Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy Notice – GCRF Drugs and (dis)order

August 2018

The policy: This privacy policy notice is for this website: drugs-disorder.soas.ac.uk and served by the GCRF Drugs and (dis)order research project and governs the privacy of those who use it. The purpose of this policy is to explain to you how we control, process, handle and protect your personal information while browsing or using this website, including your rights under current laws and regulations. If you do not agree to the following policy, you may wish to cease viewing/using this website.

Policy key definitions:

  • “I”, “our”, “us”, or “we” refer to the GCRF Drugs and (dis)order research project.
  • “you”, “the user” refer to the person(s) using this website.
  • GDPR means General Data Protection Act.
  • PECR means Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulation.
  • ICO means Information Commissioner’s Office.
  • Cookies mean small files stored on a user’s computer or device.

Processing of your personal data

Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) we control and/or process any personal information about you electronically using the following lawful bases. We are exempt from registration in the ICO Data Protection Register because we are a not-for-profit that is not required to register with the ICO.

Lawful basis: Consent

The reason we use this basis: Any data we hold is as a result of you giving your consent to be contacted by us by filling out a form on our website or hosted by our email marketing service provider, Mailchimp.

We process your information in the following ways: We store your data (your name and email address) using our secure email provider, Mailchimp.

Data retention period: We will continue to process your information under this basis until you withdraw consent, or it is determined your consent no longer exists.

Sharing your information: We do not share your information with third parties.

Lawful basis: Legitimate interests

The reason we use this basis: We have identified that as a colleague of one of our researchers or as a relevant stakeholder in the output of the project, your area of work is sufficiently aligned with the work of the GCRF Drugs and (dis)order research project that you would benefit from receiving alerts and updates about the project.

We process your information in the following ways: We store your data (your name and email address) using our secure email provider, Mailchimp. Data retention period: We will continue to process your information under this basis until you ask us not to.

Sharing your information: We do not share your information with third parties.

If, as determined by us, the lawful basis upon which we process your personal information changes, we will notify you about the change and any new lawful basis to be used if required. We shall stop processing your personal information if the lawful basis used is no longer relevant.

Your individual rights

Under the GDPR your rights are as follows. You can read more about your rights in details here;

  • the right to be informed;
  • the right of access;
  • the right to rectification;
  • the right to erasure;
  • the right to restrict processing;
  • the right to data portability;
  • the right to object; and
  • the right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling.

You also have the right to complain to the ICO [www.ico.org.uk] if you feel there is a problem with the way we are handling your data.

We handle subject access requests in accordance with the GDPR.

Analytics

We use a third-party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out such things as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site and material downloaded from the site. This information is only processed in a way that does not identify anyone. We do not allow Google to make any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting the website.

If we do collect personal data through our website we will be transparent about this. We’ll make it clear when we collect personal information and we’ll explain what we intend to do with it.

Internet cookies

We use cookies on this website to provide you with a better user experience. We do this by placing a small text file on your device/computer hard drive to track how you use the website, to record or log whether you have seen particular messages that we display, to keep you log Some cookies are required to enjoy and use the full functionality of this website.

We use a cookie control system which allows you to accept the use of cookies, and control which cookies are saved to your device/computer. Some cookies will be saved for specific time periods, where others may last indefinitely. Your web browser should provide you with the controls to manage and delete cookies from your device, please see your web browser options.

Data security and protection

We ensure the security of any personal information we hold by using secure data storage technologies and precise procedures in how we store, access and manage that information. Our methods meet the GDPR compliance requirement.

Email marketing messages & subscription

Under the GDPR we use the consent lawful basis for anyone subscribing to our newsletter or marketing mailing list. We only collect certain data about you, as detailed in the “Processing of your personal date” above. Any email marketing messages we send are done so through an EMS, email marketing service provider. An EMS is a third-party service provider of software/applications that allows marketers to send out email marketing campaigns to a list of users.

Email marketing messages that we send may contain tracking beacons/tracked clickable links or similar server technologies in order to track subscriber activity within email marketing messages. Where used, such marketing messages may record a range of data such as; times, dates, I.P addresses, opens, clicks, forwards, geographic and demographic data. Such data, within its limitations will show the activity each subscriber made for that email campaign.

Any email marketing messages we send are in accordance with the GDPR and the PECR. We provide you with an easy method to withdraw your consent (unsubscribe) or manage your preferences/the information we hold about you at any time. See any marketing messages for instructions on how to unsubscribe or manage your preferences, you can also unsubscribe from all MailChimp lists by following this link.

Our EMS provider is Mailchimp. We hold the following information about you within our EMS system;

  • Email address
  • Subscription time & date
  • In some cases, first name and last name

You can read the Mailchimp privacy policy here.