Privacy Policy
Elanet

Version 1.0 – Last update: 08/05/2023

ELANET funded by and part of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Like other academic organisations, ELANET personal data. This privacy statement explains our guidelines for handling personal data, the questions and services you can request from us, and further information regarding privacy and data protection at ELANET according to the principles stipulated by the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that was enforced on 25 May 2018.

Protection of Personal Data

ELANET attaches great importance to the protection of your personal privacy. ELANET 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, ELANET advises you to consult this statement regularly. 

Guarantees for Processing Personal Data

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, with registered offices at Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene (KBO 0449.012.406), is responsible for processing personal data from students, researchers and staff, alumni, third party experts and visitors. We process this data for different reasons, which we explain in detail in the “purpose and legal basis” section.

Your personal data is always treated in accordance with the applicable privacy regulations. Processing of personal data is limited to the intended objective. Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties and will not be used for direct marketing, unless you have agreed to this yourself via an ‘opt in’.

ELANET takes the best possible security measures to prevent third parties from misusing your personal data.

Indirect processing of personal data

ELANET will, wherever possible, inform you about any indirect processing of personal data. We will give information on the source of this personal data and the categories of personal data that are processed. For example, contact details are sometimes enriched with publicly available information, such as through LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, Academia, ORCID.

Data, Purpose, Legal Basis, Transfer and Retention Time

We will not use your personal data for commercial purposes or other purposes then the ones described below. 

When using our website You can access most of the information without you having to provide any personal information. In some cases, however, you will be asked for personal data.

Certain personal data, such as those processed through cookies, are used to develop user statistics and to improve the security of our website. You can read our Cookie Policy here. 

Contact form 

ELANET provides an online contact form to enable visitors to contact us. We process your data in order to respond to your requests and remarks.
Data: name of company, name of representative, email address,, contact details, question/remark, correspondence
Purpose: responding to your requests
Legal basis: execution of contract and providing the service requested (art. 6.1.b GDPR)
Transfer: your data are not transferred to third parties
Retention time: your data are stored for a duration of 1 year after your using the contact form

Newsletter

ELANET sends out newsletters by email to all persons interested with news, information and updates on recent developments.
Data: name of company, name of representative, email address,, email address
Purpose: sending out information to those interested
Legal basis: consent (art. 6.1.a GDPR)
Transfer: your data are not transferred to third parties
Retention time: your data are stored indefinitely, until the subject has opted out.

Registration for events

To facilitate the organisation of events, ELANET processes the personal data provided during registration. 
Data: name of company, name of representative, email address, name of company, preferences.
Purpose: organisation of events
Legal basis: execution of contract (art. 6.1.b GDPR)
Transfer: your data may be transferred to external parties who assist us in the organization of our events
Retention time: following an event registration, your personal data is deleted after a follow-up email/pictures/slides/keynotes/participation cerificate has been sent out to the participants.

Sharing information with partner organisations

ELANET will share information with partners online. This sharing of personal information is with the aim of improving the visibility of the social enterprise.
Data: Name company, contact information company, email address, website link, social media link. 
Purpose: Improving visibility.
Legal basis: prior and informed consent (art. 6.1.a GDPR).
Transfer: Your data will be share with organisations that support social entrepreneurs.
Retention time: your data are stored indefinitely, until the subject has opted out.
Privacy Policies of Other Websites
ELANET website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy. 

Storage of Your Personal Data

ELANET securely stores your personal data throughout the indicated retention time. For storage, we apply the following protection and security measures:

  • Data are sent encrypted via https to dedicated servers that are secured in line with the market
  • Data are treated confidentially
  • Data are only published in a summarized or aggregated way so that reidentification is impossible
  • VUB has appointed a DPO

Data subjects’ rights

ELANET 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 ELANET for copies of your personal data. 
  • right to rectification – You have the right to request that ELANET corrects any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request ELANET to complete the information you believe is incomplete.
  • right to erasure – You have the right to request that ELANET deletes your personal data under the conditions determined by law. 
  • right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that ELANET 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 ELANET 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.

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.

Accountability and processing – data protection officer

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel values your right to privacy. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, with registered office at Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, represented by its rector is responsible for processing your personal data. In case you have specific questions about your rights concerning the processing of your data, you can contact the university’s data protection officer, by email on dpo@vub.be. 

Complaints

Finally, should you wish to file a complaint about how your information is treated, you can contact 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.

With your consent, we’d like to use what is called “cookies” in order to understand how users interact with our website and improve it.