Privacy Policy – Cicero Insight Journalists (CIJ)
Effective Date: 1 January 2026
1. Introduction
We are committed to protecting the personal data of our readers, contributors, and any other individuals who interact with our services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679 – GDPR).
2. Who We Are
Controller: Cicero Insight Journalists (CIJ)
Address: Leonardo Da Vincilaan 19A, Stockholm building, 1831 Brussels, Belgium.
Privacy Contact: the Chief Editor.
Contact Email: dpo@cicero-insight.com
3. What Personal Data We Process
We may process the following categories of personal data:
Identification data (e.g., name, email address, phone number).
Professional data (e.g., job title, employer).
Online identifiers (e.g., IP address, cookies, device IDs).
Content you submit (e.g., comments, articles, photographs).
Subscription and payment information (if applicable).
4. Lawful Bases for Processing
We rely on the following lawful bases under the GDPR:
Consent: When you voluntarily opt‑in to newsletters, surveys, or marketing communications.
Contractual Necessity: To fulfill agreements such as subscription services or commissioned work.
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal duties (e.g., tax reporting, court orders).
Legitimate Interests: For activities such as journalistic freedom and the public's right to information, improving site security, analytics, and fraud prevention, provided these interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
5. How We Collect Data
Directly from you when you fill out forms, subscribe, comment, or correspond via email.
Automatically through technical means (cookies, server logs) when you visit our website.
From third‑party service providers (e.g., payment processors, mailing services) who act on our behalf.
6. Purpose of Processing
We process personal data to:
Deliver news content, newsletters, and personalized updates.
Manage subscriptions, payments, and contractual obligations.
Respond to inquiries, comments, and feedback.
Conduct analytics to improve our services and audience experience.
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
We do not engage in automated decision-making, including profiling, that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you (Art. 22 GDPR). We may use analytics for aggregate insights, but not for individual profiling.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above, or as required by law. Typical retention periods:
Subscriber data: until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
Financial records: for a minimum of ten (10) years, in line with Belgian fiscal and accounting regulations, per Belgian Code of Economic Law (Art. 3.323).
Commenter data: for the duration of the article’s online presence, unless the user requests removal or the comment is deemed no longer relevant to public discourse.
8. Your Rights Under the GDPR
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right of Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data where lawful.
Right to Restriction of Processing: Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format.
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
Where processing is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our DPO at the email address provided above. We will respond within one month, as required by the GDPR.
9. International Transfers
Where we transfer data outside the EEA (e.g., to US-based providers like Google), we use Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission and conduct Transfer Impact Assessments as required.
10. Recipients of Personal Data
We share data with categories of recipients including: hosting providers, email service providers, and analytics providers, and legal advisors. These act as processors under our contracts with data processing agreements.
11. Security Measures
We implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. These include encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and staff training.
12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies to enhance usability and gather analytics. You can manage cookie preferences through the banner displayed on first visit or via your browser settings. Detailed information is provided in our Cookie Notice.
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect regulatory changes or operational adjustments. Any material revisions will be posted on our website with a notice of the effective date.
14. Complaints
If you believe your data protection rights have been infringed, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority (https://www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be/) or the authority in your EU member state.
###
Cookie Notice – Cicero Insight Journalists (CIJ)
Effective Date: 1 January 2026
This Cookie Notice explains how Cicero Insight Journalists ("we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website. This document should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
1. What are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better browsing experience, and send information to the website owners.
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for several reasons, which generally fall into the following categories:
Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are essential for the website to function. They enable basic features like page navigation and access to secure areas. The website cannot function properly without these.
Analytical/Performance Cookies: These allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and see how they move around our website. This helps us improve the way our site works (e.g., ensuring users find what they are looking for easily).
Functional Cookies: These are used to recognize you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalize our content for you (e.g., remembering your language preference).
Journalistic & Social Media Cookies: These allow you to share content via social media platforms or allow us to embed external content (like videos or tweets) directly into our articles.
3. Third-Party Cookies
In some cases, we use cookies provided by trusted third parties. For example:
Google Analytics (for site usage; see their privacy policy). Social media plugins from X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook (for sharing; they set cookies for tracking—opt-out via their sites).
4. Managing Your Preferences
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies.
Cookie Banner: When you first visit our site, a banner will appear asking for your consent to use non-essential cookies. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" icon at the bottom of the page. Non-essential cookies (analytics, functional, social) are only set after your active consent. You can withdraw consent anytime via 'Cookie Settings', which updates immediately."
Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or indicate when a cookie is being sent.
Note: If you disable strictly necessary cookies, some parts of our website may not function correctly.
5. Changes to This Notice
We may update this Cookie Notice from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for legal and regulatory reasons. Please revisit this page regularly to stay informed.
Contact Us
For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, or about our use of cookies, please reach out to:
Data Protection Officer
The Chief Editor
Email: dpo@cicero-insight.com
Last updated on 1 January 2003, 1 January 2010, 1 January 2018, and 1 January 2026