Muswada Cookie Policy

Last updated: August 2026

This cookie policy informs you about how Muswada uses cookies and similar technologies on its website. We are committed to respecting your privacy and giving you full control over the use of these technologies.

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ARTICLE 1: What is a cookie?

1.1 Definition

A cookie is a small text file stored on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) when you visit a website. It allows the site to remember information about your visit, such as your preferred language or other settings.

1.2 Similar technologies

In addition to cookies, we also use:

• LocalStorage: Local data storage in your browser (more persistent than cookies)
• SessionStorage: Temporary data storage for the duration of your browsing session
• Authentication tokens: Data that maintains your secure connection

1.3 How they work

Cookies can be:

• First-party cookies: Set directly by Muswada
• Third-party cookies: Set by external services we use (e.g., Stripe for payments)

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ARTICLE 2: Types of cookies used

2.1 Classification by purpose

Muswada uses exclusively the following cookie categories:

2.2 What Muswada does not use, and the only advertising tracker used

Important: Muswada commits to NOT using:

• Google Analytics cookies or other third-party audience analytics tools
• Any advertising tracker loaded without your prior explicit consent

The only advertising tracker used by Muswada is the Meta Pixel (Article 3.5). It is used exclusively to measure the effectiveness of Muswada's own advertising campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. It is never loaded without your acceptance via the consent banner, and you can withdraw that consent at any time (Article 5.2).

Muswada's reading audience measurement (Article 3.4) is, for its part, performed in-house, using a self-hosted, first-party anonymous identifier, without any third-party analytics tool. The Meta Pixel plays no part in it, and refusing the pixel has no effect whatsoever on it.

This policy reflects our commitment to protecting your privacy and respecting your personal data.

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ARTICLE 3: Detailed list of cookies

3.1 Essential Cookies (always active)

These cookies are strictly necessary for website operation and cannot be disabled. They do not store any personally identifiable information beyond your session.

Legal basis: These cookies are necessary for the performance of the contract (service provision) in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR and are exempt from consent under Article 5(3) of the e-Privacy Directive.

3.2 Functional Cookies (preferences)

These cookies remember your reading preferences and improve your user experience. They are only activated with your consent.

Legal basis: User consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

3.3 Technical Cookies (notifications)

These technical elements enable push notification functionality.

Legal basis: Explicit user consent when activating notifications.

3.4 Reading audience measurement (anonymous identifier)

In order to produce reliable reading statistics, Muswada stores an anonymous reading identifier in your browser's localStorage. This identifier is randomly generated by your browser: it is not derived from any characteristic of your device (no "fingerprinting" technique is used).

This identifier:

• is used only for non-logged-in readers; if you are logged in, it is not sent to our servers;
• is never linked to a user account: a browser's anonymous reading history cannot be tied to an identity;
• is used exclusively to produce aggregated, anonymous statistics, for Muswada's exclusive account — including the aggregated counters shown to authors and the use of these aggregates, among other criteria, in the platform's programs for authors;
• is used for no advertising, no targeting, no tracking of your browsing on other websites, and is never shared with third parties.

You can delete this identifier at any time by clearing your browser data (see Article 5.3). A new identifier, with no link whatsoever to the previous one, will then be generated during your next anonymous reading; the statistical history associated with the old identifier becomes permanently orphaned.

As it is exempt from consent, this identifier is not managed through the consent banner (just like the essential cookies in Article 3.1).

Legal basis: This tracker, strictly limited to audience measurement for the exclusive account of the publisher, is exempt from prior consent in accordance with Article 5(3) of the e-Privacy Directive and the supervisory authorities' guidelines on audience measurement (notably Article 82 of the French Data Protection Act and the CNIL guidelines). The processing of the associated data is based on our legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR).

3.5 Meta Pixel (advertising)

As part of its advertising campaigns on Facebook and Instagram, Muswada uses the Meta Pixel, a tool provided by Meta. This pixel is never loaded without your explicit consent: until you have accepted it via the consent banner, no Meta script is executed and no Meta cookie is set.

Once you have consented, the pixel sends the following events to Meta: "PageView" (viewing a page) and "CompleteRegistration" (creating an account), together with technical data (address of the page visited, IP address, browser characteristics, _fbp cookie). No form or account data is transmitted: neither your email address, nor your name, nor any other data from your profile (no "advanced matching" is enabled).

Legal basis: your prior consent, in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Article 5(3) of the e-Privacy Directive.

Joint controllership: for the collection of this data and its transmission to Meta, Maonoo, LLC and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (4 Merrion Road, Dublin 4, Ireland) act as joint controllers (within the meaning of the CJEU's case law, "Fashion ID" judgment, C-40/17). This joint controllership is governed by Meta's Controller Addendum: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. Meta is solely responsible for the subsequent processing it carries out on this data.

Transfers outside the EU: data collected by the pixel may be transferred by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to Meta Platforms, Inc. (United States); these transfers are governed by Meta's Standard Contractual Clauses.

Withdrawal of consent: you can withdraw your consent at any time, as easily as you gave it, via the "Manage cookies" link at the bottom of each page (Article 5.2). The pixel will then no longer be loaded; you can also delete the _fbp cookie via your browser settings (Article 5.3). Withdrawal has no effect on your access to the service.

For more information about how Meta processes your data: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy

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ARTICLE 4: Third-party cookies

4.1 Stripe (Payments)

When you make a payment on Muswada, our payment provider Stripe may set session cookies to:

• Secure the transaction
• Prevent fraud
• Maintain payment process integrity

Note: Muswada never stores your credit card data. All payment information is processed directly by Stripe, which is PCI-DSS certified.

4.2 Firebase Cloud Messaging (Notifications)

Firebase is used for push notification management. Unlike traditional cookies, Firebase uses your browser's localStorage to store your device's identification token.

Note: No cookies are set by Firebase. The FCM token is stored only in localStorage and is not shared with third parties.

4.3 Meta (advertising pixel)

If you have consented to it, the Meta Pixel script sets the _fbp cookie described in Article 3.5.

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ARTICLE 5: Cookie management

5.1 Consent banner

On your first visit to Muswada, a consent banner allows you to:

• Accept all cookies: Activates all cookies (essential + functional + Meta advertising pixel)
• Reject optional cookies: Only essential and exempt cookies remain active; the Meta Pixel is not loaded

5.2 Modifying your choices

You can modify your preferences at any time:

1. Via the website: Click the "Manage cookies" link at the bottom of each page — your choice is cleared and the consent banner is shown to you again
2. Via your browser: Use your browser's privacy settings

5.3 Disabling via browser

You can configure your browser to block or delete cookies. Here's how to proceed depending on your browser:

Google Chrome:

1. Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
2. Choose your preferences

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
2. Manage exceptions

Safari:

1. Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
2. Select your preferences

Microsoft Edge:

1. Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data
2. Configure your preferences

5.4 Consequences of disabling

Essential Cookies: If you block essential cookies via your browser, some website features will no longer be accessible:

• Inability to maintain your login
• Loss of language preferences between sessions

Functional Cookies: Disabling these cookies does not affect access to the site but:

• Your reading theme preferences will not be remembered
• Your preferred font size will need to be reset with each visit

Meta Pixel: Refusing or withdrawing your consent to the Meta Pixel (Article 3.5) has no consequence on access to the site or its features.

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ARTICLE 6: Consent

6.1 Principle of prior consent

In accordance with e-Privacy Directive 2002/58/EC and the GDPR, Muswada obtains your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.

Exceptions: strictly necessary cookies (Article 3.1) and the exempt audience measurement tracker (Article 3.4) do not require prior consent.

6.2 Characteristics of consent

Your consent must be:

• Freely given: You can refuse without any negative consequence on access to the main service
• Specific: You can choose the cookie categories you accept
• Informed: You are informed of the purpose of each cookie before consenting
• Unambiguous: Your acceptance results from a clear affirmative action (clicking "Accept")

6.3 Withdrawal of consent

You can withdraw your consent at any time, as easily as you gave it. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent performed before such withdrawal.

6.4 Validity period of consent

In accordance with data protection authority recommendations, your consent is valid for a period of 13 months. After this period, we will request your consent again.

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ARTICLE 7: Regulatory compliance

7.1 e-Privacy Directive (2002/58/EC)

Muswada complies with the requirements of the e-Privacy Directive concerning:

• Prior information about cookie use
• Obtaining consent for non-essential cookies
• The ability to refuse or withdraw consent

7.2 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Data collected via cookies is processed in accordance with the GDPR. You have the following rights:

• Right of access to your data
• Right to rectification
• Right to erasure
• Right to data portability
• Right to object

To exercise these rights, please see our Privacy Policy.

7.3 California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

• Right to know: What data is collected and how it is used
• Right to deletion: Request deletion of your data
• Right to opt-out of sale: Muswada does not sell your personal data

Note: Muswada does not sell any personal data to third parties.

If you have consented to the Meta Pixel (Article 3.5), the transmission of browsing data to Meta may constitute "sharing" within the meaning of the CPRA for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes. This sharing only occurs with your prior explicit opt-in consent, and you may refuse it or end it at any time via the "Manage cookies" link (Article 5.2), which constitutes the exercise of your right to opt out.

7.4 Other legislation

Muswada strives to comply with applicable data protection legislation in the countries where the service is accessible, including:

• LGPD (Brazil)
• POPIA (South Africa)
• Law No. 2017-20 of April 20, 2018 on the Digital Code of the Republic of Benin

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ARTICLE 8: Policy modifications

8.1 Updates

Muswada may modify this cookie policy at any time to:

• Reflect changes in our use of cookies
• Comply with legislative and regulatory developments
• Improve transparency towards our users

8.2 Notification of changes

In case of substantial modification, we will inform you:

• Through a visible notification on the website
• By email if you are a registered member
• By displaying a new consent banner if necessary

8.3 Update date

The date of the last update is indicated at the top of this document.

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ARTICLE 9: Contact

9.1 Questions about cookies

For any questions regarding our use of cookies, you can contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Postal address: Maonoo, LLC, Dandji Lot 649, Cotonou, Benin

9.2 Data Protection Officer

For questions regarding the protection of your personal data:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject: Please mention "Data protection - Cookies"

9.3 Supervisory authority

If you believe your rights are not being respected, you can lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority in your country of residence.

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ARTICLE 10: Summary table

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Maonoo, LLC - Publisher of Muswada Dandji Lot 649, Cotonou, Benin https://www.muswada.com