At VoteMatch, we take your privacy and voting rights very seriously. Any information you provide is used and processed securely, and anonymously where possible. Personal data is handled in accordance with the applicable Data Protection legislation. This Privacy and Cookies Statement explains what happens to the information you provide when using VoteMatch. We therefore advise that you read it carefully.
Who runs VoteMatch?
VoteMatch is an online voting assistance tool run by the ProDemos House for Democracy and Rule of Law (‘ProDemos’). It offers a means of obtaining information on the standpoints held by the various political parties in the Netherlands, and to find out which party is most closely aligned with your views.
ProDemos – House for Democracy and the Rule of Law is responsible for the processing of personal data as described in this document.
Hofweg 1 H
2511 AA The Hague
Telephone: +31 (0)70 757 02 00
E-mail: stemwijzer@prodemos.nl
What data is collected so that VoteMatch can function normally?
roDemos stores some technical and other data in log files to allow the VoteMatch server to function properly, namely:
Once VoteMatch is launched, it is downloaded locally to your own device (i.e. your computer, tablet or telephone). Your responses to the VoteMatch questions and statements (and your results) are only recorded and stored on your own device. This information is not sent to ProDemos (or its servers), or made available to ProDemos in any other way.
What data is collected by Google Analytics?
We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of our website for improvement and development purposes. We have set it up in a privacy-friendly manner, which means the information we receive (including your computer’s IP address, excluding the last three digits) is sent to Google and stored in servers located in the United States. We have also concluded a processing agreement with Google, which sets out how the collected data is to be treated. This agreement forbids Google from using the acquired information for other Google services. However, Google can provide data to third parties if required by law, or if these third parties process the data on Google’s behalf. We have no further influence in this regard. For more information on Google Analytics and data processing, please see the Google Privacy Policy.
Note: Google’s privacy policy is subject to frequent change.
What data is collected if you give your consent?
After providing your responses to VoteMatch, you are given the option to view similar opinions by other users. You are also given the option to make your results available to universities for research purposes (in anonymous form, and with your IP address and other technical details removed). If you agree, your responses and prioritised issues will be sent to the ProDemos server. If you give your consent, your IP address (as a pseudonym) and the time of use will also be sent to the ProDemos server for data-security purposes. You do not have to agree to the above, and can still view your VoteMatch results even if you do not give your consent.
Why is the data collected?
The VoteMatch data that ProDemos collects from you is used:
How long is the data stored for?
Technical details can be stored for up to thirty (30) days, after which it is deleted. The anonymous data (that allows you to view similar voting behaviour by other users) is stored until thirty days after the elections. The anonymous data collected for university research purposes is stored for fifteen (15) years. To store data on the server, we save your IP address (as a pseudonym) and the time of use for up to twenty-four (24) hours.
What do we do with the data collected via VoteMatch?
As described above, we treat your data confidentially. We do not supply the data collected via our website to third parties, except to those responsible for the technical operation of the site, with whom we have made strict agreements. Nor will we provide your data to anyone else, unless you have given your permission or we are required to do so by law.
How is the data secured?
ProDemos has taken appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure the data it processes against loss or improper use. To ensure this, ProDemos stores data that can be traced back to you temporarily, and in a highly secure form. Also, ProDemos will only store your responses if you have given your express permission to do so. ProDemos ensures that only authorised persons are given access to your data, and that this access is protected.
What cookies do we use?
VoteMatch uses Google Analytics cookies. Cookies are small data files that can be saved to, and read from, a user’s device (their computer, tablet or telephone) when visiting VoteMatch. The website does so using the user’s device. We have set up Google Analytics in a privacy-friendly manner.
How can I delete or turn off cookies?
Most cookies have an expiry date, which means they will stop working after a certain length of time, and they will no longer store data on your website visits. You can also manually delete the cookies before they expire – please see your browser documentation for more information on how to do this. You can also turn off cookies by changing your browser settings (please see your browser help for exact instructions).
What are my rights?
You have various rights under privacy legislation. You may withdraw your consent at any time, for example, as well as ask to see what data ProDemos has stored about you at any time. Requests to withdraw consent or to view your data can be sent to stemwijzer@prodemos.nl. ProDemos aims to respond to data-viewing requests within four (4) weeks. Because ProDemos does not have access to your name or any other data that can identify you, we may ask for additional information to verify your identity before being able to grant your request (such as a cookie ID or your IP address). Due to our policy of only storing traceable data temporarily and in anonymised form where possible, ProDemos may no longer have any information available that can identify you.
If you wish to modify the personal information presented to you in response to your request, you may ask ProDemos to adjust, correct, supplement, delete, move or protect your data via the aforementioned e-mail address. ProDemos will respond to your request within four (4) weeks. If ProDemos declines your request, the reasons for doing so will be given in its response.
Can this privacy and cookies statement be modified?
This privacy and cookies statement is subject to change. Any modifications will be announced on the VoteMatch website (https://stemwijzer.nl). We therefore recommend checking the privacy and cookies statement regularly, to stay informed of any changes.
Complaints about data processing
Of course we are willing to help if you have a complaint about the way your information is treated. Under privacy legislation, you are entitled to submit a complaint to the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA) regarding our data processing policy. To do so, please contact the Authority directly.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this privacy and cookies statement, please contact us either by e-mail via stemwijzer@prodemos.nl, or by telephone on +31 (0)70-7570200.
Last updated: February 2018
Note: The above text is a translation of the Dutch Privacy and Cookies Statement. It is provided for informative purposes only, and no legal or other rights may be derived from it.