Effective as of 16.11.2023
Who we are and how to contact us
Welcome to thegeneye.com. This privacy statement will inform you about how we look after your personal data when you visit our website. The Swiss New Federal Act on Data Protection forms the basis of this policy. The site is operated by Michael Woods. You can get in touch with us at info@thegeneye.com.
What data we collect and why we collect it
Complianz Privacy Suite
This website uses the Privacy Suite for WordPress by Complianz to collect and record Browser and Device-based Consent. This includes to manage and record consent for cookie usage. For this functionality, your IP address is anonymized and stored in our database. This service does not process any personally identifiable information and does not share any data with the service provider. For more information, see the Complianz Privacy Statement.
Caching and QUIC.cloud Services
This site utilises caching in order to facilitate a faster response time and better user experience. Caching potentially stores a duplicate copy of every web page that is on display on this site. All cache files are temporary, and are never accessed by any third party, except as necessary to obtain technical support from the cache plugin vendor. Cache files expire on a schedule set by the site administrator, but may easily be purged by the admin before their natural expiration, if necessary. We may use QUIC.cloud services to process & cache your data temporarily. Please see https://quic.cloud/privacy-policy/ for more details.
Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our website. Google AdSense uses cookies and other tracking technologies to collect information about browsing behavior on our site and other sites. This information is used to provide personalized advertising tailored to users based on their visits to this site and other sites. You have the option to opt-out of personalized advertising through your ad settings. You may do this by visiting Ads Settings.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to analyze the use of our website. Google Analytics gathers information about website use by means of cookies. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect data about your interactions with our site, which may include pages visited, the time and date of your visit, time spent on pages, your device used, your location, your browser used, your operating system version, and the navigation paths taken through our site. This information is processed in a way that does not identify anyone. The information gathered is used to create reports about the use of our website. Google’s privacy policy is available here: Google’s Privacy Policy. You can opt-out of Google Analytics by using Google Analytics Opt-out.
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
An anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service Privacy Policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
If you upload images to the website with a comment, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Cookies
Cookie Management Tool: Our website uses the Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent tool to manage cookie preferences and consent. This tool sets a cookie (cmplz_* cookies) to remember your cookie consent choices. This cookie records whether you have given consent to the use of cookies on our site and stores your preferences for non-essential cookies.
Consent for Non-Essential Cookies: We seek your explicit consent for storing non-essential cookies on your device. This includes cookies used for personalized advertisements through Google AdSense and analytics cookies set by Google Analytics.
Comments: If you leave a comment on our site, you may opt-in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for your convenience, so you do not have to fill in your details again for future comments. These cookies will last for one year.
WordPress Core Cookies: Our website uses WordPress, which sets essential cookies for managing visitor sessions and providing core functionalities. These cookies are necessary for the efficient operation of our site and do not track personal information. As our site does not offer user registration or login, cookies related to these functionalities are not applicable.
LiteSpeed Cache and QUIC.cloud Services: To enhance website performance, we use LiteSpeed Cache, which may set cookies for caching purposes. We may also use QUIC.cloud services for caching and content optimization. These services help in delivering faster page load times and a better user experience.
Managing Cookie Preferences: You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through our cookie consent tool. For more detailed control, you can adjust your browser settings to limit or block cookies, though this may affect your experience with certain site functionalities.
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
Links to other websites
The website contains links to other websites that we do not operate. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.
Data connected to password resets
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.
How long we retain your data
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognise and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue. If you wish for your comment and its metadata to be deleted, please get in touch with us at info@thegeneye.com.
User and event data is retained for 14 months by Google for this site for Google Analytics. This applies to user identifiers and advertising identifiers. This duration has been chosen to allow us to perform analysis and understand trends in website usage, which aids in the continuous development and improvement of the site. This timeframe provides us with sufficient historical data to make informed decisions about website enhancements while also respecting the privacy of our visitors by not retaining data for an unnecessarily long period.
For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.
What rights you have over your data
If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Basis for processing data
We process your personal data on the following bases.
Consent
When you leave comments on our blog posts, you are providing your consent for us to process the personal data you provide (such as your name, email address, and website URL) for specific purposes. We use this data to facilitate your participation in discussions, respond to your inquiries, and send you updates if you have requested them.
Your consent is also the basis for storing cookies on your device, particularly those that are not strictly necessary for the functioning of the website.
Legitimate Interests
We use your data for our legitimate interests in operating, maintaining, and improving our website. This includes utilizing data to enhance website security, monitor website performance, and understand how visitors interact with the site to improve the user experience.
Our legitimate interests also include the use of anonymized IP addresses for analytics purposes and to ensure the technical functionality of our website.
Our legitimate interests also include using Google AdSense to display personalized advertisements. These ads support our website financially and enhance user experience by providing relevant advertising content.
We also use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc., as part of our legitimate interests in understanding how our visitors interact with our website. This helps us to improve user experience, optimize our content, and better understand the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.
While we consider the use of Google Analytics to be necessary for our legitimate business interests, we also take your privacy rights seriously. We ensure that the use of this tool does not infringe upon your rights and freedoms and provide options for you to control or opt-out of this data collection. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, or for a more specific opt-out from Google Analytics, you can use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on available at Google Analytics Opt-out.
Our commitment is to balance our legitimate business interests with your rights to privacy, ensuring that the data collected through Google Analytics is used responsibly and transparently. Please contact us at the email address listed above if you would like to address concerns related to processing based on legitimate interests.
Your Control Over Your Data
Your participation and provision of personal data are voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You have the right to access, erase, rectify and transfer your data to another service. For instance, you can request the deletion of your comments. Upon request, we can provide you with your personal data in a structured, commonly used format. For instance, if you want a record of your comments, we can export them in a readable format. Please send an email to info@thegeneye.com to make a request about your comment data on this website. We will respond promptly.
Cookie Preferences and Third-Party Cookies
You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through our cookie consent tool. This includes opting out of cookies used by third-party services integrated into our site, such as Google AdSense for personalized advertising and Google Analytics for website usage analytics. To opt-out of personalized advertising by Google, visit Google’s Ad Settings. We also use LiteSpeed Cache and QUIC.cloud services for website performance enhancement, which may set cookies to improve load times and user experience.
Retention of Data
Please note that withdrawing consent does not affect processing based on consent before its withdrawal. Further, we may need to retain certain information when we have a legal obligation or lawful basis to do so. Please review the note on the security of your personal data below.
Children’s privacy
This website is not designed for or intentionally targeted at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 16 through our website. This includes not intentionally collecting such data through comments or Google Analytics.
We recognize the importance of protecting the privacy and safety of children. If a child under 16 has left a comment or if we otherwise become aware that a child under 16 has provided us with personal information without appropriate parental consent, we will take steps to remove such information.
We encourage parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activities and to instruct their children to never provide personal information on our website or others without their permission. If you believe that we might have any information from or about a child under 16, please contact us at info@thegeneye.com.
Where your data is sent
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
Google stores data globally, meaning data connected with the use of its advertising and analytics products may be transferred across international borders. However, Google complies with legal frameworks relating to the transfer of data that aim to protect personal information, including mechanisms set out by the European Commission, the UK, and Switzerland as well as US Data Privacy Frameworks. More information about international data transfers related to Google advertising and analytics products can be found here: Google advertising and analytics products.
Security of your personal data
The security of your personal data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
In the event of a data breach that affects non-public personal data collected by our website we will take appropriate measures to address the incident. If the breach poses a risk to the rights and freedoms of the individuals concerned, we will notify them via the emails provided with the comments within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach. This notification will detail the nature of the breach, the potential impact, and the steps we are taking in response. We will also inform the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner,
Law enforcement
Under certain circumstances, the website may be required to disclose your personal data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).
Other legal requirements
The Company may disclose your personal data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
- Comply with a legal obligation
- Protect and defend the rights or property of the website
- Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the services provided by the website
- Protect the personal safety of users of the website or the public
- Protect against legal liability
Changes to privacy policy
We reserve the right to change this privacy policy statement at any time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.
If you have questions concerning this policy statement, please contact us at info@thegeneye.com.