Privacy Policy

Comparative Civilizations Forum

The Comparative Civilizations Forum (CCF) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you visit our website or engage with our activities.

Information We Collect

We collect only the data necessary to operate our website and activities effectively.

a) Information You Provide Voluntarily

Name
Email address
Institutional affiliation (if applicable)
Membership or event registration details
Messages sent via contact forms
Newsletter subscriptions

b) Automatically Collected Information

IP address
Browser type and version
Device and operating system
Pages visited and time spent on the site

This data is collected through cookies and standard analytics tools and is used only for website functionality and improvement.

How We Use Your Information

We use your data for the following purposes:

To communicate with members, participants, and subscribers
To manage memberships, events, webinars, and conferences
To send newsletters and organizational updates (only if you opt in)
To improve website performance and user experience
To comply with legal or regulatory obligations

CCF does not sell, rent, or trade personal data.

Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

Where applicable under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process personal data based on:

Your consent
The performance of a contract (e.g. membership or event participation)
Legitimate interests related to academic and organizational activities
Legal obligations

Data Sharing and Third Parties

We may share limited data with trusted service providers solely for operational purposes, such as:

Website hosting and maintenance
Email distribution platforms
Event registration tools
Payment processors (where applicable)

All third parties are required to comply with applicable data protection laws.

Our website uses cookies to ensure proper functionality and basic analytics.

You can:

Accept or decline cookies via your browser settings
Disable cookies at any time (this may affect site functionality)

Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:

For the purposes for which it was collected
To meet legal, accounting, or reporting requirements
Until you request deletion, where applicable

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access your personal data
Request correction or deletion
Withdraw consent at any time
Object to or restrict processing
Request data portability

To exercise these rights, contact us at iscsc1961@gmail.com.

Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against:

Unauthorized access
Loss or misuse
Disclosure or alteration

While no system is completely secure, we strive to apply best practices appropriate to a scholarly non-profit organization.

International Users

CCF operates internationally. Your data may be processed outside your country of residence but will always be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.