Legal

Cookie Policy

This policy explains how GDS ("we", "our", "us") uses cookies and similar technologies such as local storage on our website and web app (the "Platform"), and how you can control them.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. This policy also covers local storage and session storage — browser technologies that work similarly to cookies by storing small amounts of data on your device.

We refer to all of these together as "cookies" throughout this policy.

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies only where they are necessary to make the Platform work. Specifically, to:

Keep you signed in as you move between pages
Remember your display preferences, such as light or dark mode
Remember your cookie choice so we don't ask on every visit
Hold short-lived state while an administrator is viewing an account for support purposes

We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not track you across other websites.

3. The Cookies We Set

All of the following are strictly necessary — the Platform cannot function correctly without them.

Name	Purpose	Expires
`firebase:authUser:*`	Keeps you signed in. Set by Google Firebase Authentication. Without it you would be signed out on every page load.	Until you sign out
`gds-cookie-consent`	Records your choice on the cookie banner so we don't ask again.	Until cleared
`admin-theme`	Remembers whether you chose light or dark mode.	Until cleared
`gds-liquid-glass`	Remembers your visual style preference.	Until cleared
`instructor_schedule_*`	Caches an instructor's timetable locally so the schedule loads quickly.	Until cleared
`instructor-start-checklist-seen-*`	Remembers that you have dismissed the getting-started checklist.	Until cleared
`exclusive_offers`	Caches partner offers so they display without a delay.	Until cleared
`adminViewingMode`, `adminViewingUserId`, `adminViewingUserRole`	Session-only. Set when an administrator views an account to provide support. Cleared automatically when the browser tab closes.	End of session

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some services we rely on may set their own cookies, governed by their own policies rather than ours:

Stripe — when you make a payment, you are taken to Stripe's secure checkout. Stripe sets cookies for fraud prevention and to process your payment. See Stripe's own cookie policy.
Google Firebase — provides our authentication and database. See Google's privacy and cookie policies.

We have no control over cookies set by these third parties.

5. Your Choices

Because every cookie we set is strictly necessary, choosing "Necessary only" on our banner does not currently disable anything — we are simply being transparent about what is stored. If we ever introduce optional cookies, they will not be set unless you agree to them first.

You can clear or block cookies at any time through your browser settings. Please note that blocking them will sign you out and may stop parts of the Platform from working.

Selecting "Change cookie settings" clears your saved choice and shows the banner again.