Privacy policy

Last updated 24 October 2026

This policy explains how FilmElo (“we”, “us”) collects, uses and shares personal data when you use filmelo.com, and the choices you have about it.

What we collect

  • Account details: your username, email address and password, and the preferences you set, such as whether you want news emails.
  • Your activity on FilmElo: your votes, the films you mark as seen or not seen, and how you use the site.
  • Device and usage information: such as your IP address, browser and device type, and the pages you visit, collected automatically, including through cookies.
  • What you send us: anything you choose to tell us, for example through the contact form.

You need to give a username, email address and password to create an account. Without them, we can’t create one.

Cookies

FilmElo uses cookies and similar technologies, such as your browser’s local storage. Some of these are essential, and the site can’t work without them: they remember which films you have marked as seen or not seen, keep track of the matchup you are voting on, keep you signed in, and protect the site and your account from forged requests and abuse. Because the site needs them to work, they don’t require your consent.

We, and the providers we work with, may also use cookies for other purposes, such as understanding how the site is used. Where the law requires it, we ask for your consent first. These providers may collect information about your activity on FilmElo and on other websites over time.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser’s settings. If you block essential cookies, parts of the site, such as voting, remembering your films and signing in, won’t work. Some browsers send “Do Not Track” signals. There is no agreed standard for these, so FilmElo doesn’t currently respond to them.

How we use it

We use personal data to:

  • run FilmElo: record votes, build the rankings, save the films you mark, and show you your history and personal rankings;
  • run your account, send the emails it needs, and send news about FilmElo if you ask for it;
  • keep FilmElo secure and fair, including by detecting and preventing spam, automated voting and other abuse;
  • understand how FilmElo is used, and improve it;
  • meet legal obligations, and protect the rights of FilmElo, its users and others.

Our legal bases for this are: contract, to provide FilmElo and your account; our legitimate interests in running, securing, understanding and improving FilmElo, balanced against your rights; your consent, where we ask for it, such as for news emails or non-essential cookies; and legal obligation, where the law requires it.

We don’t make decisions about you based solely on automated processing that have legal or similarly significant effects.

Who we share it with

  • Service providers who help us run FilmElo, such as those that host, deliver and secure the site, send emails, and provide analytics.
  • Authorities and others, where the law requires it, or where it’s needed to protect the rights, property or safety of FilmElo, its users or others.
  • A buyer or successor, if FilmElo or part of it is sold or transferred.

Some of these may process personal data outside your country, including outside the UK and the European Economic Area. Where the law requires it, these transfers are protected by appropriate safeguards.

This policy doesn’t cover other websites that FilmElo links to.

How long we keep it

We keep personal data for as long as we need it for the purposes in this policy. Account details are kept while your account is open. When you delete your account, your votes stay in the rankings in a form that no longer identifies you, because the rankings are built from them.

We may keep some information for longer where the law requires it, or to resolve disputes, prevent abuse or enforce our terms. Deleted data can also remain in backups for a limited time.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, including in the UK, the EU and some US states, you may have the right to access, correct or delete your personal data, to receive a copy of it, to object to or restrict how we use it, to opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, and to withdraw any consent you have given. These rights have exceptions and limits.

You can change many of your details, and delete your account, from your profile. For any other request, use the contact form. We may need to confirm your identity before we act. If we decline a request, you can ask us to reconsider it.

You can also complain to the data protection authority where you live.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal data. But no website, and no way of sending data over the internet, is completely secure, so we can’t guarantee the security of the information you send us.

Children

FilmElo isn’t meant for children under 13, and we don’t knowingly collect personal data from them. If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal data, use the contact form and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed. If a change is significant, we may also tell account holders by email or on the site. If you keep using FilmElo after a change, the updated policy applies.

Contact

For questions about this policy or your personal data, use the contact form.