TheOriginalBTEM.org
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Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how the BTEM website (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, stores and protects personal data when you visit this site, contact us or otherwise interact with our content and services. We are committed to handling your information in a lawful, fair and transparent way in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK GDPR and EU GDPR where relevant.
Data Controller
For the purposes of data protection law, the data controller responsible for this website is the BTEM website administrator or coordinating group. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or about how your personal data is handled, you can contact the website administrators using the contact details provided on the “Contact Website Administrators” section of this site.
What Information We Collect
When you browse the BTEM website, certain technical information is automatically collected by our hosting platform and analytics tools. This may include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, pages visited, time and date of access, referring website and general usage information. This data is usually collected in an aggregated or pseudonymised form and is used to understand how the site is being accessed and used.
If you choose to contact us, register an account (if that functionality is offered), contribute to a forum, subscribe to updates or otherwise submit information via forms, we may collect personal data that you voluntarily provide. This may include your name, email address, institutional or organisational affiliation, professional role, any messages or questions you send, and any other details you decide to share.
If the site offers discussion forums or contribution areas, any information you post publicly will be visible to other visitors. You should therefore avoid sharing sensitive or unnecessary personal data in public posts.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected through this website for several purposes. First, we use it to operate, maintain and improve the BTEM site, including monitoring performance, diagnosing technical problems and ensuring that the site remains secure and functional. Second, we use contact and message details to respond to enquiries, provide information requested by you, and manage ongoing correspondence where appropriate.
Where the site includes forums or contribution areas, we may process your information to manage user access, moderate content, maintain the integrity and quality of discussions, and protect the site and its users from abuse, spam or technical misuse. We may also use aggregated and anonymised data to understand how the site is used and to inform future development of content, navigation structure and scientific resources.
We do not use your personal data for commercial marketing or advertising, and we do not sell your personal data to third parties.
Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data only where we have a lawful basis to do so. In most cases, this will be because processing is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating and improving an academic or scientific information resource, responding to enquiries, maintaining site security and making BTEM-related content available to interested users. Where you contact us or voluntarily provide information, processing may also be based on your consent, which you are free to withdraw at any time.
If we are required to retain or disclose information in order to comply with legal obligations, court orders or regulatory requests, we may process your data on that basis as well.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
The BTEM website and its hosting platform may use cookies or similar technologies to enable core functionality, remember certain preferences, and collect anonymous or pseudonymised usage statistics. Functional cookies are necessary for the proper operation of the site. Analytics cookies, where used, help us understand which pages are visited, how long users stay on the site and how they navigate between sections.
Where required by law, we will seek your consent for the use of non-essential cookies. You may be able to manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, although doing so may affect certain aspects of site functionality.
Data Storage and Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Data may be stored and processed by our hosting provider and any integrated services needed to operate this website. These providers are expected to maintain appropriate security standards in line with their role as data processors.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, to respond to enquiries, to maintain records of scientific or academic discussions where appropriate, or to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements. When data is no longer needed, it will be deleted or anonymised wherever reasonably possible.
Sharing of Information
We do not routinely share personal data with third parties except where it is necessary to operate this site, respond to your requests, enforce our terms, protect our rights and security, or comply with legal obligations. Service providers who support hosting, security, analytics or technical operation of the site may have access to certain data in their role as processors, but they are not permitted to use this information for their own purposes.
In rare cases, we may disclose information if required by law, regulation, court order or competent authority, or where we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety or integrity of the BTEM website, its users or the public.
International Transfers
Depending on the location of our hosting provider and service providers, your data may be stored or processed in countries outside your own jurisdiction. Where personal data is transferred from the UK or EU to a country that does not provide the same level of data protection, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place, for example by relying on standard contractual clauses or other approved mechanisms, where applicable.
Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have certain rights in relation to your personal data. These can include the right to request access to the data we hold about you, to ask for inaccurate data to be corrected, to request deletion of your data in appropriate circumstances, to restrict or object to certain types of processing, and to receive a copy of your data in a portable format when technically feasible.
If processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that took place before consent was withdrawn.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact the website administrators using the contact details provided on this site. We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.
If you believe that your data protection rights have been infringed, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. In the United Kingdom this is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Third-Party Websites and Links
This website may include links to external websites, scientific resources or third-party platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content or security of those external sites. When you follow a link to another website, you should read the privacy policy provided by that site.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to reflect changes in legal requirements, technical developments or how the BTEM website operates. Any updated version will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be revised accordingly. You are encouraged to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how your data is handled.
Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or about how your personal data is processed in connection with the BTEM website, please contact the website administrators via the contact details provided on the “Contact Website Administrators” section of this site.