How do we...

 

Learn more about how we treat your personal data 

We strive to provide ease and adhere to GDPR's transparency demands. Thus, this privacy policy is designed for clarity and understanding.

Section 1

Introduction

Words Laboratory offers a range of language services online, in collaboration with an extensive network of freelance language professionals. Our network encompasses diverse experts such as copywriters, authors, journalists, translators, editors, proofreaders, and specialists in plain language.

Safeguarding your personal information is of paramount importance to us. This policy outlines our protocol for managing your data.

Are you interested in availing the services provided by Words Laboratory? Acceptance of this data protection policy is a prerequisite. Additionally, it's essential to recognize that this policy may undergo revisions periodically. Rest assured, this data privacy policy is designed to uphold your rights. We won't curtail your rights without your explicit consent. Any modifications will be made visible on this webpage. Should significant changes occur, our clients and associates will be personally notified. We also maintain records of previous policy versions. Feel free to request access to these editions whenever you deem necessary.

Section 2

Applicable jurisdiction

Our website operates under the jurisdiction of Swiss data protection law, encompassing the Federal Act on Data Protection (DPO), along with pertinent international data protection regulations. Notably, this includes the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It's important to acknowledge that Switzerland's data protection standards have been deemed sufficient by the EU.

Section 3

Collection and processing of personal data

Within the Words Laboratory system, distinct profiles are established for existing and prospective customers, partners, and freelance associates. These profiles primarily encompass self-provided contact particulars, including:

  • Full Name
  • Gender
  • Contact Addresses (residential or business)
  • Email Addresses
  • Website URLs
  • Phone Numbers

Additionally, where necessary, we retain information crucial for order management and customer support, such as:

  • Documents earmarked for editing/translation
  • Notes from communications
  • Log files chronicling order-related system activities within the customer's profile.

For safeguarding purposes, we might also retain IP addresses, timestamps, and dates. This measure assists in preventing misuse, such as identity fraud and unsolicited correspondence.

Under the legal framework, data storage and collection adhere to the tenets outlined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), specifically Article 6, Paragraph 1, Clauses a, b, and f. We have a legitimate interest in network and information security.

Section 4

Data storage locations

The storage of this data occurs within the confines of our website, the Words Laboratory system it encompasses, and the comprehensive database. Microsoft Azure undertakes the hosting responsibilities with data centers. With each interaction on our website, Microsoft Azure generates conventional web server log files, retaining the subsequent particulars:

  • IP address
  • Date
  • Time
  • Browser request, alongside the request's origin ("referrer")
  • Essential details encompassing the "user agent," a determinant of the browser category, including language, version, and operating system.

Moreover, the Words Laboratory system maintains files for recording errors and function executions. These log files might incorporate user-related data. Their purpose is to facilitate the detection of technical anomalies and to fortify security measures. To ensure data privacy, log files are purged within a maximum period of 365 days.

The selected hosting jurisdictions—namely Switzerland—abide by the data protection standards upheld by all EU member states. The legal foundation for log file retention aligns with GDPR Article 6, Paragraph 1, Clauses a, b, and f, stemming from our genuine interest in fortifying network and information security. For further insights, consult the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Section 5

Data utilization methodology

Every bit of data amassed is dedicated solely to the following functions:

  • Execution of ongoing orders and tasks
  • Provision of support and guidance to our clientele
  • Conducting sales analyses (both anonymized and personalized)
  • Evaluation of web traffic (both anonymized and personalized)
  • Facilitating sales and promotional endeavors within the Words Laboratory.

In specific scenarios, data transmission to external parties might transpire. For instance, this could involve the transfer of particular data to the newsletter tool provider or freelance translators, as deemed essential to fulfill their respective responsibilities. However, rest assured that the data shared is strictly confined to the requirements of our intended objectives and never extended for supplementary use by third parties.

Section 6

Ensuring data security

To safeguard your data from potential loss, theft, and unauthorized access, we have implemented an array of procedural, physical, and technical security protocols. Nonetheless, given the inherent characteristics of electronic data transmission, it's important to note that absolute confidentiality cannot be assured—there remains a minimal level of risk.

In your capacity as a customer, the onus lies on you to uphold the security of your login credentials, email account, and the API authentication token (refer to Paragraph 7). It's pertinent to highlight that secure transport encryption (SSL/TLS) is in place as you interact with our website.

Section 7

Outsourced services to external entities

In fulfilling our daily copywriting and translation tasks, we collaborate with partner firms affiliated with Words Laboratory and leverage our expansive network of language specialists from around the world. They are exclusively provided with documents submitted by our clients, refraining from accessing any other personal data.

It's pivotal for you to understand that our partners are bound by a commitment to maintain the confidentiality of all personal information. Our partners fall within two categories:

  • United States Partners: Most of our partners in the United States adhere to data protection standards that align with the GDPR. They adhere to parallel data processing regulations and operate under established contractual clauses. Their data protection protocols are comprehensively documented in a contractual framework.
  • European Union-Based Companies: Entities situated within EU member states are governed by GDPR compliance. Robust data protection measures are unequivocally ensured in this context. The legal foundation for data protection within European companies is expounded in GDPR Article 6, Paragraph 1, Clauses a and b.

Section 8

Usage of Cookies

At Words Laboratory, cookies play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency, speed, and security of our service provision. Our diverse array of services, spanning websites, APIs, email notifications, and advertisements, incorporates this technology to fulfil a range of objectives, encompassing:

  • Enrolling you in the Words Laboratory system
  • Preserving your preferences
  • Tailoring displayed content to your preferences
  • Safeguarding against spam and abuse
  • We abstain from utilizing cookies for personalized advertising endeavors (remarketing).

What Exactly Are Cookies? Cookies are diminutive files that websites store on your computer while you navigate the internet. Similar to many other online platforms, we employ cookies to amass insights into how individuals engage with our services, subsequently enabling us to enhance user experiences.

The Rationale Behind This Technology Cookies empower us to furnish, assess, and enhance our services via a multitude of avenues. Our employment of cookies revolves around the following objectives:

1. Authentication and Security:

  • Facilitating your access to the Words Laboratory system
  • Fortifying your account's security
  • Permitting access to content reserved for specific users
  • Identifying and preempting spam and misuse

These technological measures, for instance, serve the purpose of verifying your identity when interacting with the Words Laboratory system, thus thwarting unauthorized account access by external parties.

2. Customized Settings:
Cookies, for instance, aid us in conserving your preferred language or present country settings, enabling us to present content in your chosen language. This ensures that you are not prompted for language preferences each time you log in.

3. Presence of Third-Party Cookies:
Confirmed For instance, the integrated Google Analytics service generates cookies to monitor your browsing activities on the Words Laboratory website. A similar process unfolds if you access our website through one of our GoogleAds advertisements.

4. Disabling Cookie Storage:
Google offers a browser add-on that enables the deactivation of Google Analytics. Additionally, you can configure your browser to allow cookie storage solely with your consent or exclusively in specific instances.

Section 9

Utilization of social media

At Words Laboratory, we maintain active profiles on diverse social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. As you engage with our profiles, your information is concurrently collected by these platforms. It's important to note that we lack influence over how these platforms employ your data. For comprehensive insights into data handling, you can refer to the respective privacy policies of these platforms:

  • LinkedIn Privacy Policy
  • Instagram Privacy Policy
  • Facebook Privacy Policy

Our engagement on social media serves dual purposes. Firstly, it facilitates direct communication with fellow users. Secondly, it assists us in identifying prospective clients. Consequently, our sales team might initiate contact if you engage with our campaigns or posts.

Section 10

Your data subject rights

As a data subject, you possess a range of rights pertaining to your personal data. You are entitled to request information regarding the processing of your personal data, at no cost, and to ascertain if we have indeed processed your personal data and, if so, the specific nature of the data. Moreover, you retain the following rights:

  • Restriction of Personal Data Processing
  • Request for Access to Relevant Data Records
  • Rectification, Deletion ("Right to Be Forgotten"), or Blocking of Personal Data Access
  • Withdrawal of Previously Given Consent
  • Objection to the Collection of Your Personal Data

For individuals whose personal data has been processed by us, there exists the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority. In Switzerland, the supervisory body for data protection matters is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

Section 11

Final remarks

Opting out of our newsletter is a simple process, and you're free to unsubscribe whenever you choose. Either utilize the provided link within each newsletter email or reach out to Words Laboratory directly for assistance.

It's important to acknowledge that, like any other website, accessing our platform entails exposure to mass surveillance conducted by security entities in various jurisdictions, including Switzerland, the EU, and the US. This surveillance remains a possibility irrespective of your internet activities' level of suspicion.