Privacy
Privacy Policy & KVKK Notice
Last updated: 29 September 2026
This notice explains how personal data is processed on tolgaakay.com, in line with Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (“KVKK”).
1. Data controller
The data controller is Tolga Akay. This is a personal website. Contact: [email protected]
2. Data processed
- Contact form and transition risk check: name, email address, topic, herd size, your answers and any information you include in your message (e.g. farm and herd details).
- Newsletter: email address, optionally your name, and the record and date of your consent.
- Member access requests and member login: name, email address, profession, farm or organisation and your note; if access is approved, the password given to you. In the site’s member file your email address is stored only as an unreadable hash and your password is used only as an encryption key, never stored in plain text.
- Ask Tolga questions: the question text, topic and, optionally, your name, email address and farm details. Selected questions are published on the site with your name, contact details and any identifying details removed.
- Site assistant (Rumi): the text of your question, the assistant’s answer, the page, language and time. No IP address, name or contact details are stored; please do not share personal data in your questions. Answers are generated with Cloudflare Workers AI.
- Direct messages: your contact details and message content when you write by email or WhatsApp.
- Technical data: when you visit the site, the hosting provider may process server logs such as IP address, browser information and access time for security and performance.
3. Purposes
- Answering your questions and consulting requests, preparing offers and delivering consulting services,
- Sending the newsletter if you subscribe,
- Reviewing member access requests and giving members access to members-only resources,
- Answering Ask Tolga questions and publishing them as anonymous questions and answers,
- Keeping the site secure and working properly,
- Meeting legal obligations.
4. Legal bases
| Processing | Legal basis (KVKK Art. 5) |
|---|---|
| Contact and consulting requests | Necessary to enter into or perform a contract; legitimate interest |
| Newsletter | Explicit consent |
| Ask Tolga questions | Explicit consent (tick boxes in the form) |
| Member access requests and membership | Necessary to enter into or perform a contract |
| Technical server logs | Legitimate interest |
5. Sharing and transfers abroad
Your data is never sold or shared with third parties for marketing. The site relies on these service providers:
- FormSubmit (formsubmit.co): delivering form messages by email
- Google (Gmail, Google Fonts): email and web fonts
- Cloudflare: website hosting, DNS and cookie-free, non-identifying visit statistics (Cloudflare Web Analytics; aggregate data such as page views, country and browser type)
- Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore): member accounts; name, email, profession, organisation, note and approval status are stored; for applicants to the Uludağ Animal Science student programme, the student flag, year/level and university email address (which contains the student number) are processed only to verify student status and grant programme privileges. Your password is never visible to us
- WhatsApp / Meta: only if you choose to write via WhatsApp
- Open-Meteo (open-meteo.com): in the heat stress tool, your browser requests the weather forecast for the location you choose directly from this service; only the location and your IP address are sent, and nothing is stored on this site
Because these providers’ servers are located abroad (mainly in the USA), your data is transferred abroad under KVKK Art. 9. Your explicit consent to this transfer is requested in the contact, newsletter, member access request and Ask Tolga forms through the separate Explicit Consent Statement. Data may be disclosed to competent authorities where required by law.
6. Retention
- Contact messages: up to 2 years after your request is closed, or for the periods required by law if a consulting relationship is formed.
- Newsletter data: for as long as you remain subscribed; deleted when you unsubscribe.
- Ask Tolga questions: contact details of unanswered questions are deleted within 1 year at the latest; published questions contain no identifying details.
- Questions asked to the site assistant: deleted automatically after 180 days.
- Membership data: for as long as your membership lasts; deleted within 1 year at the latest after membership ends or if your request is not approved.
7. Your rights (KVKK Art. 11)
You may ask whether your data is processed and request information about it; learn the purpose of processing and the third parties it is transferred to; request correction, deletion or destruction; object to results produced solely by automated processing; and claim compensation for damage caused by unlawful processing. You may withdraw your consent at any time.
8. How to apply
Send your request to [email protected]. Requests are answered free of charge within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK Kurulu).
9. Changes
This notice may be updated; the current version is always published on this page.