POLAR JOURNAL AG

Privacy Policy Polar Journal AG

1. Introduction

Polar Journal AG (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you visit our website www.polarjournal.net (the “Website”), including its subpages **Polar Voyages** and **Polar Jobs**, and use our services. This policy is in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union and the Federal Data Protection Act of Switzerland.

 

2. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for the processing of your personal data is:

Polar Journal AG Baarerstrasse 23 CH-6300 Zug, Switzerland; E-Mail: info@polarjournal.net, Phone: +41 44 380 30 30

 

3. Data Protection Officer (DPO)

We are not required to appoint a Data Protection Officer under Article 37 GDPR.

 

4. Types of Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Website Visitors Data:
  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information, referring website addresses, pages you visit on our Website, timestamps, and internet service provider.
  • Usage Data: Information about how you use our Website, products, and services, including traffic data, location data (if you consent to location tracking), weblogs and other communication data.
• Newsletter Subscribers Data:
  • Contact Data: Email address, name (if provided), preferences regarding newsletter content (if collected).
• Authors Data:
  • Identity Data: Name, affiliations, ORCID ID (if provided).
  • Contact Data: Email address, postal address, phone number.
  • Professional Data: Biographical information, areas of expertise, publications, CV.
  • Payment Data: Bank details, tax information (for author payments, if applicable).
• Contact Form Data:
  • Contact Data: Name, email address.
  • Content Data: Content of your message, any attachments.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies Data: Information collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies (please see our Cookie Policy in Section 11).
• Social Media Interactions: If you interact with our social media pages (e.g., liking, sharing, commenting), we may collect data that is publicly available on your social media profile, depending on your privacy settings.

 

5. Purposes of Processing and Legal Basis

We process your personal data for the following purposes and based on the following legal bases under GDPR Article 6:

• To operate and maintain our Website (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – Legitimate Interests): To ensure the proper functioning of our Website, to administer our Website and for internal operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey purposes, and to keep our Website secure and prevent fraud. Our legitimate interest is to ensure the stability, security, and functionality of our online presence and to provide users with a functional and secure website. This includes analyzing server logs for security purposes and website performance monitoring.
• To improve our Website and services (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – Legitimate Interests): To analyze website usage and trends (e.g., using Google Analytics), to personalize and improve user experience, to optimize content, and to develop new features and services. Our legitimate interest is to continuously improve our Website and services to better meet user needs and expectations, enhance content relevance, and optimize website design and functionality based on user behavior analysis.
• To send newsletters (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR – Consent): To send you newsletters and marketing communications about Polar Journal AG and related topics if you have freely subscribed to our newsletter and provided your explicit consent to receive such communications. Processing is based on your consent, which you provide through a clear affirmative action when subscribing to our newsletter (double opt-in process). You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any newsletter or by contacting us directly.
• To publish content (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – Legitimate Interests and Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR – Contract for authors): To publish articles, blog posts, and other content on our Website, which may include authors’ personal data (name, affiliation, biography). For authors, processing their personal data for publication purposes is necessary for the performance of the contract to publish their work and disseminate it to the public. For general website visitors, processing is based on our legitimate interest in providing access to diverse and informative published content and promoting academic and journalistic discourse.
• To communicate with you (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – Legitimate Interests and Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR – Legal Obligation): To respond to your inquiries and requests submitted through contact forms, email, or other communication channels, to provide customer support, to address your feedback, and to comply with legal obligations to respond to user requests or provide information as required by law. Our legitimate interest is to effectively and efficiently respond to user inquiries, provide customer support, and manage communication effectively. Legal obligation applies when we are legally required to process data in response to user requests (e.g., data subject rights requests under GDPR).
• To process author submissions and payments (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR – Contract and Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR – Legal Obligation): To manage the submission, review, editing, and publication process for authors’ content, and to process payments to authors where applicable. Processing is necessary for the performance of the contract with authors and to comply with financial and tax regulations related to payments.
• To comply with legal obligations (Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR – Legal Obligation): To comply with applicable laws and regulations to which we are subject beyond responding to user requests. This includes, for example, compliance with accounting and tax laws, responding to binding requests from regulatory authorities or law enforcement agencies, and cooperating with public authorities where legally required.

 

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, or as required or permitted by applicable law. Specific retention periods are as follows:

• Website Visitors Data:
  • Technical Log Data (Server Logs): Typically retained for security and technical administration purposes for 30 days.
  • Anonymized Analytics Data (e.g., Google Analytics): Anonymized and aggregated analytics data may be retained for longer periods for statistical analysis, trend analysis, and website improvement purposes, typically for 14 months. Raw Google Analytics data retention settings are configured to 14 months.
• Newsletter Subscribers Data: We retain your email address and newsletter preferences as long as you remain subscribed to our newsletter. Upon unsubscription, your email address will be suppressed from future mailings and deleted from our active newsletter list within 14 days. For record-keeping purposes of consent management, we may retain a record of your unsubscription request for 24 months to ensure we respect your opt-out preferences and can demonstrate compliance with consent requirements.
• Authors Data:
  • Published Articles and Author Biographies: We retain published articles and author biographies indefinitely for archival purposes, to maintain the integrity of our published content, and to preserve a historical record of Polar Journal AG’s publications.
  • Author Contact Information: We retain author contact information (email address, postal address, phone number) for potential future communication related to their publications and for maintaining our author database. We will retain author contact information as long as Polar Journal AG continues its operations as an online journal, unless an author specifically requests removal of their contact information, in which case we will review such requests on a case-by-case basis, balancing the author’s request with our legitimate interests in maintaining records of our publications and author network.
  • Payment Data: Payment data will be retained for as long as required by applicable financial regulations and tax laws, typically for 10 years after the end of the relevant financial year.
• Contact Form Data: We retain contact form data and related correspondence for 12 months to manage inquiries, provide customer support, maintain communication history, and for quality assurance purposes.
• Social Media Interactions Data: Data collected from social media interactions (likes, shares, comments) may be retained for as long as the relevant social media post exists. We will adhere to the data retention policies of the respective social media platforms.

After the applicable retention period expires, we will securely delete or anonymize your personal data in accordance with our data deletion policies and applicable laws.

 

7. Data Sharing and Transfers

We may share your personal data with the following categories of recipients for the purposes described in Section 5:

• Service Providers (Data Processors): We engage third-party service providers who act as our data processors to assist us in operating our Website, conducting our business, and providing services to you. These categories of service providers include:
  • Hosting providers: For website hosting and infrastructure: Netzone AG, Panoramaweg 2, CH-5040 Schöftland.
  • Analytics providers: For website analytics and usage analysis (e.g., Google Analytics): Google Analytics, Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; [Hu]manity Rights Inc., 65 Castle Gardens, Kimbolton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England, PE28 0JE ; Meta Pixel, Meta Platforms Technologies Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.
  • Email marketing providers: For sending newsletters and marketing communications: Brevo, Sendinblue GmbH, Köpenicker Straße 126, 10179 Berlin.
  • IT service providers: For IT support, maintenance, and security services: Stefan Bauer, DataBauer, Vordere Hauptgasse 120, CH-4800 Zofingen.
  • Payment processors: For processing payments to authors or for services: Payrexx, Burgstrasse 20, CH-3600 Thun.
  • Cloud storage providers: For secure data storage and backup: Netzone AG, Panoramaweg 2, CH-5040 Schöftland.
  • These service providers will have access to your personal data only to perform these specific tasks on our behalf and are contractually obligated to process your data in accordance with our instructions, this Privacy Policy, and applicable data protection laws. They are bound by confidentiality and data security obligations.
• Public Authorities: We may disclose your personal data to competent public authorities, regulatory bodies, government agencies, law enforcement agencies, courts, or other third parties where we believe disclosure is necessary (i) to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation, (ii) to protect our vital interests or the vital interests of another natural person, (iii) to establish, exercise or defend legal claims, or (iv) to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, we may disclose or transfer personal data to the relevant third party involved (e.g., prospective buyer or merged entity) as part of that transaction, provided that the recipient agrees to process your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

International Data Transfers:

Due to the global nature of the internet and our use of international service providers, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland. This may include countries that do not provide the same level of data protection as Switzerland and the EU/EEA. Where we transfer your personal data to such countries, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal data in accordance with GDPR requirements. These safeguards may include:

• Adequacy Decisions: Currently, we do not rely on adequacy decisions for international data transfers beyond Switzerland and the EU/EEA.
• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs): We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission for data transfers to recipients in countries without adequacy decisions, ensuring contractual obligations are in place to protect your data: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection/standard-contractual-clauses-sccs_en

By using our Website and services and providing personal data to us, you consent to the potential transfer of your personal data to these countries and the safeguards implemented for such transfers, as described in this Privacy Policy.

 

8. Data Security

We have implemented and maintain appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized access, and other unlawful or unauthorized forms of processing, in accordance with applicable legal requirements. These measures include, but are not limited to:

• Data Encryption: Encryption of data in transit is ensured through HTTPS for website traffic (SSL/TLS). Data at rest in our cloud storage is also encrypted by our hosting provider, Netzone AG.
• Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems: We utilize a website firewall (Wordfence Security) to protect our Website. Our hosting provider, Netzone AG, also implements firewalls and intrusion detection systems at the server infrastructure level.
• Access Controls and Authorization: Access to the backend of our Website and systems is strictly limited to authorized personnel (administrators and editors) through role-based access control. We enforce strong password policies and two-factor authentication for all administrative accounts to enhance security.
• Data Minimization: We adhere to the principle of data minimization and strive to collect only the minimum personal data necessary for each specific purpose.
• Regular Security Assessments and Testing: We conduct regular vulnerability scans and security testing of our Website and systems to identify and address potential security weaknesses.
• Data Backup and Disaster Recovery: We perform regular data backups to ensure data availability and have a disaster recovery plan in place to minimize disruption in case of technical incidents or data loss events.
• Security Awareness: Our personnel is regularly made aware of security best practices and data protection principles to ensure ongoing vigilance in protecting personal data.
• Physical Security Measures: Our office premises have secure entries to prevent unauthorized physical access. We rely on our hosting provider, Netzone AG, for the physical security of the data center infrastructure where our website and data are hosted.

We regularly review and update our security measures to ensure an adequate level of security and to adapt to evolving security threats and technological changes.

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. Therefore, while we take extensive measures to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

If you have access to parts of our websites or use our services that require a user ID and password, you are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential. Please do not share your password with anyone.

 

9. Your Rights under the GDPR and Swiss DPA

If you are located in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you have certain rights regarding your personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (FADP). These rights include:

• Right to Access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether or not we process personal data concerning you, and where we do, to request access to that personal data and information about how we process it.
• Right to Rectification: You have the right to request the correction of inaccurate personal data and to have incomplete personal data completed.
• Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): In certain circumstances, you have the right to request the erasure of your personal data.
• Right to Restriction of Processing: In certain circumstances, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
• Right to Data Portability: Under certain conditions, you have the right to receive the personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit those data to another controller.
• Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain situations, particularly for direct marketing purposes and in cases where we are processing your data based on our legitimate interests.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If our processing of your personal data is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. The withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint with a Supervisory Authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority in the EU or Switzerland, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement if you consider that the processing of your personal data infringes the GDPR or the FADP. In Switzerland, the competent supervisory authority is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC): https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/en
• Right to Object to Direct Marketing: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes, including profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process your personal data for such purposes. You can exercise your right to object to direct marketing in the following ways:
  • Adjusting Social Media Platform Settings: You can manage your advertising preferences directly within the settings of the social media platforms we use for promotion (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X). Refer to the privacy settings and advertising preference sections of the respective platforms for information on how to limit targeted advertising.
  • Managing Cookie Preferences: You can adjust your cookie preferences on our Website to prevent the use of cookies and similar technologies for marketing and advertising purposes. Please refer to Section 11 for more information on managing your cookie consent.
  • Contacting Us Directly: You can contact us using the contact details provided in Section 2 to object to direct marketing and request that we stop using your data for such purposes.

If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, we will respect your choice and ensure that your personal data is no longer processed for these purposes.  Please note that even if you object to direct marketing, you may still see general, non-targeted advertisements from us on social media platforms.

How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided in Section 2. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws, typically within one month of receipt of your request, unless we require an extension, in which case we will inform you of the reasons for the delay. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request to protect data privacy and security. We will process your request free of charge, unless your request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive character, in which case we may charge a reasonable fee or refuse to act on the request.

 

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, applications, and services that are not operated by us, such as social media platforms (e.g., social media “share” or “like” buttons), embedded content (e.g., YouTube videos), or links to external websites and resources for informational purposes or citations. We may also use functionalities of third-party providers on our Website (e.g., social media plugins, embedded maps, etc.).

Please note that this Privacy Policy does not apply to, and we are not responsible for, the privacy practices of such third-party websites, applications, and services. Any access to and use of such third-party links and services is not governed by this Privacy Policy, but instead is governed by the privacy policies and terms of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of those third-party websites, applications, and services before providing any personal data to them or using their services.

To the extent that third-party links or services on our Website collect or process personal data independently, they are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable data protection laws. We encourage you to directly review their privacy policies and data processing information.

 

11. Cookie Policy

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your Browse activities and preferences. This section provides detailed information about the cookies we use, their purposes, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your browser or device by websites you visit. Cookies are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide website owners with information about visitors’ online activities. Cookies can be “persistent” or “session” cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your device after you have closed your browser until they expire or you delete them. Session cookies expire when you close your browser.

Types of Cookies We Use and Purposes:

We use the following categories of cookies on our Website:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies (Essential Cookies): These cookies are essential for the operation of our Website and enable you to navigate and use its essential features. They are typically set in response to your actions on the website, such as setting your privacy preferences. Without these cookies, services you have asked for, like accessing secure areas, cannot be provided. Legal basis for these cookies is Legitimate Interest: We have a legitimate interest in ensuring the basic functionality and security of our Website and in remembering your cookie consent preferences.
  • Specific Strictly Necessary Cookies Used:
    • `hu-consent` (Cookie Consent Preferences)
    • Purpose: To remember your cookie consent preferences and ensure the basic functionality of the cookie banner.
  • Performance/Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect information about how visitors use our Website, for example, which pages visitors go to most often. These cookies help us to improve the way our Website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily. We use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, and Post Views Counter for this purpose. Legal basis for these cookies is Consent.
    • Specific Analytics Cookies Used:
      • `_ga` (Google Analytics)
      • `_ga_17QDWSPXYP` (Google Analytics)
      • `_fbp` (Meta Pixel)
      • `pvc_visits_other[0]` (Post Views Counter)
      • Purpose: To analyze website traffic, track page views, understand user behavior, and improve website performance and content. We use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, and Post Views Counter for this purpose. See Section 12 for more information on Google Analytics and Section 13 for more information on Meta Pixel.
    • Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow our Website to remember choices you make (such as your language). The information these cookies collect may be anonymized, and they cannot track your Browse activity on other websites. Legal basis for these cookies is Consent.
      • Specific Functionality Cookies Used:
        • `_icl_visitor_lang_js` (WPML Language Cookie)
        • `wpml_browser_redirect_test` (WPML Browser Redirect Test)
        • Purpose: To remember your language preferences for website display and to enable language-related functionalities provided by the WPML plugin
      • Targeting/Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. Legal basis for these cookies is Consent.
        • Specific Targeting/Advertising Cookies Used:
          • `_fbp` (Meta Pixel – used for targeted advertising)
          • Purpose: To display personalized advertisements on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) based on your Browse behavior and interests, using Meta Pixel.

 

List of Cookies Used:

Cookie Name	Category	Purpose	Provider	Duration
`hu-consent`	Strictly Necessary	Remembers user’s cookie consent preferences	[Hu]manity Rights Inc.	User defined (1, 6, 12 months)
`_ga`	Performance/Analytics	Analyzes website traffic and user behavior	Google Analytics	30 days
`_ga_17QDWSPXYP`	Performance/Analytics	Analyzes website traffic and user behavior (likely related to specific tracking)	Google Analytics	30 days
`_fbp`	Performance/Analytics	Analyzes website traffic, tracks user behavior, and enables targeted advertising on social media platforms	Meta	3 months
`pvc_visits_other[0]`	Performance/Analytics	Counts page views for performance analysis	Post View Counter Plugin	1 day
`_icl_visitor_lang_js`	Performance/Analytics	Remembers visitor’s language preference	WPML Plugin	3 days
`wpml_browser_redirect_test`	Functionality	Tests browser language redirect functionality	WPML Plugin	Per Session

 

How to Manage Cookie Preferences:

You have the right to control your cookie preferences and to withdraw your consent to cookies (except for strictly necessary cookies). You can manage your cookie preferences in the following ways:

• Cookie Consent Banner/Tool: We provide a cookie consent banner powered by [Hu]manity Rights when you first visit our website. You can use this banner to manage your preferences and choose between accepting or rejecting all non-essential cookies.
• Browser Settings: You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
  • See what cookies you have and delete them individually.
  • Block third-party cookies.
  • Block cookies from specific sites.
  • Set cookies to be deleted when you close your browser.
  • Completely block cookies to be placed on your device.

Please refer to your browser’s help documentation for instructions on how to manage your cookie settings. Links to cookie settings for popular browsers:

• Cookie settings in Chrome: (chrome://settings/cookies)
• Cookie settings in Edge: (edge://settings/content/cookies)
• Cookie settings in Safari: (safari://settings/privacy/managewebsitedata)
• Cookie settings in Firefox: (about:preferences#privacy)
• Cookie settings in Opera – Search in Opera settings for “cookies”

Please note: If you disable cookies entirely in your browser settings, you may not be able to access all parts of our Website or use all functionalities.

• Google Analytics Opt-out: For Google Analytics cookies specifically, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out browser add-on: (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en). This add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) running on websites from sharing information with Google Analytics about visit activity.

More Information about Cookies:

You can find more general information about cookies at websites like www.allaboutcookies.org or www.youronlinechoices.com.

 

12. Google Analytics

Our Website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to help us analyze how users use the Website.

Data Processing by Google Analytics:

The information generated by Google Analytics cookies about your use of this Website is usually transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

IP Anonymization:

We have implemented IP anonymization on this website. Your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. This IP anonymization ensures that your IP address is shortened to prevent it from being directly linked to your identity.

Purpose of Google Analytics:

Google will use this information on our behalf for the purpose of evaluating your use of the Website, compiling reports on website activity, and providing us with other services relating to website activity and internet usage. We use Google Analytics to analyze and improve our Website’s performance, user experience, and content.

Data Processing Agreement:

We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google for the use of Google Analytics, ensuring that Google processes data on our behalf and in accordance with GDPR requirements

Data Transfers to the US:

Please note that when using Google Analytics, personal data, including your anonymized IP address, may be transferred to Google servers in the United States. The US is not recognized by the European Commission as providing an adequate level of data protection under GDPR. To ensure adequate protection for data transfers to the US, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) with Google. [Learn more about EU Standard Contractual Clauses used by Google Cloud] (https://cloud.google.com/security/compliance/eu-scc).

Your Choices Regarding Google Analytics:

• Cookie Consent Banner: You can withdraw your consent to Google Analytics cookies and manage your preferences at any time through the cookie consent banner provided by [Hu]manity Rights when you first visit our website.
• Browser Settings: You can also prevent the storage of Google Analytics cookies by adjusting your browser settings as described in Section 11 “Cookies and Tracking Technologies.”
• Browser Plugin: You can prevent Google’s collection and use of data (cookies and IP address) by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en .

Google’s Privacy Policy:

For more information about Google’s data processing practices and privacy policy in relation to Google Analytics, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en .

 

13. Social Media Plugins and Links

Our Website uses social media plugins (“plugins”) and links from social networks and platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, YouTube, and Vimeo (each a “Social Media Platform”). These plugins are usually identifiable by their respective social media platform logos. We also embed content from these Social Media Platforms into our articles from time to time.

Social Media Plugins:

When you visit a page of our Website that contains a social media plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the servers of the respective Social Media Platform. The Social Media Platform directly transmits the plugin content to your browser, which integrates it into the Website.

Data Processing by Social Media Platforms via Plugins:

Please be aware that by activating and using these plugins (e.g., by clicking a “Like” button or sharing content), personal data may be transmitted to and processed by the respective Social Media Platform. We have no influence over the scope of data collected by the Social Media Platforms via these plugins. This data processing is carried out by the Social Media Platforms and is governed by their respective privacy policies.

Embedded Social Media Content:

We embed feeds, posts, and videos from Social Media Platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky into our articles. When you view embedded social media content on our Website, it may establish a connection to the servers of the respective Social Media Platform and allow them to track your interaction with the embedded content.

Purposes of Data Processing by Social Media Platforms:

The Social Media Platforms may use the data collected through plugins and embedded content for purposes such as:

• Enabling you to share content with your social networks.
• Tracking your Browse behavior across websites that have integrated their plugins or embedded their content.
• Personalizing advertisements and content displayed to you on their platforms.
• Improving their services and developing new features.

Data Transferred to Social Media Platforms:

The data transferred to Social Media Platforms when you use plugins or interact with embedded content may include:

• Your IP address.
• Information about the website page you are currently visiting.
• Date and time of your visit.
• Browser and operating system information.
• If you are logged into your account on the Social Media Platform, they may be able to directly associate your visit to our Website with your user account.

Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel):

Our Website also uses Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel), which may be considered a social media plugin provided by Meta Platforms Technologies Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.  Information about Meta Pixel is included in this section as it relates to data processing by Meta Platforms, similar to social media plugins.  Please refer to the “Meta Pixel” subsection within Section 11 for more specific details about Meta Pixel cookies, purposes, and your choices regarding Meta Pixel cookies.  Data collected by Meta Pixel may be processed by Meta Platforms for the purposes described above for Social Media Platforms, including tracking Browse behavior and personalizing advertisements on Meta platforms.  For data transfers outside the EEA related to Meta Pixel, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) with Meta. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/help/566994660333381 .

Social Media Links:

Our Website also contains links to our profiles on Social Media Platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, YouTube, Vimeo). When you click on these links, you will be redirected to our pages on the respective platforms. Please note that Social Media Platforms are independent controllers of data processing and their privacy policies apply to your interactions with their platforms.

Social Media Platform Privacy Policies and Ad Preferences:

For information about the scope and purpose of data collection and processing by Social Media Platforms through plugins, embedded content, and your interactions with our social media profiles, as well as your rights in this respect and settings options for protecting your privacy, please refer to the privacy policies of the respective Social Media Platforms:

• Facebook Privacy Policy https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/?entry_point=data_policy_redirect&entry=0
• X Privacy Policy https://x.com/de/privacy
• Instagram Privacy Policy (covered by Meta Privacy Policy) https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/?entry_point=data_policy_redirect&entry=0
• LinkedIn Privacy Policy https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
• Bluesky Privacy Policy https://blsky.tech/privacy-policy/
• YouTube Privacy Policy covered by Google Privacy Policy https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
• Vimeo Cookie Policy (and Privacy Information) https://vimeo.com/cookie_policy

You can manage your preferences for online advertising from Meta (Facebook, Instagram) through your Facebook and Instagram ad settings:

• Facebook Ad Preferences Settings: https://www.facebook.com/settings – After clicking this link, navigate to ‘Ads’ in the left-hand menu or under ‘Your ad preferences’ to manage your ad settings.
• Instagram Ad Preferences Settings: https://www.instagram.com – After clicking this link, navigate to ‘Settings’, then to ‘Ads’, then ‘Ad Preferences’ to manage your ad settings.

Recommendation: We recommend that you review the privacy policies of the Social Media Platforms you use to understand their data processing practices and your options for managing your privacy settings on those platforms.

 

14. Children’s Privacy

Our Website and services are generally not directed to children under the age of 13 years. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13 without **verifiable parental consent (via a consent form signed by at least one parent and sent to us via e-mail to our address stated in Section 2)**. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal data without your consent, please contact us using the contact details in Section 2, and we will take steps to remove that personal data from our systems.

For children under 13, we require a consent form signed by at least one parent to collect and process their personal data. Parents or guardians can obtain the consent form by contacting us at the email address provided in Section 2. The signed consent form should be sent to us via email to the same address.

If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete such data as soon as possible.

While the content of our Website is not specifically age-related, our paid services such as consulting, promotion, and advertising are not intended for minors. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children and adhere to Swiss law regarding the processing of children’s data.

 

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our data processing practices, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post any changes on our Website, typically on the Privacy Policy page itself, and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy. For significant changes that materially affect your rights or the processing of your personal data, we will make reasonable efforts to provide you with more prominent notice, such as via email or a website banner, where reasonably possible and as required by applicable law. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal data.

 

16. Contact and Complaints

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, or if you wish to exercise any of your data subject rights, please contact us at:

Polar Journal AG, Baarerstrasse 23, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, Email: info@polarjournal.net, Phone: +41 44 380 30 30

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As Polar Journal AG is based in Switzerland, the lead supervisory authority for data protection matters in Switzerland is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

In Switzerland, you can contact the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC):

Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC), Feldeggweg 1, CH – 3003 Bern, Switzerland; Website: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) Website (https://www.edoeb.admin.ch)

 

Last Updated: April 15th, 2025