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IRR Network Privacy policy
The Bertelsmann Foundation considers it important to protect personal data and is guided in that respect by national and international data protection standards. The Bertelsmann Foundation complies with the statutory data protection and data security requirements. This Privacy Policy tells you how the Bertelsmann Foundation handles information gathered in the context of use of the IRR Network.
Personal Data
Personal data are data that can be used to establish your identity. These include your name, address, postal address and telephone number. Information not connected with your identity, such as the number of users of the IRR Network and the intensity of use, is not classed as personal data.
In principle, you can use the IRR Network without disclosing your identity. However, in order to use certain services within the IRR Network you need to register, to allow these functions to be enabled or improved and to prevent misuse. At registration you will be asked to provide personal data, some of which are compulsory and others are voluntary. Compulsory data are expressly indicated as such. If you do not provide the compulsory data, you will not be able to use the IRR Network as a registered user with the associated benefits.
Storage and Processing of Personal Data
Personal data are stored by the Bertelsmann Foundation on specially protected servers. These are protected by both technical and administrative safeguards against loss, destruction, access, amendment or distribution of your data by unauthorised persons. Access to your data is restricted to a small number of authorised persons. They are responsible for the technical, commercial or editorial supervision of the server. All employees of the Bertelsmann Foundation are under an obligation to maintain confidentiality. However, despite regular checks, total protection against all possible risks cannot be ensured.
You can encrypt your personal data before transmission over the Internet. The Bertelsmann Foundation offers access to the IRR Network using a SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption for data transmission. The URL for access with enabled encryption is https://www.irr-network.org. Only the data gathered prior to creation of your profile at registration cannot be transmitted encrypted.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Data to Third Parties
Data supplied in connection with registration or when completing your profile are used exclusively within the IRR Network. The Bertelsmann Foundation will never disclose your personal data to third parties unless the Bertelsmann Foundation is required to do so by a court decision, an official order or a legal provision.
The Bertelsmann Foundation has appointed an external service-provider to take charge of technical operation (hosting) of the IRR Network. Our service-provider carries out data processing on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation. Personal data are gathered, processed and used by the external service-provider exclusively in accordance with the Bertelsmann Foundation's instructions. Our service-provider is covered by this Privacy Policy in the same way.
Profile Data
With regard to registered users' profiles, a distinction is made between general data and contact data. By default, general data are freely retrievable, even by non-registered users of the IRR Network. You can change this default so that only registered users can view your general data.
By default, contact data can only be viewed by registered users anyway. You cannot change this default. All contact data are voluntary data except for your e mail address, which is not revealed even to registered users. If you do not want other users to have access to your contact data, you can choose to leave the corresponding fields blank.
Use of the IRR Network
The IRR Network contains a number of interactive elements that allow you to input your own content for display to other users of the IRR Network. If you divulge personal data in this context, the Bertelsmann Foundation wishes to point out that you will have no control over the distribution and possible disclosure of such data. You should always treat your personal data responsibly.
IP Address
Among other things, the IP address of the computer you use will be recorded in connection with your use of the IRR Network. It is sometimes possible for IRR Network users to be identified by the IP address. However, the Bertelsmann Foundation does not analyse IP addresses for this purpose.
Log Files
Every time you use the IRR Network, access data are stored in a log file on the server. As well as the IP address, the log file contains the time, status, data volume transmitted and the website via which you reached the IRR Network (referrer), along with data on the browser you use. These log files are used for the purposes of statistical analysis and to improve the IRR Network. This enables the Bertelsmann Foundation to detect possible errors, such as faulty links.
Use of Cookies
Cookies are used in the IRR Network. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer. Each time you visit the IRR Network a session cookie is created which is valid for the current Internet session only and is deleted afterwards. The session cookie does not contain any personal data. Permanent cookies, which are saved after the end of the Internet session, are not used without your consent. For example, you can choose to log in automatically with your access data next time you visit the IRR Network. If you activate the corresponding "remember login" function, a permanent cookie of this kind will be created.
Most browsers are set up to accept cookies automatically. However, you can deactivate cookie saving or set up your browser to notify you whenever cookies are transmitted. You can delete cookies saved on your computer at any time. If you browser is set up not to accept any cookies at all, you may find that your use of the IRR Network or some services is limited.
Protection of Minors
Children and young people under 18 years of age should never transmit any personal data over the Internet without their parents' or guardians' consent. The Bertelsmann Foundation will never knowingly request personal data from minors, collect such data or pass them on to third parties.
Links to Other Websites
This Privacy Policy applies only to the IRR Network operated by the Bertelsmann Foundation. The IRR Network contains links to other websites operated by the Bertelsmann Foundation and by third parties. The Bertelsmann Foundation has no control over similar compliance by other website operators with the provisions of data protection law. The Bertelsmann Foundation therefore recommends that you read the respective website's privacy policy carefully if personal data are collected via the website visited. The Bertelsmann Foundation will not be held liable for the content of other websites or for compliance with the provisions of data protection law with regard to such websites.
Information and Revocation
You have a right to obtain information free of charge about your personal data that are stored in the IRR Network and you also have the right to correct, bar or delete the data if necessary. For this purpose you should contact the Bertelsmann AG Group Data Protection Officer. Once you have granted consent to the use of your data, you can revoke that consent at any time without giving reasons.
As a registered user you can use the "edit my profile" function on your personal home page to view your personal data that are stored in your profile and alter them if necessary. You also have the option of deleting your profile entirely. To do this, select the "delete my profile" function on your personal home page and enter your password to confirm that you wish to delete it. All personal data stored in your profile will thus be deleted.
Changes to Privacy Policy
The Bertelsmann Foundation reserves the right to alter this Privacy Policy from time to time and, in particular, to adapt it to new basic technical and/or legal conditions. In such a case, this will be indicated at an appropriate point within the IRR Network.
Contact
If you require further information please contact the Bertelsmann AG Group Data Protection Officer.
Bertelsmann AG
Konzerndatenschutz
Carl-Bertelsmann-Str. 270
33311 Gütersloh
email: datenschutz@bertelsmann.de
