UKTN Introduces Enhanced Privacy Protections
Tech City News Limited, the publisher behind UKTN, has published an updated privacy policy effective February 2024. The new document details the company's approach to collecting, using, and safeguarding personal data from visitors to its website. The policy is designed to comply with the UK's data protection regulations and aligns with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) principles, ensuring transparency and user control over personal information.
What Data Does UKTN Collect?
According to the policy, UKTN collects several categories of personal data. Identity Data includes first name, last name, username, marital status, title, date of birth, and gender. Contact Data encompasses billing and delivery addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Financial Data covers bank account and payment card details. Transaction Data records payments and product purchases. Technical Data involves IP addresses, login data, browser type, time zone, and operating system details. Profile Data includes usernames, passwords, purchase history, interests, preferences, and survey responses. Usage Data tracks how visitors interact with the website, and Marketing and Communications Data records user preferences for receiving marketing.
The company notes that it also collects Aggregated Data, which is statistical or demographic information that does not directly identify individuals. If aggregated data is combined with personal data, it is treated as personal data subject to the same protections. UKTN explicitly states it does not collect Special Categories of Personal Data such as race, religion, health, or sexual orientation, nor does it collect data on criminal convictions.
How is Personal Data Collected?
UKTN gathers data through direct interactions, such as when users fill out forms, create accounts, subscribe to newsletters, enter competitions, or provide feedback. Automated technologies like cookies and server logs collect Technical Data during website visits. Additionally, UKTN may receive personal data from third parties, including analytics providers like Google and advertising networks such as Google DoubleClick for Publishers. The policy notes that these third parties may be based outside the European Union.
Legal Basis for Processing
The policy outlines that UKTN processes personal data only when legally permitted. The primary lawful bases include performance of a contract with the user, compliance with a legal obligation, and legitimate interests of the company or a third party, provided those interests do not override the user's rights. UKTN does not generally rely on consent as a legal basis except for sending direct marketing via email or text. Users can withdraw consent at any time.
A detailed table in the policy specifies the purposes for which data is used, such as registering new customers, processing orders, managing relationships, enabling surveys and competitions, improving website security, delivering relevant content and advertisements, and conducting data analytics. For each purpose, the corresponding data categories and lawful basis are listed. For example, registering a new customer relies on identity and contact data under performance of a contract, while administering the website uses identity, contact, and technical data based on legitimate interests and legal obligations.
Marketing and User Choices
UKTN uses identity, contact, technical, usage, and profile data to create a view of user interests and send promotional offers. Users will receive marketing communications if they have requested information, purchased services, or entered a competition and have not opted out. Before sharing data with third parties for their own marketing, UKTN obtains express opt-in consent. Users can opt out of marketing at any time by logging into the member area of the website, clicking opt-out links in messages, or contacting the company directly. Opting out of marketing does not affect data provided for product purchases or transactions.
The policy addresses cookies, stating that users can set their browsers to refuse cookies but warns that some website features may not function properly without them. For more details, UKTN directs users to a separate cookie policy.
Data Sharing and International Transfers
UKTN shares personal data with internal third parties within its corporate group and external third parties, including IT service providers, professional advisers such as lawyers and accountants, and regulatory authorities like HM Revenue & Customs. The policy specifies that data may be transferred, sold, or merged as part of business acquisitions or restructuring. All third parties are required to respect data security and process data only for specified purposes.
Regarding international transfers, UKTN states it does not transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area. If transfers do occur, the company will use countries deemed adequate by the European Commission, standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission, or the Privacy Shield framework for US-based providers. Users can request further details on transfer mechanisms by contacting UKTN.
Data Security and Retention
UKTN has implemented security measures to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or alteration of personal data. Access is limited to employees, agents, and contractors with a business need to know, who are bound by confidentiality duties. The company has procedures to handle data breaches and will notify users and regulators as required by law.
Data retention periods are based on legal requirements. For example, basic customer information such as contact, identity, financial, and transaction data is kept for six years after the customer relationship ends for tax purposes. Users can request erasure under certain circumstances. Aggregated anonymized data may be used indefinitely for research or statistics without further notice.
User Rights Under the New Policy
The policy outlines several rights available to users under data protection laws. Users can request access to their personal data via a data subject access request, receiving a copy of the data held and verification of lawful processing. They can request correction of incomplete or inaccurate data, with verification of new data. The right to erasure allows users to ask for deletion of data where there is no compelling reason for processing, or if the user has objected to processing, data was unlawfully processed, or local law requires deletion. However, UKTN may not always be able to comply due to legal reasons that will be explained.
Users have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing. If they object, UKTN may demonstrate overriding legitimate grounds. Restriction of processing can be requested to suspend data use while accuracy is checked, if processing is unlawful but erasure is not wanted, if data is needed for legal claims, or if the user has objected pending verification of legitimate grounds. The right to data portability allows users to receive their data in a structured, machine-readable format or have it transferred to another controller, applicable only to automated data provided by consent or contract.
Finally, users can withdraw consent at any time for processing based on consent, though this does not affect prior lawful processing. Withdrawal may affect the company's ability to provide certain services, and UKTN will advise if that is the case.
Contact and Complaints
UKTN has appointed Marco Callegari as Data Protection Officer (DPO). Users can direct questions or requests to mydata@wearemvi.com or by post at 124 City Road, London, England, EC1V 2NX. The telephone number is 0208 150 8286. Users have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection authority, but UKTN encourages contacting them first to resolve concerns. The policy was last updated on 4 February 2024, and users can request a copy of previous versions.
The comprehensive privacy notice is structured in a layered format, allowing users to navigate sections covering important information, data collected, collection methods, usage, disclosures, international transfers, security, retention, legal rights, and a glossary. UKTN emphasizes reading this notice alongside any other specific privacy notices provided during data collection. The policy supplements other notices and does not override them. By using the UKTN website after the update, users acknowledge and agree to the practices described in the policy.
Source:UKTN News