookies enable social media functionality and interactions with third-party social media platforms.
These cookies may track users across different websites and services.
As these cookies are non-essential, We will ask for your consent. By clicking on “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the use of these cookies.
e) Marketing and advertising cookies
These cookies help Us measure the effectiveness of Our marketing activities and deliver relevant advertising.
These cookies may collect information about:
Website visits;
browsing behaviour;
interactions with content;
advertising performance;
conversion events; and
user engagement.
As these cookies are non-essential, We will ask for your consent. By clicking on “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the use of these cookies.
5. Use of Meta Pixel
a) What is Meta Pixel?
Subject to your prior consent, We use the Meta Pixel provided by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.
The Meta Pixel is a tracking technology that helps Us:
understand how visitors interact with Our Website;
analyse the effectiveness of advertising campaigns;
measure conversions and the Website activity;
create audience groups for advertising purposes;
improve Our marketing activities; and
deliver and measure advertising on Facebook, Instagram and other Meta services.
b) Information Collected
When activated, the Meta Pixel may collect and transmit information such as:
IP address;
browser and device information;
pages viewed;
referring URLs;
date and time of visits;
events and actions performed on the Website;
cookie identifiers; and
other online identifiers.
The information collected through the Meta Pixel may be combined by Meta with information collected through other Meta services in accordance with Meta's privacy practices.
c) Consent Requirement
The Meta Pixel is a non-essential marketing tracker.
It is not activated unless and until you provide your consent through Our cookie preference management tool, by clicking on “Accept all cookies”. If you reject marketing cookies, the Meta Pixel will not be deployed on your device.
d) Relationship with Meta
Depending on the specific processing activity, We and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited may act as independent controllers or, where applicable, joint controllers with respect to certain processing operations relating to advertising measurement, audience creation and campaign analytics.
e) International data transfers
Information collected through the Meta Pixel may be transferred outside the European Economic Area ("EEA").
Where such transfers occur, they will be carried out in accordance with GDPR, any applicable data protection laws and subject to appropriate technical and contractual safeguards.
f) Further information
For more information regarding Meta's processing activities, please consult:
• https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
• https://www.facebook.com/legal/technology_terms
6. Third-Party cookies
Certain cookies are placed by third-party service providers whose services We use. These providers may include:
analytics providers;
social media platforms;
advertising technology providers;
hosting and website functionality providers;
community, ticketing and newsletter platforms (Circle, Luma and Substack), when you access them from the Website;
video hosting providers; and
other service providers supporting the operation of the Website.
These third parties may collect information directly from your device and process it in accordance with their own privacy policies.
7. Legal basis for cookie use
Cookie category & Legal basis
Strictly necessary cookies: Legitimate interests and/or performance of your membership
Functional cookies: Consent (where they are non-essential cookies)
Analytics cookies: Consent
Social Media cookies: Consent
Marketing and advertising cookies (including Meta Pixel): Consent
8. Cookie consent
Where required by law, We obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
When you first visit the Website, you are presented with a cookie banner that allows you to:
accept all cookies;
reject all non-essential cookies; or
customise your choices by cookie category.
Consent is obtained on a purpose-specific basis and requires clear affirmative action. Continued browsing, inactivity, silence, browser settings alone or pre-ticked boxes do not constitute valid consent.
9. Withdrawal and modification of consent
You may withdraw or modify your cookie preferences at any time by selecting the “Manage Cookies” link available on the Website.
Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.
10. Proof and retention of consent
We maintain records of consent choices in order to demonstrate compliance with applicable legal requirements.
Your cookie preferences will generally be retained for a maximum period of twelve (12) months, after which We may request that you renew your choices. We may also request renewed consent where there are significant changes to Our use of cookies.
11. Cookie retention periods
Cookies may be stored for different periods depending on their purpose.
Session Cookies
Session cookies are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
Persistent Cookies
Persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire or are manually deleted.
The retention period applicable to each cookie is specified in the Cookie list below.
12. Cookie list
We run Our Website with Squarespace (Squarespace Ireland Ltd., Le Pole House, Ship Street Great, Dublin 8, D08 N12C, Ireland).
On the following link, you will find all information (including duration) relating to the cookies active on the Website:
The cookies Squarespace uses – Squarespace Help Center
This list will be updated whenever cookies used on the Website change.
13. Managing cookies through your browser
Most browsers allow you to:
view cookies stored on your device;
delete cookies;
block specific cookies;
block all cookies; and
configure cookie preferences.
Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality and performance of the Website.
Further information can generally be found on the support pages of your browser provider.
14. Changes to this Cookies Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, regulatory guidance, technologies used or Our business operations.
Any material changes will be published on this page and, where required, presented through a renewed consent request.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding this Cookies Policy or Our use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact:
The Modern Reference
21 rue Glesener, L-1631 Luxembourg (from 1 October 2026: 128, rue de Mühlenbach, L-2168 Luxembourg)
Email: hello@themodernreference.com
Data Protection Contact: privacy@themodernreference.com