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ELEVEN YEARS AGO, I went into hospital to give birth to my first child – the first of three sons (the daughter came later).
During labour, a midwife told me to stop screaming.
“Black people are strong. They don’t feel pain as much as the rest of us,” she said.
I’ve broken my leg since and waited for over seven hours to go to the hospital because ‘black people shouldn’t feel pain’.
That same son has cried and I’ve wondered, ‘Why are you crying, black people don’t feel pain.’
The nurse told me I shouldn’t scream. Maybe she’s right? After all, she’s the nurse. I’m just the 18-year-old kid. I have carried that with me. It’s embedded in me. Remember, this wasn’t an isolated incident, a once-in-a-lifetime remark. We have internalised this hate, and the blame.
When that son was eight years old, when he still believed in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, he was told by another child at school that ‘black people don’t amount to anything’. He was told black people aren’t loved.
He has been called the n-word.
In those 11 years (between having my son and talking to him recently about black and white), I’ve had my windscreen smashed, my windows broken, eggs thrown at my car, the n-word scrawled on my door.
The guards told me it was ‘fine’. “It was just teenagers,” they’d say.
Incidents that keep you questioning your own sanity.
So many things happen to us, we don’t talk about them all. But when we do, we’re gaslighted by white people who aren’t paying attention.
“Sure, that’s not that bad.”
“Are you sure it was racism though?”
“I’m only messing.”
We – black people – have been silenced for so long. The oppressor has constantly and consistently told us our experiences aren’t valid.
We’ve been silenced for so long that speaking up doesn’t seem to make sense anymore.
A lot of black people have accepted this fate. It’s a defence mechanism – to just let the remarks, the actions, and the attacks disappear through adopting a forget-about-it attitude.
It can be lonely, then, talking about it all the time. Being stuck in the middle – between white people who don’t listen or believe and black people who say it’s just part of life – because I don’t want to accept being treated as a lesser person because of how I look.
It’s a lonely place. It can be hard to breathe.
A switch flipped
Seeing that police man standing on George Floyd’s neck, that’s an image of what it feels like living in Ireland sometimes.
Racism stops us from breathing. When it happens over and over, and people don’t want to listen, it’s hard to breathe.
A knee on a black man’s neck – and then white people got angry alongside us. Somehow, George Floyd wasn’t just another black man murdered. The world saw it and got furious.
Everyone was with me. So in a way, I was given permission to not just be angry, but to also express my anger because white people were feeling it too. They had joined us in our emotions.
And in a way, just like everything else in life, they gave us permission to grieve.They gave me permission to acknowledge that what happened that day in Minneapolis was wrong.
Even in Ireland, the police man took his foot off the neck of the black man. White people have allowed us to breathe for the first time in a long time.
I’ve never spoken about this before but now I can share with you that when I was in school, the entire class went to Paris without telling me – the only black girl. I find that embarrassing now. I don’t want people to know that I was ostracised that much. It’s a shame on me – so I didn’t talk about it.
I can recall that conversation I had in college when I was asked why black migrant communities aren’t as welcoming as Polish ones. About how I queried if the white person blaming me had ever made any attempt to include his black neighbours. (He hadn’t.)
I can write about unspoken ways we mind each other. How if I get on a bus and there’s another black woman on board, I’ll sit beside her because otherwise the bus might fill up around her – except her neighbouring seat will remain empty. Because people might think she smells ‘ethnic’ or they won’t feel their bag is safe.
I can admit – out loud – that my first year studying for my Masters in Trinity as the only black student in my class was the longest year of my life.
The reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement in Ireland is giving us a green light to speak out now. But that in itself is hitting, and hurting, us deeply too. What about when it was one of our own? Where was the outrage? When 16-year-old Mia O’Neill died by suicide and her mother talked about the racist abuse she had endured, where was the anger?
Her mother said she was always being told to go back to Africa even though she was Irish. She let us know that people would make monkey faces and noises at her teenage daughter. Where were the protests? Why didn’t you want to listen? Why didn’t you want to dig deeper? Why wouldn’t you sit with those uncomfortable truths?
But now the world is watching. The world is angry. So now you want us to tell you. Now you want to listen. Now you want us to know we matter.
Because you’ve seen the knee on our necks. You can’t pretend you don’t know. You have heard us say we can’t breathe.
And that gives me hope. Yes, the anger is still there, but there is also hope.
Maybe now when there is a job that I deserve, my name won’t sound wrong. My accent won’t sound wrong. The way I look won’t be wrong. The fact that I’m a black woman won’t be wrong.
I might walk into an office and see people like me – black people – in positions of power. My children might see people on television who are black. They might know that black people write books.
Maybe you won’t see me – dismiss me – as a loud black woman when I’m telling you about a racist attack, or that someone hasn’t understood their own white privilege.
Maybe my children will go to all the birthday parties, and the Paris trips.
Maybe.
But that will all only happen if people address the elephant in the room and speak about their privileges and biases.
To Irish white people – and there are amazing white Irish people – I say: Listen. Don’t defend. Don’t be loud. Just sit with it. Once you’ve sat with it, think about how to organise to make it better. How can you use your voice and your presence and your privilege to change things?
Include us. Don’t ask to pick my brain, and not invite me into your organisation. Don’t talk on my behalf. Don’t use my brain, and my work, and my intelligence to benefit yourself.
Are you walking into an office with all white people? That’s not right. You know it’s not right. And, now, there’s no excuse. So speak up.
Call out your family and friends if they are being racist – even if they are “only messing”.
Teach your children.
When the Dáil debates racism, wonder – out loud – how they can do it without a black person in the chamber.
When the world isn’t watching anymore, remember that black lives still matter. Remember our stories. Remember we are capable. Keep making noise. Keep supporting us. Keep wanting to change it all.
I’m tired, but I’m not allowed be tired.
I’m full of anger. But I’m also full of hope for the first time.
The leg is off my neck. I’m actually gasping in so much air. I’m just breathing.
Diane Ihirwe is an African-Irish mother and an anti-racism activist. She is waiting to graduate as a Master in Social Work from Trinity College and holds an undergraduate degree in Social Care from TU Dublin. She travelled to the UN in Geneva in December 2019 to advocate on behalf of Asylum Seekers and, in 2014, she co-founded the Young Mother’s Network (YMN), a support group for mothers living in Direct Provision Centres. She has just co-launched Rooted In Africa and Ireland (RIAI), an anti-racism network that aims to build understanding and pride of African Heritage especially for young African-Irish people.
She hopes for an Ireland inclusive of all.
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We are lucky in Ireland with the Garda because they are not racist, and treat every member of the public with fairness and compassion.
@Frances Faller: not according to this woman. She was subject to a racist attack and damaged property and the garda told her ‘it’s just kids’.
@thomas chamney: Yep, the same thing they said to me as a white Irish man as teenagers smashed my windows and damaged my car (albeit I wasn’t called the “N” word). The guard knew nothing would be done to the perpetraitors so they fobbed both Diane and myself off. That’s an issue with the justice system in this country and nothing to do with racism. Having said that, a march to highlight these issues is a good thing, just not when the country has been in lockdown for the last few months, it’s a slap in the face and won’t help bring people along and support the issue.
@Frances Faller: bollocks they do.
@thomas chamney: that says more about the guards than racism because nearly every sort of crime you’ll get the same response from them doesn’t mean their racist just mean they wont do the job that their meant to do.you could get that story from most people that had their property damaged.
@Frances Faller: Agreed!
@thomas chamney: she does not understand children and young teenagers
@Richard Russell: so you know who these people were and they were definitely teenagers. They could be anyone and they could be dangerous, the guards not doing anything about this leaves the woman with that fear.
@matthew o reilly: it’s very hard to find a suspect for criminal damage in a housing estate unless at least one of the neighbours had seen it and can identify the culprit. Also most housing estates do not have CCTV. It’s not that the cops do not want to do anything about this but most of the time their hands are tied without evidence and house to house enquiries rarely amount to anything.
Thank you Diane. I am spending these days listening and reading and talking to my family about what I’ve read and listened to. I’m so glad you feel hopeful. It’s up to all of us now to give you reason to hope.
I think the experience of some in different countries and cultures is being unfairly put upon the Irish people,The majority in this country are not only welcoming but know from our past what it’s like to be discriminated against, in fact in the north it continues to this day, I think a black person would be treated better in some parts than a white southerner, it’s unfair to except the guilt of other nations.
@Dave Nomates: do you really believe that the majority of Irish people are welcoming?
@Dave Nomates: The UN told Ireland we must improve on the issue of Racism, in December 19. Your clearly wrong.
@Dave Nomates: I was made more than once on the ‘foreigner table’ at children birthdays.
There are many good and welcoming Irish but many are very dense.
@8-Bit-Relic: made sit…
@Sam Harms: black ppl have never been repressed in this country to my knowledge any black ppl that have come to live in Ireland come here for a better life?
I’m not saying for a second that they haven’t been racially attacked or abused in some cases but to say or make out that it’s a big Irish problem is wrong,
I mean to my knowledge it’s only been white young fellas that have died in Irish police custody in this country and no one went out to protest or fight for them because you’d hear they had some previous convictions or he has this background so most Irish ppl would say he was a lil scrote he deserved it!
No uproar no protests no nothing!
We all need to remember ppl “race” was created by man.
but we are all ppl men & women no matter what the skin colour.
#abolishracenorascim
@Dave Nomates: the history of irish emigrants to the the US over the years would indicate we just as prone to racism and the exploitation of minorities as anybody. Despite our own history of oppression, we could dish it out to others the same as everyone else.
@8-Bit-Relic: I wonder where was this foreign table and who put you at it?
If it was a birthday party and you were invited by “very dense” Irish ppl there’s a good chance they weren’t racist because I’m pretty sure if they were they quite simply wouldn’t have invited you!
I mean its getting ridiculous you can barely even say someone’s foreign without causing or ppl taking offence i mean look at how your using that the “foreign table” yet Irish go anywhere in the world and you are referred to as foreign all the time. I have never taking offence it’s the correct statement if I’m foreign and I’m in a foreign country I’m a foreigner what’s the problem here?
Snowflakes.
@The Boss: My son doesn’t have an accent and an Irish name. The children were invited before and you invite them back. That’s how it usually goes.
I don’t say it’s everytime and maybe it isn’t intentional but if the Irish are sitting at one side and the Bulgarians, Germans and Estonians on another you could easily that impression.
I mean it’s getting ridiculous, you can’t even write about own experience without someone getting offended.
Snowflake
@8-Bit-Relic: well excuse me!
But you come to live in Ireland then insult some Irish ppl that have kindly invited you & your son to a few kids parties because they made you sit with the other “foreign parents”? (maybe they are thinking of you and they thought you would be more comfortable or had more in common with the other foreign parents)
I mean they are that “dense” like they probably thought you were all from the one country.
then you reply by saying maybe it isnt intentional?? After insulting those parents good enough to include your child?
Irish can’t win don’t invite & you cry they are left out do invite and they insult you by calling you dense and saying you didn’t want them there as you made them sit at another table.
Snowflake!
@Teresa Ryan: “why their countries are such sh.teho.es.” Because colonial powers and now the Chinese exploited theses countries destroying their social structures and allowing war lords to flourish.
@Darren Byrne: too early for big brains..
@Teresa Ryan: 50 years after Ireland got out from under Britain’s thumb this place wasn’t great either. People leaving in their droves searching for a better life. The magdelane laundries were still going strong. They had only just introduced free secondary school, the tenements were collapsing on people.
@Teresa Ryan: the reason most are still under the thumb of their original colonial masters ie the French still control the money in many African countries and all imports have to go through French ports first along with many still paying “debts” through the natural resources you mentioned.
@Darren Byrne: Ireland’s problems were caused by socialist nonsense that crippled our economy. Once we adopted capitalism and opened up to the world we prospered.
And your comment on the social issues is very unfair. Those issues existed in most countries in the world at the time. There would be no excuse for them today.
@8-Bit-Relic: you gravitate to people you feel something common with. My other half is a Western born ethnic minority and talking to people from a similar background is fine. But if I were sitting with people from the country of her parents’ birth, conversation might be a bit stilted. Nothing to do with racism.
@Teresa Ryan: maybe read a history book about colonialism?
@Dave Nomates: Plenty of racists in this country, you just want to turn a blind eye to it.
@Teresa Ryan: “Great weather”??? They may also be prone to diseases like malaria, degue fever etc that we don’t have to worry about or tropical cyclones, locust infestations etc. Living in a hot equatorial region isn’t all cold drinks by the pool!
I think we should all get on one knee for the Catholics up the North. Even Muslims should bow. Imagine.
@Vladimir Macro: We all have our struggles and Irish people have had their fair share over the years but I think it will be very difficult to guilt trip the Irish into this political game. We’ve seen this before.
Even in ireland the policeman took his knee off the black mans neck. Talk of drama.i have seen cops being tough but I think she is exaggerating. I dont think I am racist I dont think any different if your polish, irish,green or black. I dont know whether she is Irish or came to ireland. But for all her complaints dont hear her saying how well she is doing going to Trinity college.I consider myself middle class and struggled to get my kids to college never mind university.
@John Meany: maybe your kids weren’t clever/lucky enough to get into college? maybe that’s the reason, and not some reverse-racism like you’re clearly alluding to.
just a thought. I don’t think I’m a scientist.
@why?: What the hell is reverse-racism??? Racism is racism. Do you think that white people can’t be the victims of racism from black people? Or any other race?
@Sylvia O’Regan: you’d think that would be case but these days intetsectionalist radicals have redefined racism to include power. Therefore since blacks have no political power, they can’t be racist!
It’s not nice that this woman has been subject to racism in ireland. Its not nice for anyone to be subject to racism anywhere in the World. I did volunteer work in Africa and was subject to racism there. Called me yellow girl and unwanted attention from some African men who followed me on the streets shouting, invited me to go places with them, sometimes I had to run away from them.Also 1 time when I fell on the way to work and hurt my arm my african colleague told me white girls cry too much. I think there are misconceptions about race all over the world. There were some lovely people I worked with who I am still in contact with. majority of people I’ve met in the world are not racist. saying that most people are inherently racist is a very dangerous thing to say and sets the wrong tone.
Dear Diane,
Thanks for highlighting your experiences in Ireland. Firstly, I’m sorry that these racial attacks happened to you in our country. Personally, I cannot understand why anyone could do something like this. It doesn’t make sense, but it does happen so we have to take it seriously and call it what it is, a hate crime. This is not the Ireland I want to see. I cannot imagine what I’d do or how I’d feel if such things happened to me or my family.
Like you say, if we are to discuss racial issues and to formulate procedures and policies, we need to listen to each other. Black people need to be part of the discussion, part of the solution.
If we work together we will solve this problem. We are one!!!!
King regards,
Margaret
Diane knows nothing of Ireland or Irish psychic she does not like the natives regard waiting 7 hours with a broken leg people irrespective of colour wait a long time in A and E
@Richard Russell: It’s Irish psyche, a psychic claims to read people’s minds. Anyway it wasn’t the waiting she was complaining about, it was the assumption that black people should be able to tolerate pain better which is groundless. It’s up there with assuming all Irish people must be rampant alcoholics!
Irish Lives matter too, especially the elderly and vulnerable groups in society, so how did it happen that 5000 people were allowed to March in Dublin where we all know the risk of spreading the virus is the highest. What happened to George Floyd was beyond evil , every decent human being was repulsed by his callous murder by a policeman aided and abetted by his colleagues who are now all charged .This does not justify anyone no matter how great the cause to put Irish citizens in danger . We have not been allowed to work, to leave our homes ,bury our dead ,see our Family ,Grandchildren , and yet 5000 people are allowed to break the law and travel from God knows where to demonstrate. There are plenty of ways of showing solidarity and condemning racism. Marching is fine but not now.
@goaskmehoop: he is like a modern Malcolm x
@goaskmehoop: A guy talking a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing.
@goaskmehoop: Interesting video. Thanks. Why don’t we ever hear viewpoints like this in the traditional media? It’s always voices that follow a specific viewpoint. His voice is just as relevant. Especially if he is a real police officer.
@Sylvia O’Regan: as biden said if you don’t vote for me you’re not black. Which is racist AF, candice Owen’s offers a good alternative perspective too. These people would be considered uncle Tom’s though. Black people that don’t buy in to the victimhood culture.
Thank you Diane for being so honest and for sharing your experiences; it cannot have been easy at the time nor now, and it is appreciated.
Commenting to show solidarity; the anonymous comments above do not represent all of us.
Black lives matter; so do the experiences of black people and I’m embarrassed it took some of us this long to get angry, start listening and start getting off our backsides and learning.
Others, I’m afraid, will never try, but I sincerely hope from now on you might feel less isolated.
Diane; I more profoundly sorry than there are words to express about the racism you and your family, and the black Irish community, has faced and faces. Thank you for writing this piece. We must and we will do better . That starts by white people listening, hearing and acknowledging.
Any person that says Ireland is mot racist is either a liar or deluded. Who hasn’t heard someone they know say “ I’m not racist but….” for them to then go on and say something dreadful?? Out of awkwardness, most of us stay silent. This has to stop . We owe it to our children to raise them better…..
@Teresa Ryan: Racism is an Irish issue.
@NotMyIreland: so is misogyny.
@Avril Flynn: Name a country that is less racist than Ireland? Take your time.
@Sylvia O’Regan: How do you know? Maybe Suriname or Finland or Andorra are less racist than Ireland for all you know? There’s no precise measurement for it. There are bound to be some racists in almost every country, it’s naive to think Ireland would be any different.
What the author described is horrible and it eas perceived the way it was expressed.
I reckon that we all could be a little mindful about the people around us. This isn’t a situation in which it’s important who did what as we can’t change that but what we do from now on.
“Somehow, George Floyd wasn’t just another black man murdered. The world saw it and got furious.”
A bit of an exaggeration. Like a lot of people in the world I have more things to be concerned about closer to home than the death of a violent criminal 4000 miles away in another country .
Ireland has transformed immensely in 30 years, especially in relation to racial and ethnic demographics, and now what’s happening in the US, where black men and women are murdered daily by each other and the police, this is used to guilt and shame us into feeling like we are all klansmen, Ireland is still figuring this out, don’t tell us that this is the same as America.
A lot of what happened around the world in societies is tied into the oppressor oppressing the oppressed. Remember in the 1950s the signs in England “No blacks or Irish need apply”. Also there is the idea of a majority oppressing a minority which is also unfortunately to be seen in many societies around the world. Many societies and peoples have experienced the “knee on the neck” when ruled by empires throughout history. Most of racism is hidden and visible only to the victims and is very subtle.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: if it’s subtle then every inter-personal interaction that does not go well for a person of ethnic origin stands a good chance of being erroneously lumped in with actual racism. Irish people have a well earned reputation for drinking to excess. Maybe British landlords didn’t want to invite drunken behaviour onto their property, just like the drunken behaviour of young travelling Irish students in Australia p***ed off a lot of Australians when it hit the headlines a few years ago. Focusing on racism is myopic. Character building is much better, but alas it’s out of favour because so many people want to display their virtue and think the plank is in everyone else’s eye.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: I worked in London in the 1970′s , I asked a lot of the older lads who had been in England since the 40′s and 50′s about these “No Blacks No Irish No Dogs” and not one of them ever said they saw any such signs . There is a Photo of one sign from that era that has done the rounds and that seems to be the basis for that particular myth .
In general I found English people to be very tolerant of immigrants such as myself .
@Dan Ryan: The Irish were seen as likely to drunkards and troublemakers so that may be why some landlords did post no Irish in their ads, I’m not sure if we were specifically grouped with blacks and dogs but it may have happened on occasions.
@James Walsh: You’re right about our reputation as drunkards ,I was one my self,and I think there may have been a few ads like that but it wasn’t as widespread as we are led to believe nowadays .
Come to think of it I’d be reluctant now to rent out a room to someone like I was then
Well written Diane and it’s terrible that it is so true in 21st century Ireland that racism still exists. We are all the same on the inside but unfortunately there are still so many uneducated, stupid racist people in Ireland that they can’t see it.
I wish you the very best of luck in your work & apologise for the stupid ignorant people you have met. We’re not all like that. All lives matter.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Diane for sharing your experiences. It’s only from sharing our experiences that people will learn and understand. Racism happens in Ireland. Although it’s not as extreme as America, it’s still present in Ireland.
I’ve been a victim to racism myself and I know many other black people here who have too. When you report the incidents, no further action is taken. It’s taken really lightly. I understand that the justice system can be a piss take.
I hope to see change in the future. I was born and raised here. I love it here. Irish culture is full of history and I enjoyed learning Irish in school. There are white Irish people that I’ve grown up around and they have been so friendly and welcoming. There are some that have been racist. Thankfully, not everyone is like that here.
Diane, I am ashamed that you have suffered racial discrimination in my country. Those who treat others badly are sadly lacking self respect as well as respect for others. In some cases, it is because of the bad example shown by their parents. It is too, that society tolerates it. There is no ‘only messing’ when it comes to racism, bullying or any type of descrimination. You are quite right to point out the irony of an all white group discussing or legislating for racism. Continue your good work. Evil can thrive when good people do nothing.
@Claire Quinn: it’s always easy to be ashamed on behalf of other people. It means you don’t have to turn that critical eye inwards.
@Squarepeg01: True. And Claire, this is not YOUR country. You don’t speak for anyone but yourself. But the good side of that is that you aren’t responsible for anyone elses behaviour either.
Do you know of a country less racist than Ireland?
@Coimeádach na hÉireann: So you speak for Ireland now with your anonymous profile? Would you not have the backbone to use your real account seeing as how you are ‘speaking for Ireland’ and what it appreciates?
You’re just another cowardly xenophobe trying to hide your true views behind some faux concern for free speech.
@Dara O’Brien: What? Where’s the reference? Ahh gone… so you appreciate censorship. Categorically Ireland appreciates dissenting opinions but you do not (sounds fascist). As for not throwing my personal life out there, you are the reason. I am expressing an opinion in an open forum and you feel that entitled you to examine my life? I’m sorry but that is the creepiest thing I’ve experienced in a long time.
This article has clear proof and STILL people are like ‘bUt iReLaNd iSn’T rAcIst!!’. You should be ashamed of your comments.
@Keith O’Reilly: Ireland HAS racist people but Ireland is not a racist country. Ireland is probably one if the least racist countries in the world.
@Keith O’Reilly: If Ireland is a racist country, then every country in the world is racist.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Bingo.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Actually it would be more accurate to say there are racists and bigots in all countries and societies to vaying degrees, it’s how the govt and wider civil society of that country respond that is vital.
@Teresa Ryan: i work with a bunch of lads whos ages range from 30′s to mid 40′s, all refer to black people as the ‘n’ word. They do it so casually that i have no doubt that they would refer to them in that manner in front of their kids. Saying that the ‘n’ word hasnt been used in decades is factually incorrect.
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Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
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