DEFEND-BIO

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PRIVACY POLICY

Version 1.0 – Last update: 28/10/2025

This privacy statement explains DEFEND-BIO’s guidelines for handling personal data, the questions and services you can request from us, and further information regarding privacy and data protection according to the principles stipulated by the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enforced on 25 May 2018.

1. Who are we?

DEFENDBIO is a consortium by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Brussels School of Governance (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development (Utrecht University), Centre for Development and Environment CDE (University of Bern) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights), developed within the framework of the Biodiversa+ call 2023-2024 Nature-based solutions for biodiversity, human wellbeing and transformative change.

2. Protection of Personal Data

When personal data is processed, it is limited to the intended purpose and under legitimate interest according to article 6(1)f GDPR. Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties and will not be used for direct marketing. DEFEND-BIO applies the highest possible security measures to prevent any misuse of your personal data by third parties.

3. Responsible for the processing

DEFEND-BIO is hosted through WordPress.com and the responsible party for the processing of the data is Automattic Inc.

Automattic Inc. (operator of WordPress.com, Jetpack, Akismet, Gravatar, and Crowdsignal). Automattic Inc. is established in the United States and Ireland.

4. Personal data

When using our website, you can access most of the information without you having to provide any personal information. Nevertheless, our hosting provider (Automattic Inc.) automatically records technical data such as VPN, IP address, browser type, and operating system, and pages visited to keep the website secure and ensure proper performance.  All the information collected is processed in accordance with the legitimate interest as regulated in article 6(1)f GDPR legislation.

You can read Auttomatic Inc.’s Privacy Policy Statement here.

5. Cookies

Cookies are information stored on your devices when you visit a website, they help the site remember your preferences and make your experience smoother. Some cookies come from the website itself (first-party cookies), while others are placed by trusted partners that provide features like analytics or videos (third-party cookies). Automattic Inc. processes cookies for technical reasons, you can check their Cookies Policy Statement here.

6. Where your data is sent and stored

DEFEND-BIO securely stores your personal data throughout the operational time of this website. Data is hosted on servers operated by Automattic Inc., which may be located outside the EU. Automattic Inc. relies on EU Standard Contractual Clauses and other safeguards to ensure an adequate level of protection.

7. Privacy Policies of Other Websites

DEFEND-BIO website contains links to other websites that may collect data about you. Our privacy policy applies only to our website. If you click on a link to another website, we strongly advice you to read their privacy policy.

8. Registration for events

DEFEND-BIO does not directly or indirectly collect any data or personal data for the registration of events. The collection of data for the registration of events depends on the platform each event decides to implement for the registration process. We strongly recommend you read their privacy policy statements each time you wish to register an event supported by DEFEND-BIO.

9. Know your rights

DEFEND-BIO would like to make sure you are fully aware of all your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following:

  • right to access – You have the right to request DEFEND-BIO for copies of your personal data.
  • right to rectification – You have the right to request that DEFEND-BIO corrects any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request DEFEND-BIO to complete the information you believe is incomplete.
  • right to erasure – You have the right to request that DEFEND-BIO deletes your personal data under the conditions determined by law.
  • right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that DEFEND-BIO restricts the processing of your personal date, under certain conditions.
  • right to object to processing – Whenever the processing is based on general or legitimate interest (art. 6.1.e & f GDPR), you have the right to object to DEFEND-BIO processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
  • right to data portability – You have the right to request that the Brussels Centre for Urban Studies transfers the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions and as far it is technically possible.

When our processing activity is based on your prior consent (art. 6.1.a GDPR), withdrawal of such given consent is always possible without this affecting the lawfulness of the processing of personal data as this is on the basis of the permission previously granted.

10. How to exercise your rights

    To exercise your rights as a concerned party, it suffices to send your question to dpo@vub.be or send a written request to Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels – Building M – Office 508. In both cases, add a copy of your identity card that only shows the front side, your name and your ID picture. If you do not wish to share a scan of your ID documentation, please provide us with other information by which we can verify the legitimacy of your request; or give us a call.

    11. Requests and complaints

    Finally, if you wish to file a request or complaint about how your information is treated, you can send an e-mail to the DEFEND-BIO to defendbio@vub.be, or you can also file a complaint to the Belgian Data Protection Authority who is responsible for upholding the law on data protection: Data Protection Authority (GBA), Drukpersstraat 35, 1000 Brussel, +32 2 274 48 00, contact@apd-gba.be, www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be

    Complaints filed with the GBA do not limit your right to lodge legal proceedings before the competent court in any way; nor does it limit the possibility to request compensation for damage suffered.

    12. Changes to this policy

    DEFEND-BIO reserves the right to make changes to the privacy statement if needed, to address the needs and requirements of society, as well as abide by the relevant laws and regulations. Therefore, DEFEND-BIO advises you to consult this statement regularly. The ‘‘Last updated’’ date will show you the day of the last modification.