Introduction
British in Germany e.V. (BiG) respects an individual’s right to privacy and is committed to ensuring that people are treated fairly, in everything we do. This Privacy and Cookie Notice (“Notice”) outlines the types of personal data we collect and use, and how we may disclose that information.
This Notice applies to all personal data collected and used by BiG about its supporters and the general public. This Notice also applies to campaigns we carry out through third party social media sites (e.g. Facebook or Twitter), which we may use to gather information about you. These sites should also have their own privacy policies that cover the information they capture about you.
After reading this Notice, if you have any further questions about how your personal data may be used, you can contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Our Data Protection Statement
BiG and its representatives may use the information you’ve given to contact you. By providing your data to us, you are consenting to us making contact with you in the future by mail, email, telephone, text, website and apps, even though you may be registered with the Telephone Preference Service. Your data may be stored or otherwise processed in the US, governed by European Commission model contract clauses. You can always opt out of communications at any time by contacting us.
What we collect about you
BiG will collect information about you so that we can provide you with more information about policies or campaigns that we think you might be interested in, and to respond to any questions sent to BiG.
We only collect the information that we need to fulfil the purposes set out at collection, and you can update this information at any time.
We will collect information about you from in the following ways:
- In person / over the phone
- When you use or register on our site
- When you indicate that you support the aims of BiG or donate
- When you volunteer
- When you interact with us on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter
- From other sources, including the UK Electoral Register and Registration Systems in other countries
IP addresses and log file data
The BiG site does not automatically capture or store personal information, other than logging the user’s IP Address or the location of your computer or network on the Internet, for systems administration and troubleshooting purposes. (If you are connected to the Internet you have an IP address, for example, an IP address might read “154.198.99.9”). We may also use IP addresses in the aggregate to track which pages people visit in order to improve the quality of the site.
How we use / share your information
We may use the information we collect from you to:
- Canvass for support
- Respond to your queries
- Process your application to volunteer
- Understand your views and issues important to you and the wider area
- Administer supporters records
- Conduct fundraising activities
- Tell you about any policies and campaigns that may be of interest to you
- Manage our sites and services
- Tell you about changes to our supporters’ network
You will always be provided with an opportunity to opt-out of receiving information from BiG if you later change your mind, and we will only keep your personal data for as long as required to meet the purposes set out in this Notice, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Your personal data may be shared within BiG (i.e. between local, regional and national parts of BiG and members of the BiG coalition and with our elected representatives) or with companies that provide services to BiG (i.e. “service providers”). In addition, we may share your personal data when we are required to do so by law.
However, we will never pass your personal data to any other third parties except where you have given us permission to do so. For example, where you have signed a petition and are clearly informed that this petition will be presented to a third party.
How you choose to interact with us
By providing us with your contact details (e.g. email address, telephone number etc.), you agree to receive information from us about our policies and campaigns, unless you choose to opt-out at the point of collection.
You can unsubscribe from these messages at any time by following the instructions contained in those messages, or through the information provided in this Notice.
You can also request a copy of the data we hold about you at any time, by placing a “subject access request”. This request must be made in email to the data protection office (address below) and will include a small administration fee.
Data Storage, Cookies and other technologies
When you visit our site, we will place a cookie on your machine. We may use cookies to help:
- The website to operate smoothly
- Gather the information you provide through the website
- Ensure that sites where you login function correctly
When you visit our site, you will be presented with a cookie notification pop up. By clicking “I accept” a permanent cookie will be set on your machine. This cookie will remember your preference and you will no longer be presented with a pop-up each time you visit our site.
Links to third party sites
Links from our website may be provided to a range of organisations with whom we have affinity arrangements. Any information you provide to such third parties is protected by their own privacy policies. BiG is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Once you leave our site through a link to another site, no individual information that you provide to a third party is passed back to BiG, although we sometimes receive aggregate data.
Other information you may find useful
Our data is stored on a UK server.
We also collect donations and payments via PayPal, which is based in the US, where PayPal also stores its data.
If you have any queries regarding this privacy policy, or if you think that it has not been followed, please contact:
British in Germany
c/- 24IP Law Group
Charlottenstrasse 80
10117 Berlin
Germany
Email: info@britishingermany.org
You should also contact the Data Protection Office if you wish to lodge a formal complaint about any matter covered by our privacy policy.