PRIVACY, COOKIES & TERMS
Freedom Fest · Legal Information
We believe privacy should be understandable. This page explains how Freedom Fest handles personal information, how this website uses cookies and analytics, and the terms that apply when you use the site or attend the event.
Last updated: 25 August 2026
PRIVACY
Privacy Policy
Freedom Fest is operated by XS8 LIMITED. For the purposes of UK data protection law, we are responsible for the personal information we collect through the Freedom Fest website and event.
You can contact us about privacy or your personal information at info@freedomfest.now.
What information we collect
We only collect information where there is a reason to do so.
If you contact us through the website, we may collect your name, email address and the contents of your message.
If you join the Freedom Fest mailing list, we collect your email address and, where provided, your name.
If you buy a ticket, submit a talk or workshop proposal, or interact with one of the external services linked from this website, additional information may be collected where necessary to provide that service.
Basic anonymous website-usage information is collected using privacy-focused analytics, as explained below.
How we use your information
We may use information you provide to respond to enquiries, administer Freedom Fest, manage event participation, deliver tickets and event communications, process speaker or workshop applications, and send email updates where you have chosen to receive them.
We do not sell your personal information.
Email updates
If you join the Freedom Fest mailing list, we use your details to send speaker announcements, programme updates, Freedom Tech discoveries, event information and related Freedom Fest news.
Email communications are managed using MailerLite.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.
Withdrawing from marketing does not affect essential communications relating to a ticket, booking, application or other service you have requested.
Contact forms
Information submitted through our contact forms may be processed through our WordPress website and Elementor form system and delivered to our Freedom Fest email account.
We use this information only to deal with your enquiry and for any reasonable follow-up arising from it.
Spam protection
Our forms are protected against automated spam. Submissions are checked by our own filtering rules and, where required, by Cloudflare Turnstile, a bot-detection service operated by Cloudflare, Inc.
When you open a page containing a protected form, your browser fetches a small script from challenges.cloudflare.com, and Cloudflare receives your IP address, a TLS fingerprint, your browser’s user-agent string and the site key and origin of the page in order to decide whether a submission is genuine. Cloudflare does not receive the contents of the form. Cloudflare acts as our processor for this protection and also processes those signals as a controller to improve its own bot detection; see Cloudflare’s Turnstile Privacy Addendum at cloudflare.com/turnstile-privacy-policy. If Turnstile cannot be reached, our own spam filter makes the decision instead.
Spam and security records
Where a submission is blocked as spam we keep a short record of the attempt, including the IP address and browser details of the sender, for up to 30 days so we can investigate abuse, together with short-lived 24-hour counters per IP address used to stop floods. These records are not used for any other purpose and are deleted on that schedule.
Tickets and applications
Freedom Fest ticket sales run on our own ticket service, which we operate ourselves on our own server (it is built on LNbits, an open-source payments system). Tickets are paid for by card, and we ask for a name and an email address: we store them against your ticket together with the payment record — what you paid, when, and whether the payment has settled. Card payments are processed by Stripe, who collect your card details and billing details directly (we never receive or store your full card number). We receive confirmation that a payment succeeded, together with the name and email on the order, so that we can issue your ticket.
Talk and workshop proposals are handled through our linked Pretalx submission system.
These services may process information necessary to provide their respective functions. Where you leave the Freedom Fest website and use an external service, that service may also have its own privacy terms.
Analytics
Freedom Fest uses Umami, a privacy-focused analytics platform, to understand basic information about how the website is used.
Umami’s standard tracking does not use analytics cookies, fingerprint visitors, track people across websites or store personally identifiable information.
We use these anonymous statistics to understand things such as page visits, general traffic sources, device types and how people find the site.
We do not use Google Analytics.
Service providers
To operate the website and event, information may be processed by service providers involved in areas such as website hosting, forms, email delivery, email marketing, ticketing and event submissions.
These currently include services such as WordPress/Elementor, MailerLite, Stripe (card payments), Namecheap Private Email, our self-hosted ticket service and Pretalx. For card payments, Stripe collects and processes your payment details directly and acts as an independent controller for fraud-prevention purposes, as well as our payment processor; Stripe’s own privacy policy applies to that processing (stripe.com/privacy).
We only use services where there is a legitimate operational reason to do so.
Some providers may process data outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, appropriate data-protection safeguards should apply.
How long we keep information
Email newsletter subscribers are not removed by any routine retention process: joining the list is a choice you make, and we keep your details until you unsubscribe or ask us to remove you.
We do not keep personal information for longer than we reasonably need it.
Mailing-list information is retained until you unsubscribe or we otherwise remove it.
Enquiry, ticketing and event-administration information may be retained for as long as necessary to administer the event, resolve issues and meet applicable legal, accounting or operational requirements.
Your rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights to access, correct or delete your personal information, restrict or object to certain processing, receive a copy of information you have provided, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
To exercise your rights, email info@freedomfest.now.
You also have the right to raise a concern with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Children
Freedom Fest offers tickets for children. Ticket purchases and any information provided in connection with a child’s attendance should be handled by a parent, guardian or responsible adult where appropriate.
We do not intentionally use children’s personal information for email marketing.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as Freedom Fest develops, our services change or legal requirements are updated.
The current version will always be published on this page
COOKIES
Cookie & Analytics Policy
Freedom Fest is deliberately designed to minimise unnecessary tracking.
Analytics
We use Umami for website analytics.
Unlike many conventional analytics platforms, Umami’s standard tracking does not use cookies, does not fingerprint visitors and does not track people across different websites.
We therefore do not use analytics cookies simply to count visitors or understand basic website usage.
Necessary website technology
The Freedom Fest website is built using WordPress and Elementor.
The website, hosting infrastructure, security tools or form functionality may use cookies or similar browser storage where technically necessary to provide functionality, maintain security, prevent abuse or remember actions explicitly requested by a visitor.
We do not use these necessary technologies for advertising or behavioural profiling.
Third-party websites
Freedom Fest links to external services, including ticketing, event submissions, social networks and other websites.
Those services operate independently and may set their own cookies or use other technologies once you visit them. Their own privacy and cookie policies apply on those websites.
Advertising and tracking
Freedom Fest does not currently use advertising cookies, cross-site behavioural advertising or Google Analytics.
If we introduce non-essential cookies or comparable tracking technologies in the future, we will update this policy and introduce consent controls where required before those technologies are used.
Questions
If you have a question about privacy, cookies or analytics on this website, contact info@freedomfest.now.
TERMS
Website & Event Terms
These terms apply when you use the Freedom Fest website, purchase or use a Freedom Fest ticket, or attend Freedom Fest.
Nothing in these terms affects rights that you have under applicable consumer law.
Freedom Fest 2026
Freedom Fest 2026 takes place at the Pendulum Hotel, Manchester on Saturday, 21 November 2026.
Freedom Fest takes place alongside Bitfest UK but is a distinct event with its own programme and areas within the venue.
Tickets and access
A Freedom Fest ticket provides access to the Freedom Fest programme and areas included with that ticket.
A Bitfest ticket includes access to Freedom Fest.
Freedom Fest ticket holders may have the option to upgrade to Bitfest by paying the applicable upgrade price. Current ticket types, prices, upgrade options and availability are those displayed by Freedom Fest or the official ticketing service at the time of purchase or upgrade.
Admission may require presentation of a valid ticket or booking confirmation.
Freedom Fest to Bitfest upgrades
Freedom Fest ticket holders who purchase their Freedom Fest ticket before 1 October 2026 are eligible to upgrade to a Bitfest ticket for the fixed £50 adult upgrade price, regardless of when the upgrade is completed. This includes upgrades made after 1 October and, subject to ticket availability, upgrades made on arrival at the event.
Freedom Fest tickets purchased on or after 1 October 2026 are not eligible for the fixed £50 upgrade price. Those ticket holders may still upgrade to Bitfest by paying the difference between the price paid for their Freedom Fest ticket and the standard Bitfest ticket price applicable at the time of upgrade.
Upgrade availability remains subject to Bitfest ticket availability.
Family and child tickets
Child and family tickets are subject to the eligibility, supervision and admission conditions displayed on the ticket page.
Where a child attends Freedom Fest, the accompanying adult remains responsible for that child throughout the event.
Programme changes
Events involving live speakers, workshops and organisations can change.
We may make reasonable changes to speakers, sessions, timings, rooms, activities or other programme details where necessary.
We will make reasonable efforts to communicate material changes.
If Freedom Fest itself is cancelled, postponed or materially changed, ticket-holder options will be communicated in accordance with applicable law and the circumstances of the event.
Refunds and transfers
Freedom Fest tickets may be cancelled for a full refund within 48 hours of purchase.
After 48 hours from the time of purchase, tickets are non-refundable, except where required by law or where Freedom Fest is cancelled or materially changed in circumstances that give you a legal right to a refund.
Tickets may be transferred to another person up to 48 hours before the event. To request a transfer, contact info@freedomfest.now with your booking details and the name and email address of the new attendee.
Refund or transfer requests made outside these periods will be considered at our discretion and cannot be guaranteed.
Nothing in this policy affects your statutory rights.
Behaviour and safety
Freedom Fest is intended to be welcoming to people with different backgrounds and viewpoints.
Attendees are expected to behave lawfully and respectfully toward other attendees, speakers, staff, volunteers, venue personnel and participating organisations.
We reserve the right to refuse admission or remove someone where reasonably necessary for safety, serious disruption, harassment, unlawful behaviour or a significant breach of event rules.
Photography and recording
Photography, audio recording and filming may take place at Freedom Fest for event, editorial and promotional purposes.
Where practical, information will be displayed at the event where organised filming is taking place.
If you have a particular concern about appearing in event photography or footage, contact the Freedom Fest team.
External websites and services
This website contains links to services and websites operated by other organisations.
We are not responsible for the content, availability, security or privacy practices of independent third-party websites.
Website content
We aim to keep information on freedomfest.now accurate and current, but event information may change as the programme develops.
Unless otherwise stated, Freedom Fest branding, original website copy and original event materials may not be reproduced commercially without permission.
Liability
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.
Freedom Fest is not responsible for losses caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control or by a visitor’s reliance on independent third-party websites or services.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Contact
Questions about these terms or Freedom Fest can be sent to:
