AFOES privacy commitment

Internet privacy policy

The data controller collecting the data described herein is AFOES CONSULTANTS, UAE. Personal data collected by AFOES may be transferred to other individual AFOES firms, where it is necessary to meet the purpose for which the visitor has submitted the information. By submitting data on AFOES’s website, the visitor is providing explicit consent to transborder transmission of data collected on the website for the fulfilment of their voluntary requests.

Data collection

We collect only personally identifiable information that is specifically and voluntarily provided by visitors to AFOES’s website. AFOES receives limited identifiable information, such as name, Title, company address, email address, and telephone and fax numbers, from website visitors. Typically, identifying information is collected to:

• Register for certain areas of the site
• Inquire for further information
• Distribute requested reference materials
• Submit resumes

Demographic information, including gender and occupation, is not actively sought, but may be submitted when a visitor responds to an online job application. It is AFOES’s policy to limit the information collected to only the minimum information required to complete a visitor’s request. In any instance where non-mandatory information is sought, the website visitor will be notified of this at the point of collection.

Although most publications are provided as downloads, visitors may also have the opportunity to purchase AFOES publications either online, by calling toll free numbers, or by faxing order forms to our fulfilment houses. We will collect order information and a customer’s credit card information, where applicable, in order to facilitate shipment and payment for the publication.

Visitors are also able to send email through the site. Their messages will contain the user’s screen name and email address, as well as any additional information the user may wish to include in the message. Because we use the website as a recruiting tool, a visit to the website may also result in the user sending a resume to an individual within AFOES.

AFOES’s intention is not to seek any sensitive information through our website unless legally required for recruiting purposes. Sensitive information includes a number of types of data relating to: race or ethnic origin; political opinions; religious or other similar beliefs; trade union membership; physical or mental health; sexual life or criminal record. We suggest that you do not provide sensitive information of this nature. If you do wish to provide sensitive information for any reason, AFOES accepts your explicit consent to use that information in the ways described in this privacy statement or as described at the point where you choose to disclose this information.

Use of data

A user may choose to provide personal information in the following examples:

• Order publications
• Submit resumes or work history information
• Participate in “join our mailing list” initiatives
• Participate in bulletin boards, discussion or message forums
• Contact us for further information
• Enter Quick Surveys, Quiz’s or Benchmarking Surveys
• Register for events and conferences
• Register for premium online services

If you would like to find out more about the different categories of information collected, please review the data collection section.

Information attained by the site is used only for the intended purpose stated at the time that the information is collected. This data is not shared with other entities in the network for secondary or unrelated purposes, or shared with a third party, unless otherwise disclosed at the point of collection. If there is an instance where such information may be shared, the visitor will be asked for permission beforehand.

AFOES makes every practical effort to avoid excessive or irrelevant collection of data. If a visitor believes the site has collected excessive information, we encourage the visitor to contact us at mail@afoes.ae to raise any concerns.

Except for the mailing list initiative described above, where visitors explicitly choose to receive specific AFOES marketing or other materials, AFOES will not use personal data collected from our websites to facilitate unsolicited marketing activities.

Cookies and log files

Cookies may be used on some pages of our site. “Cookies” are small text files placed on your hard drive that assist us in providing a more customised website experience. For example, a cookie can be used to store registration information in an area of the site so that a user does not need to re-enter it on subsequent visits to that area. It is AFOES’s policy to use cookies to make navigation of our websites easier for visitors and to facilitate efficient registration procedures. Site statistics are compiled by third parties, and therefore your IP address will be passed to third parties for statistical reporting only.

If you are concerned about cookies, most browsers permit individuals to decline cookies. In most cases, a visitor may refuse a cookie and still fully navigate our websites, however other functionality in the site may be impaired. After termination of the visit to our site, you can always delete the cookie from your system if you wish.

In order to properly manage our website we may anonymously log information on our operational systems, and identify categories of visitors by items such as domains and browser types. These statistics are reported in the aggregate to our webmasters. This is to ensure that our website presents the best web experience for visitors and is an effective information resource.

Third parties

It is AFOES’s policy only to disclose information to third parties under the following circumstances:

• As required by law through subpoena, search warrant or other legal process
• When explicitly requested by a visitor
• When required to deliver publications or reference materials requested by a visitor
• When required to facilitate conferences or events hosted by a third party

AFOES’s policy is to disclose information to third parties upon visitors submitting their requests (e.g., when ordering a publication, we display the party fulfilling the order).

AFOES websites do not collect or compile personally identifying information for dissemination or sale to outside parties for consumer marketing purposes, or host mailings on behalf of third parties.

Third party links

There are several places throughout www.afoes.ae that may link to other websites that do not operate under AFOES’s privacy practices. When you link to otherwebsites, AFOES’s privacy practices no longer apply. We encourage visitors to review each site’s privacy policy before disclosing any personally identifiable information.

Data retention

Some of the information we receive is not retained. For example, we usually do not keep mailing addresses for white papers. Contact information about visitors (such as information generated though registration for access to areas on the site) will be kept as long as the information is required to completely service the contact request or until a user requests that we delete that information. Mailing list information, discussion posts and email are kept for only the period of time considered reasonable to facilitate the visitor’s requests. Resumes are disposed of when they are either no longer under consideration, or are considered dated by our Human Resources departments.

Choices

As a policy, visitors are not required to register to gain access to areas of the AFOES website. In certain cases in the future, as your AFOES website experience expands, we may require visitors to register in order to obtain a user-id and password for authentication and secure access to a transaction or certain business confidential or proprietary information services on premiumwebsites.

Personally identifiable information provided to AFOES through its website is provided voluntarily by visitors. Should visitors subsequently choose to unsubscribe from mailing lists or any registrations, we will provide instructions on the appropriate website area or in communications to our visitors; or a visitor may contact the webmaster of the appropriate site e.g., webmaster@afoes.ae

Access

Each visitor has the right of access to personal data they have submitted through the websites to AFOES.

User updates of information should be handled by going back through the registration process. Inquiries about the accuracy of identifying information previously submitted to AFOES through its website, or requests to have outdated information removed, should be directed to: mail@afoes.ae. AFOES is committed to providing reasonable and practical access to visitors to allow them the opportunity to identify and correct any inaccuracies. When requested and practical, AFOES will delete identifying information from current operational systems.

When personally identifiable information is retained, AFOES assumes responsibility for keeping an accurate record of the information once a visitor has submitted and verified the data. AFOES does not assume responsibility for verifying the ongoing accuracy of the content of personal information. When practically possible, if AFOES is informed that any personal data collected through a website is no longer accurate, AFOES will make appropriate corrections based on the updated information provided by the authenticated visitor.

Security

AFOES has implemented generally accepted standards of technology and operational security in order to protect personally identifiable information from loss, misuse, alteration or destruction. All AFOES employees follow a network-wide security policy. Only authorised AFOES personnel are provided access to personally identifiable information and these employees have agreed to ensure confidentiality of this information. AFOES’s policy is to use secure socket layer technology for the protection of credit card information submitted through web forms. This policy is also required for any fulfilment agents of our firms.

Children

AFOES understands the importance of protecting children’s privacy especially in an online environment. The AFOES sites covered by this privacy statement are not intentionally designed for or directed at children 13 years of age or younger. It is AFOES’s policy never to knowingly collect or maintain information about anyone under the age of 13.

Modifications

AFOES reserves the right to modify or amend this Statement at any time. The effective date will be displayed at the beginning of this statement. To keep visitors informed, AFOES will notify users of changes to our Privacy Statement by prominently identifying the alteration for a period of not less than two weeks on our home page at http://www.afoes.ae