Privacy Policy
BD Technologies AG and our affiliates and subsidiaries (“BD Technologies AG”, “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”, etc.) respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it by complying with this Privacy Policy (the “Policy”).
This Policy describes:
- How we collect, use, disclose, and protect the personal information of our website’s Users ("you”, “your”, etc.) which includes both Consultants and Customers who access the Website’s services (“Services”).
- The types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you visit our website (“Website”), or any other software product (collectively, our “Platform”).
- Our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.
Consent: By using our Platform, You consent to the use of your Personal Information as described in this Privacy Policy. Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy, your Personal Information will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices for collecting, processing, and storing your information. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use our Platform. By accessing or using our Website, you indicate that you understand, accept, and consent to the practices described in this policy. This policy may change from time to time. Your continued use of our Platform after we make changes indicates that you accept and consent to those changes, so please check the policy periodically for updates. You may withdraw your consent to our processing of your Personal Information at any time. However, withdrawing consent will result in your inability to continue using our Platform.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children (natural persons under 18 years of age) in connection with our Platform. Our services and products are not directed at children. If you believe that we have collected information about a child, please contact us immediately so that we may appropriate steps to amend the situation.
Information we Collect About You
When using our Platform, we receive certain information from you, including personal data. We only store and use the personal data that is provided directly by you, in the context of the service you have requested, or for which it is clear that it is provided to us for processing. We collect the following types of data:
Identifiers: Information that identifies you directly such as your name, email address, birth date, gender, internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet, your operating system, zodiac constellation sign, username or other similar identifier, any other identifier we may use to contact you (“Personal Information”).
Commercial Information: Information about your purchases or use of our Platform, Website, or Services which includes but is not limited to your interactions with our Consultants, your User habits and preferences, the date and time you access our Platform, referral URL, the name of the searched domain, and other such information related to your use of our Platform.
Technical Information: This includes your login info, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, or information about your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our Platform, and usage details.
Account Information: This includes your username, age, e-mail address, information you disclose in your user account, and your account picture.
Non-personal Demographic Information that does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity or directly relate to an identifiable individual, such as demographic information, geographical location, or statistical or aggregated information. Statistical or aggregated data does not directly identify a specific person, but we may derive non-personal statistical or aggregated date from personal information. For example, we may aggregate personal information to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific feature or to report our product impact on an aggregate basis.
Financial Information: Information regarding your payment methods and bank account information, where applicable.
User Generated Content: Information you share with us or post through our Platform which may include comments, chat history with Consultants, or any other “Submission” as defined by the Terms and Conditions to which this Privacy Policy is incorporated within.
We collect the above information from different sources such as when you create an account with us or otherwise use or access our Platform. Other times, we collect information from third parties. There are generally three ways we collect information:
- Information You Give Us: If you create an account, purchase credits, fill out a survey, sign up for emails, or review a product, you typically share your personal information with us in the chat or other means.
- Cookies: We may use technologies such as cookies, web beacons, or similar tracking technologies to automatically or passively collect certain information about visitors to our Website and interactions with our emails and online advertisements, and to allow us to keep track of analytics and certain statistical information, which enables us to improve our Platform and provide you with more relevant content and advertising on this Website and other sites. You may have options to change your browser settings to choose how we can collect some of this information.
- Third Party Use of Cookies and Tracking Technology Some content on the Website may be served by third-parties, including advertisers, ad networks and servers, and content providers. Such third-parties may use cookies alone or in conjunction with other similar technology to collect information about you when you use our Website. The information they collect may be associated with your personal information or they may collect information, including personal information, about your online activities over time and across different Websites. They may use this information to provide you with intertest-based advertising or targeted content. You may opt-out of several third-party ad servers’ and networks’ cookies.
- We do not control these third-parties’ tracking technology or how they are used. If you have any questions about an advertisement or other targeted content, you should contact the responsible provider directly.
Google Analytics: This Website uses Google Analytics, a web service offered by Google Inc. (“Google”). Cookies from Google are placed on our Website as part of the “Analytics” service. BD Technologies AG uses this service to keep track and receive reports on how visitors use the Site. Google may provide this information to third parties if Google is legally required to do so, or insofar as third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. You acknowledge and agree that BD Technologies AG has no decision-making power nor influence on this.
Google may provide this information if Google is legally required to do so, or to the extent that such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not combine your IP address with other data held by google. You can refuse the use of cookies by choosing the appropriate settings in your browser. However, doing so may render you unable to use the full potential and functionality of the Site. By using this Site, you consent to the processing of Data by Google in the manner and for the purposes described above.
Combination of Information: we may combine the information we receive from and about you, including information you provide to us and information we automatically collect through our Site, as well as information collected from other online sources or from third party sources (including social networks that you use to connect with our Platform) to help us tailor our communications to you and to improve our Platform.
How we Use the Information
We use identifiers, commercial information, online activity, geolocation information, user-generated content, and financial information we collect for a variety of business purposes, as discussed below.
We are committed to protecting and maintaining the privacy of your information and will process your data only in accordance with a lawful basis under applicable data protection laws, such as if:
- We need to process your information to provide you with the products or service you have requested or to enter into a contract;
- You have consented to such processing;
- We have a legitimate interest for processing your data – e.g., for fraud prevention; network and information systems security; data analytics; enhancing, modifying or improving our Services; identifying usage trends; determining the effectiveness of promotional campaigns; and personalization of the Service using data to make it easier and faster for you to place orders; and/or,
- We are required to do so by law, such as in the case of a criminal or civil court proceeding.
We use your information for a variety of business purposes, including but not limited to:
- Fulfilling your purchases;
- Responding to your requests or other forms of customer service;
- Fulfilling contests or sweepstakes;
- Improving our Services or developing new ones; and/or,
- Security or fraud prevention.
We may also use your information for a variety of commercial purposes, including but not limited to:
- Contacting you with offers and promotions;
- Marketing and advertising;
- For analytical and demographic purposes (for example, to create audiences based on demographic or location-based information for marketing and customization purposes); and/or,
- As otherwise described in this Policy and the Terms and Conditions.
Disclosure of your Personal Information
We do not disclose your personal information with any third parties as a regular matter of practice, but we may do so in the following circumstances:
- To subsidiaries and affiliates of BD Technologies AG;
- In accordance with applicable law, to a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of BD Technologies AG’s assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which personal information held by us about our customers and users is among the assets transferred;
- To contractors, service providers, and other third-parties we use to support our business (such as analytics and search engine providers that assist us with Website improvement and optimization) and who are contractually obligated to keep personal information confidential, use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them, and to process the personal information with the same standards as set out in this Policy;
- To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any government or regulatory or police in accordance with applicable law;
- To enforce or apply this Policy, our Terms and Conditions, or in the defence of any other legal right we possess;
- For billing and collection purposes;
- If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property or safety of BD Technologies AG, our employees, customers, or others; and,
- With your consent.
Consultants and Your Privacy
The Consultants on our Platform are independent contractors and are not employed directly by us. We contractually require that Consultants protect the privacy of your personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy and not use or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than providing you with the services you request through the Platform. You should also take care to protect your personal information and privacy. There is never a reason that you should provide any of the Consultants on our Platform with personal contact information or specific financial information, including but not limited to, account numbers or other confidential information related to your identity, and if you do so, we bear no liability for resulting actions or consequences.
Data Security, Retention, and Destruction
The security of your personal information is very important to us which is why we encrypt all Personal Information we collect. Although we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information transmitted to our Website. Any transmission of personal information is done at your own risk. We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the Website.
Except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law or regulation, we will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. We may then destroy such Personal Data by wiping it from our systems. In other circumstances we may anonymize your personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you. We reserve the right to use such anonymous and de-identified data for any legitimate business purpose without further notice to you or your consent.
Transferring Your Personal Information
We may transfer personal information that we collect or that you provide as described in this policy to contractors, service providers and other third-parties we use to support our business and who are contractually obligated to keep personal information confidential, use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them, and to process the personal information with the same standards set out in this policy.
We may process, store, and transfer your personal information in and to a foreign country, with different privacy laws that may or may not be as comprehensive as in Ontario (the jurisdiction to which the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Conditions are governed by). In such circumstances, the governments, courts, law enforcement agencies of that country may be able to obtain access to your personal information through the laws of the foreign country. Whether we engage a service provider, we require that its privacy and security standards adhere to this Policy and applicable Canadian privacy legislation.
Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information
It is important that the personal information we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal information changes. By law, you have the right to request access to and to correct the personal information that we hold about you.
If you want to review, verify, correct, or withdraw consent to the use of your personal information you may also send us an email to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that you have provided to us.
We may request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and your right to access, and to provide you with the personal information that we hold about you or make your requested changes. If we cannot provide you with access to your personal information, we will inform you of the reasons why, subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions.
If you are concerned about our response or would like to correct the information provided, you may contact us by sending us an e-mail stating your concern.
Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach that compromises the security or confidentiality of your personal information, we are committed to notifying you promptly and taking appropriate actions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This provision outlines our breach notification process:
Notification Process: If we discover a breach of security leading to the unauthorized access, acquisition, or disclosure of your personal information, we will notify you without undue delay. Notification may be provided by email, through our Platform, or by other reasonable means.
Content of Notification: Our breach notification will include the following information, to the extent possible:
- Description of the incident, including the date and time it occurred.
- Types of personal information involved in the breach.
- Steps taken to mitigate the breach and protect your personal information.
- Recommendations for actions you can take to protect yourself from potential harm.
- Contact information for further inquiries or assistance.
Timing of Notification: We will make reasonable efforts to provide breach notifications promptly following the discovery of a data breach. The specific timing may vary based on the circumstances of the breach, the needs of law enforcement, and any measures necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of our data systems.
Additional Notifications: In certain circumstances, we may be required to provide notifications to other parties, such as law enforcement agencies, regulators, or credit reporting agencies. We will comply with such obligations as required by applicable laws and regulations.
How we Secure Your Information
We are committed to handling your customer information with high standards of information security. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your non-public personal information, both during transmission and once we receive it. When you enter sensitive information (such as a credit card number) into our Website, we encrypt the transmission of that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL). No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
Withdrawing Your Consent
Where you have provided your consent to the collection, use, and transfer of your personal information, you may have the legal right to withdraw your consent under certain circumstances. To withdraw your consent, if applicable, contact us using the contact information listed below. Please note that if you withdraw your consent, we will not be able to allow you to continue visiting or using our Website.
California Consumer Privacy Act
This provision is intended to inform and provide California residents ("consumers" or "you") with details about how we collect, use, and disclose personal information, as required by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The terms defined in the CCPA shall have the same meaning when used in this provision.
Categories of Personal Information Collected: We collect various categories of personal information as defined by the CCPA. This includes identifiers, such as your name, email address, birth date, gender, IP address, username, or other similar identifiers. Additionally, we may collect commercial information related to your purchases or use of our Platform, Website, or Services. We also collect technical information about your devices and browser, account information, non-personal demographic information, financial information, and user-generated content shared through our Platform.
Purposes of Collection and Use: The personal information we collect serves several business purposes. We use this information to provide and improve our services, personalize your experience, analyze website usage and performance, protect against fraud or illegal activities, and comply with applicable laws and regulations. We may also use the information to communicate with you, process transactions, and manage your account.
Disclosure of Personal Information: We prioritize the protection of your personal information and generally do not disclose it to third parties. However, we may disclose your personal information in the following circumstances:
- To subsidiaries and affiliates of BD Technologies AG.
- In accordance with applicable law, to a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of BD Technologies AG's assets. This includes situations where personal information held by us about our customers and users is among the assets transferred, whether as a going concern or part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding.
- To contractors, service providers, and other third parties who support our business operations. These entities are contractually obligated to keep personal information confidential and to use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them. They are also required to process personal information in accordance with the standards set out in this Policy.
- To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including responding to any government, regulatory, or law enforcement request in accordance with applicable law.
- To enforce or apply this Policy, our Terms and Conditions, or to defend any other legal rights we possess.
- For billing and collection purposes.
- If we believe that disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of BD Technologies AG, our employees, customers, or others.
- With your consent.
We take reasonable steps to ensure that any third parties to whom we disclose personal information also provide adequate protection for the information.
Please note that this disclosure section outlines possible scenarios for disclosure and does not indicate that we disclose personal information as a regular matter of practice. Your personal information will only be disclosed in accordance with this Policy and applicable laws.
Your CCPA Rights: As a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the CCPA. These rights include:
- Right to Know: You have the right to request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, including the sources of the information, the purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
- Right to Delete: You have the right to request the deletion of personal information that we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions under the law.
- Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt-out of the sale and sharing of your personal information with third parties. We do not sell personal information without your explicit consent.
- Right to Access & Portability: You have the right to access personal information associated with your use of Services. You can request a copy of your personal information and an explanation of how that information is used.
- Right to Limit: You have the right to limit the disclosure of your personal information.
- Right to Stop Automated Decision Making: You have the right to stop us from using your data for automated decision-making related to workplace performance, economic situations, health, behavior, personal interests, and location.
- Right to Correction: You have the right to correct inaccurate personal information about you.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights, such as denying services, charging different prices, or providing a different level of quality.
To exercise your CCPA rights or to make inquiries related to the CCPA, you can contact us using the information provided in the 'Contact Information' section below. We will respond to your requests in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Changes to this CCPA Provision: We may update this CCPA provision periodically to reflect changes in our privacy practices or to comply with legal requirements. Any revisions will be posted on our Platform, and we encourage you to review this provision regularly to stay informed about our privacy practices. Your continued use of our Platform after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the updated provision.
If there is any conflict between this CCPA provision and any other provisions of our privacy policy, this CCPA provision shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.
Retention: We will retain your information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes of delivering Services. If you no longer want us to use your information to provide Services to you, you can opt-out of such use. Furthermore, we will retain your information only to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and as otherwise described in this policy.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this CCPA provision or our privacy practices, please contact us at [provide contact details].
Please note that this provision is specific to California residents and should be read in conjunction with the remaining sections of our privacy policy.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Our services are not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age. If you are under 18, please do not provide any personal information on our Platform. If we learn that we have collected or received personal information from a child under 18 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information.
If you believe that we may have collected personal information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately using the contact information provided below, and we will take appropriate steps to delete that information from our records.
We encourage parents and legal guardians to monitor their children's online activities and to help enforce this provision by instructing their children never to provide personal information without their permission. If you have any questions about our data collection practices regarding children or would like further information, please contact us using the information provided below.
Virginia Consumer Data protection Act (VCDPA)
This provision applies to residents of Virginia ("consumers" or "you") in accordance with the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA). We adopt this provision to comply with the VCDPA's requirements for transparency and privacy rights. Any terms defined in the VCDPA have the same meaning when used in this provision.
Categories of Personal Data Collected: We collect various categories of personal data as defined by the VCDPA. This may include identifiers such as your name, email address, and similar information that directly identifies you. Additionally, we may collect other types of personal data such as commercial information, internet activity information, geolocation data, professional or employment-related information, and any other information you provide to us.
Purposes of Collection and Use: We collect and use the above categories of personal data for the following business purposes:
- Providing our services, including order fulfillment, customer support, and account management.
- Personalizing and improving our services, content, and advertising.
- Analyzing website usage and performance, conducting research, and enhancing our marketing strategies.
- Protecting against fraud, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.
- Complying with legal obligations and enforcing our rights and agreements.
Disclosure of Personal Data: We may disclose personal data to the following categories of third parties:
Your VCDPA Rights: As a Virginia resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal data under the VCDPA. These rights include the right to access and correct your personal data, the right to deletion, the right to data portability, and the right to opt-out of the processing of your personal data for certain purposes. To exercise these rights or for any VCDPA-related inquiries, please contact us using the information provided in the 'Contact Information' section below.
Changes to this VCDPA Provision: We may update this VCDPA provision periodically to reflect changes in our privacy practices or legal requirements. Any revisions will be posted on our Platform, and we encourage you to review this provision regularly to stay informed about our privacy practices. Your continued use of our Platform after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the updated provision.
If there is any conflict between this VCDPA provision and any other provisions of our privacy policy, this VCDPA provision shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. It is our policy to post any changes we make to our Privacy Policy on this page. If we make material changes to how we treat our users' personal information, we will post the new privacy policy on this page with a notice that it has been updated.
We include the date the Privacy Policy was last revised at the top of the page. You are responsible for ensuring we have an up-to-date, active, and deliverable email address for you, and for periodically visiting this Privacy Policy to check for any changes.
Contact Information and Challenging Compliance
We welcome your questions, comments, and requests regarding this Privacy Policy and our privacy practices. Please contact us by email. We have procedures in place to receive and respond to complaints or inquiries about our handling of personal information, our compliance with this policy, and with applicable privacy laws. To discuss our compliance with this policy please contact us using the contact information listed above.
