Privacy Policy for EuropeVoices.com

Last Updated: June 11, 2025
At EuropeVoices.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we are dedicated to safeguarding your privacy and fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful community. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal data when you access or use our forum website (the “Website”), which allows users to post items for sale or offer services and enables viewers to contact them. We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU ePrivacy Directive, and other applicable European data protection laws.
By using EuropeVoices.com, you agree to this Privacy Policy, which forms part of our Terms of Service (europevoices.com/terms-of-service). If you do not agree, please do not use the Website. This policy applies to all users, including Posters, Viewers, registered users, and guests.
1. Who We Are
Data Controller: EuropeVoices.com is operated by Europe Voices, a company registered in United States with registration number 0012459. Our registered address is PO Box 11 Farmington, CT 06032. We are the “data controller” responsible for your personal data under GDPR.
Contact Us: For questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact our Data Protection Officer:
Email: privacy@europevoices.com
Postal Address: Po Box 11 Farmington, CT 06032
Phone: 941-212-0310
2. Our Commitment to Fairness and Respect
EuropeVoices.com is committed to maintaining a platform free from discrimination, exploitation, and disrespect. We process personal data in a manner that upholds our community standards, which prohibit:
  • Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
  • Exploitative practices, such as fraud, misrepresentation, or unfair dealings.
  • Disrespectful behavior, including harassment, offensive language, or abusive conduct.
Our data practices are designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and compliance with applicable laws, fostering a safe environment for all users.
3. Personal Data We Collect
We collect and process the following categories of personal data to operate the Website and provide our services:
a. Data You Provide Directly
  • Account Registration: When you sign up as a Poster, we collect your username, email address, and password. You may optionally provide your full name, phone number, address, or profile picture.
  • Posts: Content you submit when posting items or services, including item descriptions, prices, images, and any contact details you choose to share (e.g., email, phone number).
  • Messages: Content of communications sent through our messaging system between Posters and Viewers.
  • Feedback and Reviews: Ratings, comments, or reviews you provide about transactions or interactions.
  • Customer Support: Information you submit when contacting us, such as your name, email, and details of your inquiry.
  • Payment Information: For paid features (e.g., promoted posts, premium accounts), we collect payment details (e.g., credit card information) through third-party payment processors. We do not store full payment details.
b. Data Provided by Viewers
  • Contact Information: When Viewers contact Posters, they may provide their name, email address, or phone number, depending on the contact method.
  • Messages: Content of messages sent to Posters.
c. Data Collected Automatically
  • Usage Data: Information about your interactions with the Website, such as pages visited, clicks, search queries, and time spent.
  • Device and Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and unique device identifiers.
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance functionality, analyze usage, and prevent fraud. See Section 9 for details.
d. Data from Third Parties
  • Third-Party Authentication: If you register or log in using services like Google or Facebook, we may receive your name, email address, or profile picture, subject to your consent.
  • Analytics Providers: Aggregated usage data from third-party analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics).
  • Payment Processors: Transaction confirmations from processors like godaddy payments and Stripe for paid features.
4. How We Use Your Personal Data
We process personal data for specific purposes, grounded in GDPR legal bases:
Purpose
Personal Data Used
Legal Basis
Create and manage user accounts
Username, email, password, optional profile details
Performance of a contract (
Terms of Service (europevoices.com/terms-of-service)
)
Enable posting and communication between users
Post content, contact details, messages
Performance of a contract; consent (for optional data)
Facilitate Viewer-Poster interactions
Viewer contact details, messages
Consent; legitimate interest (enabling communication)
Display posts and profiles publicly
Post content, username, optional profile details
Consent; performance of a contract
Moderate content to ensure compliance with community standards
Post content, messages, feedback
Legitimate interest (maintaining a safe platform); legal obligation
Improve Website functionality and user experience
Usage data, device data, analytics
Legitimate interest (service enhancement); consent (for non-essential cookies)
Prevent fraud, spam, or abuse
IP address, device data, usage patterns
Legitimate interest (platform security); legal obligation
Provide customer support
Name, email, support inquiries
Performance of a contract; legitimate interest (user assistance)
Process payments for paid features
Payment details (via third-party processors)
Performance of a contract; consent
Send service-related notifications (e.g., account updates, post status)
Email, username
Performance of a contract
Send marketing communications (e.g., promotions, new features)
Email, name
Consent (opt-out available)
Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax, law enforcement requests)
Relevant data as required
Legal obligation
5. How We Share Your Personal Data
We do not sell your personal data. We may share your data in the following circumstances:
a. Publicly Shared Data
  • Posts and Profiles: Content you post (e.g., item descriptions, prices, images) and certain profile details (e.g., username, bio) are visible to all Website users and may be indexed by search engines.
  • Contact Details: Information you include in posts or messages (e.g., email, phone number) is shared with Viewers who interact with you.
  • Feedback: Reviews or ratings you submit may be publicly visible.
b. With Other Users
  • Messages: Communications you send via our messaging system are shared with the recipient (Poster or Viewer).
  • Transaction Details: Contact information shared during transactions is visible to the other party.
c. With Service Providers
We engage trusted third-party providers to support Website operations, including:
  • Hosting Providers: To store Website data and content (e.g., Cloudflare London).
  • Analytics Providers: To analyze usage patterns (e.g., Google Analytics).
  • Payment Processors: To handle payments for paid features (e.g., GoDaddy payments, e.g., Stripe]).
  • Email Services: To send notifications or marketing emails (e.g.,mailchimp).
These providers are bound by GDPR-compliant contracts to protect your data and only process it for specified purposes.
d. For Legal Purposes
We may disclose data to:
e. Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of EuropeVoices.com, your data may be transferred to the new entity, with GDPR protections in place.
6. International Data Transfers
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), your data is primarily processed within the EEA. However, some service providers (e.g., analytics or cloud services) may be located outside the EEA, such as in the United States. We ensure compliance with GDPR for international transfers through:
  • Adequacy Decisions: Transfers to countries recognized by the European Commission as having adequate data protection (e.g., Canada, Japan).
  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs): Legally binding agreements with non-EEA providers to safeguard your data.
  • Supplementary Measures: Technical safeguards, such as encryption, to protect data during transfer.
You may request details of these safeguards by contacting privacy@europevoices.com (mailto:privacy@europevoices.com).
7. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law:
  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active. Upon account deletion, data is kept for up to 30 days to allow recovery, then deleted, except where legally required.
  • Post Content: Public posts remain visible until you delete them. Deleted posts are removed within 30 days.
  • Messages: Stored for 1 year after the last interaction, unless you request deletion.
  • Usage and Analytics Data: Kept for up to 2 years in aggregated or anonymized form.
  • Payment Data: Transaction records are retained for up to 7 years to comply with tax and audit obligations.
  • Legal Compliance: Data required for legal purposes (e.g., tax records, law enforcement) may be kept for up to 7 years.
When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized to prevent identification.
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Under GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right
Description
Access
Obtain a copy of your personal data we hold.
Rectification
Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Erasure
Request deletion of your data, subject to legal exceptions (e.g., tax records).
Restriction
Limit processing in specific circumstances (e.g., while a data accuracy dispute is resolved).
Portability
Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format or have it transferred to another controller.
Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests, such as direct marketing.
Withdraw Consent
Withdraw consent for processing (e.g., marketing emails) at any time, without affecting prior processing.
Automated Decisions
Not be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing that produce significant legal effects.
How to Exercise Your Rights: Contact privacy@europevoices.com (mailto:privacy@europevoices.com) with your request. We will respond within 1 month, though complex requests may take up to 3 months. You may need to verify your identity to prevent unauthorized access.
Complaints: If you are unsatisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (e.g., [Insert National Authority, e.g., CNIL in France]). A list of authorities is available at https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/about-edpb/members_en.
9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixel tags) to ensure the Website functions effectively, analyze usage, and enhance security.
a. Types of Cookies
  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for core Website functionality, such as user authentication and navigation. These cannot be disabled.
  • Analytics Cookies: Measure Website performance and usage (e.g., Google Analytics). These are optional and require your consent.
  • Marketing Cookies: Enable personalized ads or promotional content. These are optional and require your consent.
b. Managing Cookies
  • Cookie Consent Tool: Adjust your preferences via the cookie banner displayed on your first visit or through [Insert Link to Cookie Settings].
  • Browser Settings: Configure your browser to block or delete cookies, though this may impair Website functionality.
  • Third-Party Opt-Outs: Opt out of analytics cookies via tools like Google Analytics Opt-Out https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
For more details, see our Cookie Policy (insert-link-to-cookie-policy) [Note: You may need to create a separate Cookie Policy if required by local laws].
10. Data Security
We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:
  • Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (using TLS/SSL) and at rest.
  • Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access personal data, under strict confidentiality agreements.
  • Security Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity and fraud.
  • Regular Audits: Periodic assessments to identify and mitigate security risks.
Despite these measures, no system is entirely secure. In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected users and relevant authorities within 72 hours, as required by GDPR, where feasible.
11. Children’s Privacy
EuropeVoices.com is not intended for users under 16 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we discover such data, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have collected data from a child under 16, contact privacy@europevoices.com (mailto:privacy@europevoices.com).
12. Third-Party Links
The Website may include links to third-party websites or services (e.g., payment processors, social media platforms). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their privacy policies before sharing personal data.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on the Website at least 30 days before they take effect. The updated policy will be posted here with a revised “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Website after changes constitutes acceptance.
14. Additional Information for GDPR Compliance
a. Lawful Bases Summary
We process data based on:
  • Consent: For optional processing, such as marketing communications or non-essential cookies.
  • Performance of a Contract: To fulfill our obligations under the Terms of Service (insert-link-to-terms-of-service), such as account management and posting services.
  • Legitimate Interests: For purposes like improving the Website, preventing fraud, and ensuring a safe community, provided your rights are not overridden.
  • Legal Obligation: To comply with laws, such as tax regulations or law enforcement requests.
b. Your Right to Complain
If you believe we have mishandled your data, you can contact your local data protection authority (see Section 8). We encourage you to contact us first at privacy@europevoices.com (mailto:privacy@europevoices.com) to resolve issues informally.
15. Contact Us
For questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights, contact:
Email: privacy@europevoices.com
Postal Address: Po Box 11 Farmington, CT 06032
Phone: 941-212-0310
For general support, including account or transaction issues, email support@europevoices.com