Privacy Policy
Data Security
General Information
We take the protection of the data of users of our website and mobile app very seriously and are committed to protecting the information that users provide to us in connection with the use of our website and mobile app (together: "digital assets"). Furthermore, we are committed to protecting and using your data in accordance with applicable laws.
This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your data through the use of our digital assets (the “Services”) when you access the Services via your devices.
Please read the Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you fully understand our practices regarding your data before using our Services. If you have read and fully understand this policy but do not agree with our practices, you must stop using our digital assets and Services. By using our Services, you acknowledge the terms of this Privacy Policy. Continued use of the Services constitutes your acceptance of this Privacy Policy and any changes to it.
This Privacy Policy explains:
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How we collect data What data we collect
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Why we collect this data
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Who we share the data with
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Where the data is stored
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How long the data is retained
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How we protect the data
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How we handle minors Updates or changes to this Privacy Policy
What data do we collect?
Below is an overview of the data we may collect:
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Non-identified and non-identifiable information that you provide during the registration process or that is collected through the use of our Services ("Non-Personal Data"). Non-Personal Data does not allow us to identify the individual from whom it was collected. The Non-Personal Data we collect primarily consists of technical and aggregated usage information.
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Individually identifiable information, i.e., information that identifies or can reasonably be used to identify an individual ("Personal Data"). Personal Data that we collect through our Services may include information that is requested from time to time, such as names, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and more. When we combine Personal Data with Non-Personal Data, as long as it is in combination, we treat it as Personal Data.
How do we collect data?
We collect data in the following ways:
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We collect data when you use our Services. When you visit our digital assets and use the Services, we may collect, record, and store usage, sessions, and related information.
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We collect data that you voluntarily provide to us, such as when you contact us directly via a communication channel (e.g., an email with a comment or feedback).
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We may collect data from third-party sources as described below.
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We collect data that you provide to us when you log into our Services via a third-party service, such as Facebook or Google.
Why do we collect this data?
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To provide and operate our Services.
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To develop, customize, and improve our Services.
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To respond to your feedback and requests.
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To analyze demand and usage patterns.
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For internal, statistical, and research purposes.
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To improve security and fraud prevention.
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To investigate violations and enforce terms and policies.
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To comply with applicable laws and regulations.
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To send updates, news, promotional materials, and other information related to our Services.
With Whom Do We Share This Data?
We may share your data with our service providers to operate our Services (e.g., data storage via third-party hosting services, providing technical support, etc.).
We may also disclose your data under the following circumstances:
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To investigate, detect, prevent, or address illegal activities or other misconduct;
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To establish or exercise our rights of defense;
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To protect our rights, property, or personal safety, as well as the safety of our users or the public;
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In the event of a change of control at our company or one of our affiliates (through a merger, acquisition, or purchase of substantially all assets, etc.);
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To collect, hold, and/or manage your data through authorized third-party providers (e.g., cloud service providers) as appropriate for business purposes;
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To work with third-party providers to improve your user experience.
Please note that we may transfer or share Non-Personal Data with third parties at our discretion.
Blog or Forum
Please note that our Services enable social interactions (e.g., posting content, information, and comments publicly and chatting with other users). We advise you that any content or data you provide in these areas may be read, collected, and used by others. We discourage posting or sharing information that you do not wish to be public. If you upload content to our Digital Assets or otherwise provide it as part of using a Service, you do so at your own risk. We cannot control the actions of other users or members of the public who may access your data or content. You acknowledge and agree that copies of your data may remain accessible even after deletion on cached and archived pages or if third parties have copied or stored your content.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
When you visit or access our Services, we authorize third parties to use web beacons, cookies, pixel tags, scripts, and other technologies and analytics services ("Tracking Technologies"). These Tracking Technologies may allow third parties to automatically collect your data to enhance the navigation experience on our Digital Assets, optimize their performance, and ensure a tailored user experience, as well as for security and fraud prevention purposes.
To learn more, please read our Cookie Policy.
Where Do We Store the Data?
Non-Personal Data:
Please note that our companies, as well as our trusted partners and service providers, are located around the world. For the purposes explained in this privacy policy, we store and process all Non-Personal Data we collect in various jurisdictions.
Personal Data
Personal Data may be maintained, processed, and stored in the United States, Ireland, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, and other jurisdictions as necessary for the proper provision of our Services and/or as required by law.
How Long Is the Data Retained?
Please note that we retain the data we collect for as long as necessary to provide our Services, comply with our legal and contractual obligations to you, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
We may correct, supplement, or delete inaccurate or incomplete data at our discretion at any time.
How Do We Protect the Data?
The hosting service for our Digital Assets provides us with the online platform that allows us to offer our Services to you. Your data may be stored through our hosting provider's data storage, databases, and general applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall and offer secure HTTPS access to most areas of their services.
Notwithstanding the measures and efforts taken by us and our hosting provider, we cannot and do not guarantee the absolute protection and security of the data you upload, post, or otherwise share with us or others.
For this reason, we encourage you to set strong passwords and avoid providing us or others with sensitive information whose disclosure you believe could cause significant or lasting harm. Since email and instant messaging are not considered secure communication forms, we also request that you do not share confidential information through these communication channels.
How Do We Handle Minors?
The Services are not intended for users who have not reached the legal age of majority. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you are not of legal age, you should not download or use the Services and should not provide us with any information.
We reserve the right to request proof of age at any time to verify that minors are not using our Services. If we become aware that a minor is using our Services, we may prohibit and block access to our Services for that user and delete any data stored with us about that user. If you believe that a minor has provided us with data, please contact us as explained below.
Legal Bases for Data Processing
We use your Personal Data only for the purposes set out in this privacy policy and only if we are satisfied that:
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The use of your Personal Data is necessary to perform or enter into a contract (e.g., to provide you with the Services themselves or customer support);
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The use of your Personal Data is necessary to comply with legal or regulatory obligations; or
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The use of your Personal Data is necessary to support our legitimate business interests (provided that this is done in a way that is proportionate and respects your privacy rights).
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Your Rights Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
If you are located in the EU, you have the following rights:
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Request confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed and access to your stored personal data, along with supplementary information;
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Request to receive the personal data you provide to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format;
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Request the correction of your personal data stored with us;
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Request the deletion of your personal data;
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Object to the processing of your personal data by us;
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Request the restriction of processing your personal data; or
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Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
Please note that these rights are not absolute and may be subject to our legitimate interests and regulatory requirements. If you have general questions about the personal data we collect and how we use it, please contact us as provided below.
In the course of providing the Services, we may transfer data across borders to affiliated entities or other third parties and from your country/jurisdiction to other countries/jurisdictions worldwide. By using the Services, you consent to the transfer of your data outside the EEA.
If you are located in the EEA, your personal data will only be transferred to locations outside the EEA where we are satisfied that an adequate or comparable level of protection for personal data exists. We will take appropriate steps to ensure that we have suitable contractual arrangements with our third parties to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, so that the risk of unlawful use, alteration, deletion, loss, or theft of your personal data is minimized, and that these third parties act at all times in compliance with applicable laws.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Rights
If you are a California resident using the Services, you may have the right under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to request access to and deletion of your data.
To exercise your right to access and delete your data, please contact us as described below.
We do not sell users' personal data for the purposes and intents of the CCPA.
Updates or Changes to the Privacy Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy at our sole discretion from time to time, and the version published on the website is always the most current (see “Effective Date”). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly for any changes. In the event of significant changes, we will post a notice on our website. If you continue to use the Services after notification of changes on our website, it will constitute your acknowledgment and acceptance of the changes to the Privacy Policy and your agreement to be bound by the terms of those changes.
Contact
If you have general questions about the Services or the data we collect about you and how we use it, please contact us at:
Name: Website Award by VICE - Miodrag Canovic
Address: Eldenaer Straße 30, 10247 Berlin
Email: info@website-award.com
Data Collection on Our Website
Our websites use so-called “cookies.” Cookies are small text files that do not damage your device. They are either stored temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (persistent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Persistent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them manually or they are automatically removed by your web browser.
Cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your device when you enter our site (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services provided by the third-party company (e.g., cookies for processing payment services).
Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary because certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., shopping cart function or displaying videos). Other cookies are used to analyze user behavior or to display advertisements.
Cookies that are necessary to carry out the electronic communication process (necessary cookies) or to provide certain functions you desire (functional cookies, e.g., for the shopping cart function) or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies to measure web audiences) are stored based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies has been requested, the relevant cookies are stored exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); consent can be revoked at any time.
You can configure your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only in individual cases, to exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain cases or in general, and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.
Where cookies from third-party companies or for analysis purposes are used, we will inform you about this separately within the framework of this Privacy Policy and, if necessary, request your consent.
Contact Form
If you send us inquiries via the contact form, the information you provide in the form, including the contact details you provide, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not share this data without your consent.
The processing of the data entered in the contact form is thus based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time. An informal email to us is sufficient for this. The lawfulness of the data processing operations carried out up to the point of revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.
The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after we have completed processing your inquiry). Mandatory legal provisions—especially retention periods—remain unaffected.
Inquiry by Email, Phone, or Fax
If you contact us by email, phone, or fax, your inquiry, including all resulting personal data (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We will not share this data without your consent.
The processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR if your request is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) and/or on our legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR), as we have a legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries directed to us.
The data sent to us via contact inquiries will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after processing your request). Mandatory statutory provisions—especially statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.
Disclaimer
The information contained herein does not constitute legal advice, and you should not rely solely on it. Specific requirements regarding legal terms and policies may vary from state to state and/or from legal system to legal system. As set forth in our Terms of Use, it is your responsibility to ensure that your Services are lawful under the laws that apply to you and that you comply with them.
To ensure that you fully comply with your legal obligations, we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice to better understand the specific requirements that apply to you.