Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which ones Branel Journal uses, how long each one lasts, and how a reader can manage or withdraw their choices. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which describes how the underlying information is handled more broadly, and with our Terms of Service, which describe the basis on which the website may be used.
1. Purpose and scope of this policy
This document applies to every page of the Branel website and to the consent banner that appears when a reader first visits the site. It sets out, in specific terms, the names of the cookies in use, the party responsible for each one, how long each cookie remains on a device, and the purpose it serves. It does not cover cookies that might be set by a separate website a reader chooses to visit after following a link from one of our articles, since those cookies fall outside our control and are governed by that other website's own policy. This policy is written to apply consistently regardless of which device or browser a reader uses to access the site, whether that is a desktop computer, a tablet, or a mobile handset, and it is reviewed whenever the underlying technical setup of the website changes.
2. What a cookie is
A cookie is a small text record that a website asks a browser to store, so that the website can recognise the browser on a later visit or during the course of a single browsing session. Cookies cannot, by themselves, read files on a device or install software, and the cookies used on this website do not collect a reader's name unless the reader has separately submitted it through the contact form. Some of the records described below are technically "local storage" entries rather than cookies in the strictest sense, but we describe them together here for clarity, since they serve a comparable purpose and are managed through the same browser settings. A cookie typically consists of a name, a value, an expiry date, and the domain that set it, and this policy lists each of those elements for every record used on this site.
3. Categories of cookies used on this website
Branel groups the records used on this site into three categories: a session cookie needed for basic page functioning, a consent cookie that remembers the choice made in the banner, and an optional analytics cookie that is only active once a reader has given consent. The table below lists each one by name, category, typical lifespan, and the provider responsible for it. This grouping mirrors the three buttons presented in the consent banner itself, so that a reader can match each choice in the banner to the specific record it controls, and no cookie on this site falls outside one of these three categories.
| Cookie name | Category | Lifespan | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| branel_session | Session (necessary) | Until the browser is closed | Branel, first-party |
| branel_consent | Preference (necessary) | 180 days | Branel, first-party |
| branel_analytics | Analytics (optional) | 13 months | Branel's analytics provider, set on our behalf |
4. Session cookie: branel_session
The branel_session cookie is a first-party record that supports ordinary page-to-page continuity while a reader is browsing the site, for example keeping the mobile navigation menu behaving consistently as a reader moves between pages. It does not contain a password, a payment detail, or any personally identifying value beyond a randomly generated session marker. This cookie is automatically removed once the browser is closed and is treated as strictly necessary for the website to function, so it is not part of the optional choices presented in the consent banner. Because it does not track a reader across separate visits, it plays no role in building any longer-term profile of browsing behaviour, and it is never combined with the contents of a contact form submission.
5. Consent cookie: branel_consent
The branel_consent cookie records the choice a reader makes in the cookie banner, specifically whether they accepted all cookies, selected a partial or functional-only option, or otherwise indicated a preference. It lasts for 180 days, after which the banner will appear again so the reader can confirm or change their choice. This cookie exists so that returning readers are not shown the same banner on every single page during a normal browsing session, which would otherwise interrupt the reading experience. A reader can clear this cookie through their browser settings at any time, which will cause the banner to reappear on the next visit so a fresh choice can be made, and clearing it has no effect on any other cookie described in this policy.
6. Analytics cookie: branel_analytics
The branel_analytics cookie is optional and is only set if a reader actively accepts analytics cookies in the consent banner. When active, it lasts for 13 months and supports aggregated statistics such as the number of page views, a general device category, and which page referred a visitor to the site. Branel uses these figures to understand, in broad terms, which topics and articles are being read, so that future editorial planning can reflect actual readership interest. This cookie does not record a reader's name, email address, or the content of any message submitted through the contact form, and the resulting statistics are reviewed in aggregate rather than at the level of an individual visit. If a reader later withdraws consent, this cookie is deleted from their browser the next time the banner preference is updated.
7. Preference and local storage records
Beyond the three cookies listed above, a reader's browser may retain small local storage entries connected with basic display settings, such as whether the mobile menu was left open or closed during a session. Branel's publication language is English throughout, so there is no separate language-preference profile stored for individual readers. Any such local entries are limited to what is needed for a consistent page experience and are not combined with contact form submissions or used to build an advertising profile. These entries are cleared using the same browser controls a reader would use to clear cookies generally, and none of them persist beyond the lifespan of the browser's own local storage settings for this site.
8. Third-party cookie providers
Where a reader accepts analytics cookies, the branel_analytics cookie described in Section 6 is administered by an external analytics provider acting on Branel's behalf, under the terms described in our Privacy Policy. That provider may also set its own short-lived technical cookies as part of delivering the analytics service, in line with its own published documentation. Branel does not currently embed third-party advertising networks, social media "like" buttons, or embedded video players that would set additional third-party cookies on article pages; if that changes in the future, this policy will be updated accordingly and the update will be reflected in the revision history in Section 14. We periodically review our list of technical providers to confirm that no additional cookies have been introduced without our knowledge.
9. International transfers connected with cookies
Because the analytics provider referenced above operates infrastructure in multiple locations, aggregated statistics gathered through the branel_analytics cookie may be processed on servers located outside Indonesia. Branel selects providers that maintain documented confidentiality and security commitments in their published terms of service, consistent with the approach described in our Privacy Policy. No individually identifying reader information is transferred through this mechanism, since the analytics data is aggregated rather than tied to a specific name or contact detail. Readers who would like more detail about where a particular provider processes this aggregated data may contact us using the details in Section 12.
10. Browser-level controls and settings
In addition to the consent banner on this website, every modern browser provides its own settings for viewing, blocking, or deleting cookies, and these controls apply across all websites a reader visits, not just Branel. A reader using a desktop browser can typically find these settings under a privacy or security menu, where individual cookies can be inspected by domain and removed one at a time or all at once. A reader using a mobile browser will usually find a comparable option under the browser's own privacy settings, sometimes combined with a general option to clear browsing data. Blocking cookies at the browser level, rather than through our consent banner, will also affect other websites the reader visits, so we recommend using the in-page "Cookie Settings" link described in Section 11 for choices specific to Branel.
11. How to manage or withdraw cookie consent
A reader can change their cookie choice at any time by selecting the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of any page, which reopens the consent banner and allows a new selection to be made. Most browsers also allow a reader to view, delete, or block cookies through their own settings menu, though blocking the necessary session or consent cookies may affect how smoothly certain page elements, such as the mobile navigation menu, behave. Withdrawing consent for analytics cookies does not affect the lawfulness of any aggregated statistics already collected before the withdrawal, but it will stop new analytics data from being recorded for that browser going forward. We recommend that a reader revisit this choice periodically, particularly after any update to this policy noted in the revision history below.
12. Complaints and contact procedure
Questions or concerns about cookies used on this website can be sent to [email protected], raised by telephone at +62 21 2184 7206 during office hours, or sent by post to Jalan MH Thamrin No. 1, 10340 Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia. We aim to acknowledge a cookie-related query within five business days and to provide a substantive response within thirty calendar days. Readers who remain unsatisfied after our response retain the right to raise the matter with the competent Indonesian data protection authority, as described in our Privacy Policy, and we will provide the relevant contact details for that authority on request.
13. Relationship to our other published policies
This Cookie Policy is one of three linked documents that together describe how Branel operates this website, alongside the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service. Where this policy refers to the handling of personal data more broadly, such as retention periods for contact form submissions, the more detailed approach appears in the Privacy Policy rather than being repeated here in full. Where a reader has a question that touches on more than one of these documents, our editorial office will coordinate a single combined response rather than asking the reader to raise the same question separately under each policy. We encourage readers to review all three documents together for a complete picture of our practices.
14. Revision history
| Date | Summary of change |
|---|---|
| 18 August 2026 | Added Section 10 on browser-level controls and Section 13 clarifying the relationship between our three published policies. |
| 12 February 2026 | Added the cookie table in Section 3 and expanded the description of the analytics provider in Section 8. |
| 3 October 2025 | Clarified the distinction between cookies and local storage entries in Section 7. |
| 18 April 2025 | Initial publication of this Cookie Policy alongside the launch of the website. |
This page is reviewed alongside the Privacy Policy whenever the website's technical setup changes, and the update date at the top of this page reflects the most recent substantive revision.