Modality Learning
Last Updated: March 2026
Version: 2.1
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help the website remember information about your visit, making it easier to use and more useful to you.
Cookies typically contain:
- A unique identifier
- The website name
- Some numbers and letters
- An expiration date
How We Use Cookies
Modality Learning uses cookies to:
- Keep you logged in securely
- Remember your preferences
- Understand how you use our platform (with your consent)
- Improve our service
We use two types of cookies: Essential Cookies (which we need to make the platform work) and Analytics Cookies (which help us understand usage, but require your consent).
Types of Cookies We Use
1. Essential Cookies (Always Active)
These cookies are necessary for the platform to function. You cannot disable them because the platform won't work without them.
Firebase Authentication Cookies
Purpose: Keep you securely logged in
Provider: Firebase Authentication (Google)
Cookies Set:
__session - Session identifier__Secure-* - Security tokensfirebase:* - Authentication state
What they do:
- Verify you're logged in
- Maintain your session securely
- Prevent unauthorized access
- Protect against security attacks (CSRF)
Duration: Session (deleted when you close browser) or up to 2 weeks if you stay logged in
Can you disable them? No - you won't be able to log in or use the platform without these.
Vercel Performance Cookies
Purpose: Content delivery and performance optimization
Provider: Vercel (our hosting provider)
Cookies Set:
__vercel_* - Performance and routing
What they do:
- Route you to the nearest server for faster loading
- Optimize content delivery
- Maintain stable connections
Duration: Session
Can you disable them? No - these are essential for the platform to load properly.
Sentry Error Tracking
Purpose: Monitor and fix errors to ensure platform reliability
Provider: Sentry.io
Cookies Set:
sentry-* - Error tracking and session replay
What they do:
- Detect and log technical errors automatically
- Capture what happened before an error occurred
- Record user sessions when errors occur (to help us debug)
- Track performance issues
What they collect when an error occurs:
- Error details and stack traces
- Browser and device information
- Page URL where the error occurred
- User ID (to notify affected users)
- Session replay (visual recording of what led to the error)
Why we use it:
- Fix bugs quickly before they affect many users
- Understand what causes errors
- Improve platform stability and reliability
- Provide better support when things go wrong
Duration: Session and up to 90 days for error reports
Can you disable them? No - error tracking is essential for maintaining a reliable platform and fixing issues. However, you can contact us to opt out of session replay specifically.
2. Analytics Cookies (Requires Your Consent)
These cookies help us understand how people use Modality Learning so we can improve it. You can choose to decline these.
Google Analytics (GA4)
Purpose: Understand platform usage and improve user experience
Provider: Google Analytics
Cookies Set:
_ga - Distinguishes users_ga_* - Session and campaign data_gid - Distinguishes users (24 hour expiry)_gat - Throttles request rate
What they collect:
- Pages you visit
- Features you use
- Time spent on activities
- Device and browser type
- General location (country/city level, not precise)
- How you found Modality Learning (referral source)
What they DON'T collect:
- Your personal identity
- Your exact location
- Your learning content or answers
- Your email or account details
IP Address: Anonymized (last digits removed)
Duration:
_ga: 2 years_ga_*: 2 years_gid: 24 hours_gat: 1 minute
Can you disable them? Yes - you can decline analytics cookies. The platform will work fine without them.
Cookie Summary Table
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Type | Duration | Can Decline? |
|---|
__session | Authentication | Essential | Session | No |
__Secure-* | Security tokens | Essential | Session | No |
firebase:* | Auth state | Essential | 2 weeks | No |
__vercel_* | Performance | Essential | Session | No |
sentry-* | Error tracking | Essential | Session-90 days | No |
_ga | Analytics | Analytics | 2 years | Yes |
_ga_* | Analytics | Analytics | 2 years | Yes |
_gid | Analytics | Analytics | 24 hours | Yes |
_gat | Analytics | Analytics | 1 minute | Yes |
Your Cookie Choices
Managing Analytics Cookies
When you first visit Modality Learning, you'll see a cookie banner asking for your consent to use analytics cookies.
You can:
- Accept - We'll use analytics to improve the platform
- Decline - We won't track your usage (platform still works perfectly)
- Customize - Choose exactly which cookies you're comfortable with
Your choice is saved and you can change it anytime.
Changing Your Mind
You can change your cookie preferences at any time:
-
Via Cookie Settings:
- Click "Cookie Settings" link in the footer
- Update your preferences
- Save changes
-
Via Privacy Settings:
- Go to your Account Settings
- Click "Privacy Settings"
- Manage cookie preferences
-
Via Email:
Using Your Browser
You can also control cookies through your browser settings:
Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies
Warning: If you block all cookies via your browser, essential cookies won't work and you won't be able to log in.
What Happens When You Decline Analytics?
If you decline analytics cookies:
- Platform works exactly the same
- You can log in and learn normally
- All features are fully available
- Your preferences are saved
- We won't track your usage patterns
- We won't see which features you use
- We can't improve the platform based on your behavior
We respect your choice. There's no penalty for declining analytics cookies.
Why We Use Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand:
- What's working: Which features help students learn effectively
- What's broken: Where people get stuck or encounter errors
- What's missing: What features students need but we haven't built yet
- How to improve: Data-driven decisions about platform development
This helps us make Modality Learning better for everyone.
We use Google Analytics (not custom analytics) because:
- Industry-standard, trusted platform
- GDPR-compliant when configured properly
- We've anonymized IP addresses
- Doesn't track across other websites (we don't use cross-site tracking)
- Gives us the insights we need without excessive data collection
Our Commitments
1. No Advertising or Marketing Cookies
We do not use cookies for:
- Showing you ads
- Retargeting/remarketing
- Behavioral advertising
- Selling data to advertisers
- Building profiles for marketing
Analytics only. That's it.
2. No Unnecessary Tracking
We only use cookies we actually need:
- Essential: Required for platform to function
- Analytics: Help us improve (with your consent)
No social media trackers, no third-party advertising networks, no surveillance.
3. IP Anonymization
Google Analytics anonymizes your IP address, removing the last digits so your precise location can't be identified.
4. No Cross-Site Tracking
We don't track you across other websites. Google Analytics on Modality Learning only sees what you do on Modality Learning.
5. Your Data, Your Control
- You can decline analytics cookies
- You can delete cookies anytime
- You can request your data
- You can request deletion
Cookies and Your Privacy
Essential Cookies (No Consent Needed)
Under UK GDPR and PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations), we don't need consent for essential cookies because:
- They're strictly necessary for the service you've requested
- The platform cannot function without them
- They don't track you for other purposes
Analytics Cookies (Consent Required)
We do need your consent for analytics cookies because:
- They're not strictly necessary (platform works without them)
- They collect information about your behavior
- They involve sharing data with Google
This is why we ask via the cookie banner.
Legal Basis
Essential Cookies: Legitimate interest (providing the service you've requested)
Analytics Cookies: Consent (you actively agree to analytics tracking)
Children's Privacy
If you're under 18, we take extra care with your data:
- Essential cookies only store what's needed for the platform to work
- We encourage you to discuss analytics cookies with a parent/guardian
- Parents can manage cookie settings on behalf of their children
For more information, see our
Privacy Notice.
Third-Party Privacy Policies
Our cookies involve these third parties:
Sentry:
Privacy Policy:
https://sentry.io/privacy/
DPA (Data Processing Agreement):
https://sentry.io/legal/dpa/
Technical Details
Fonts
Modality Learning uses Google Fonts (Geist, Geist Mono, EB Garamond), but these are self-hosted via Next.js at build time. No requests are made to Google's servers when you use the platform, and no font-related cookies or tracking is involved.
Cookie Domains
Cookies are set for:
modalitylearning.ai (our domain).firebaseapp.com (Firebase Authentication).google-analytics.com (if analytics enabled).sentry.io (Error tracking)
Secure Cookies
We use secure cookies with these protections:
- Secure flag: Only transmitted over HTTPS
- HttpOnly flag: Not accessible to JavaScript (prevents XSS attacks)
- SameSite: Protects against CSRF attacks
Cookie Lifespan
- Session cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies: Stored for a set period (see table above)
- All cookies: Automatically expire after their duration
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect:
- Changes in cookies we use
- New features or services
- Legal or regulatory requirements
- Improvements in our practices
How we'll notify you:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top
- Email you if changes significantly affect your rights
- Show a notice on the platform
Continued use after changes = acceptance of updated policy.
Questions About Cookies?
General Questions
Email: support@modalitylearning.ai
We respond: Within 5 working days
Privacy-Related Questions
Email: privacy@modalitylearning.ai
We respond: Within 30 days (legal requirement for data protection queries)
Technical Questions
If you're having trouble with cookies (can't log in, settings not saving, etc.):
- Try clearing your browser cache and cookies
- Make sure cookies are enabled in your browser
- Contact support@modalitylearning.ai if issues persist
Related Policies
For more information about how we handle your data:
Company Information
Modality Learning is operated by:
Modality Learning Ltd
Company Number: 17006152
Registered in England and Wales
ICO Registration: ZC037607
Your Rights Summary
Regarding cookies and your data, you have the right to:
- Choose which non-essential cookies you accept
- Change your mind about cookies at any time
- Delete cookies from your browser
- Access your data (see Privacy Notice)
- Complain to the ICO if you have concerns
ICO Contact:
Website: ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Quick Reference
What cookies do you use?
Firebase Auth (essential), Sentry error tracking (essential), Google Analytics (optional), Vercel performance (essential)
Do I have to accept cookies?
You must accept essential cookies to use the platform. Analytics cookies are optional.
Can I change my mind later?
Yes - use Cookie Settings link in footer or email
privacy@modalitylearning.ai
Do you sell my data?
No. Never.
Do you use advertising cookies?
No.
Are my learning activities tracked?
Your learning progress is tracked (that's how the platform works), but this isn't via cookies - it's in your account. Analytics cookies only track which pages/features you use, not what you're learning.
What if I block all cookies in my browser?
You won't be able to log in. Essential cookies are necessary for security and authentication.
This Cookie Policy is designed to be transparent, comprehensive, and respectful of your privacy. If something isn't clear, please ask us at support@modalitylearning.ai.