Cookie Policy

Last updated: May 31, 2026

This policy describes the cookies and browser storage actually used by The Neural Network today. We do not use any third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

1. What Are Cookies (and Local Storage)?

Cookies are small text files that a website asks your browser to store. Closely related is "local storage," a similar browser facility we also use to remember a few things between page loads (your sign-in state, mainly).

We use only first-party cookies and local storage — meaning data set by The Neural Network itself, never by any third-party advertising or tracking network. The full list of what we set is below.

2. What We Set

2.1 Essential — account & sign-in

nn_refresh_token (localStorage)

A long-lived authentication token. Lets you stay signed in across page reloads without re-entering your password. Expires after 30 days. Cleared when you sign out.

nn_user_data (localStorage)

A cached copy of your username, email, and verification status so the Navbar can render correctly on the first paint after a reload. Cleared on sign out.

These are necessary for the sign-in experience to work. If you sign out or clear your browser's local storage for the site, you'll need to log back in.

2.2 Anonymous analytics

Session ID (rotating cookie)

A short-lived, randomly-generated identifier used to count distinct browsing sessions for our internal analytics (e.g. how many people visited the MLB page today). The ID rotates each session and is not tied to your account, your IP address, or your user agent string — none of which we store alongside it.

We use this to understand what features people are using. There is no opt-out mechanism today because there is nothing personally identifiable to opt out of; if you're concerned, blocking cookies for the site removes it entirely without breaking the anonymous browsing experience.

3. What We Do NOT Set

  • No advertising cookies. No Google Analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no ad-tech retargeting, no DSP/SSP integrations.
  • No social-share trackers. Any external links open in a new tab without third-party share widgets.
  • No browser fingerprinting. We do not store IP addresses, user-agent strings, screen sizes, font lists, or any of the other common fingerprint inputs alongside your identity.
  • No cross-site tracking. Our cookies are all first-party; they cannot follow you to other sites.

4. Managing Cookies

You can clear or block cookies and local storage from your browser settings at any time. The exact steps depend on your browser:

  • Chrome / Edge: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  • Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data

Blocking the essential cookies will sign you out and prevent staying signed in. Blocking the analytics cookie does not affect any user-facing functionality.

5. Server-side Caching (not cookies)

Independent of your browser, our servers cache sports data (scores, standings, AI picks, etc.) to reduce load on third-party APIs and keep the site fast. This server-side caching is not personally identifiable and does not involve your browser storing anything.

6. Changes to This Policy

If we ever add new cookies (e.g. integrate an email-newsletter tool, payment processor, or other third-party that requires browser storage), we'll update this list and the "Last updated" date above. We will never silently introduce advertising or tracking cookies.

7. Contact Us

Email: privacy@theneuralnetwork.org