As our service provider is based in the European Union and we serve individuals within the EU (including, for now, the UK), we will, from 25 May 2018, be bound by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR, Regulation (EU) 2016/679). The GDPR will apply to Childless Stepmums Forum as a Data Controller.
Our lawful basis for processing data is consent. All users are required to agree to terms and conditions prior to registering for the forum, and we provide an EU cookie notice at the first contact.
Following the GDPR, each individual has the right to: be informed, access, rectification, erasure, restricted processing, data portability and object. This post will outline how we intend to allow members to exercise their rights under this Regulation.
The right to be informed -
The right to be informed encompasses our obligation to provide ‘fair processing information’, typically through a privacy notice. It emphasises the need for transparency over how we use personal data.
In terms of personal data, the only data we collect is data in which you supply, with the exception of your IP address and hostname. As we are an anonymous forum, little personal data is collected and we do not require you to provide any additional personal data, with the exception of your email address. We also collect your IP address/hostname (in the event of a ban needing to be placed on your account, for the purposes of dealing with hacking, and if we are required to contact your ISP), and your username (for post identification).
Further, the forum automatically uses a cookie, a text file containing bits of information (such as your username and password), in your browser's cache. This is ONLY used to keep you logged in/out. The software does not collect or send any other form of information to your computer.
Any formal requests should be made to admin@childlessstepmums.co.uk. All emails must come from the email associated with your account.
The right of access -
The right of access means you have the right to confirmation that your data is being processed and access to your personal data.
Your data is being processed. All data we have is accessible via your profile. If you want us to provide you with additional information (such as your IP address), then please use the contact email above.
The right to rectification -
This gives you the right to have your personal data rectified. Personal data can be rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete.
The forum does not collect any personal data other than what is provided by you.
The right to erase -
The right to erasure is also known as ‘the right to be forgotten’. The broad principle underpinning this right is to enable you to request the deletion or removal of personal data where there is no compelling reason for its continued processing.
On the forum, this can be dealt with by requesting to delete your account. A deletion will have to be approved by an administrator (to protect against accounts being deleted maliciously). You are able to delete your individual posts.
The right to restrict processing -
You have a right to ‘block’ or suppress processing of personal data. When processing is restricted, we are permitted to store the personal data, but not further process it.
Our data processing is as restricted as possible. Processing generally requires you to act on our website, therefore not using the website will cease such processing.
The right to data portability -
This allows you to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes across different services. This allows you to move, copy or transfer personal data easily from one IT environment to another in a safe and secure way, without hindrance to usability.
Ultimately all posts you make and other information you provide are all accessible. If you wish for us to send you the data we hold, a request should be made to the email above.
The right to object -
You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or the performance of a task in the public interest/exercise of official authority (including profiling), direct marketing (including profiling), and processing for purposes of scientific/historical research and statistics.
We do not generally process data for these purposes.
Data breaches -
In accordance with GDPR, if we become aware of a data breach, we are obliged, within 72 hours, to notify any users involved. As we do not believe such a breach would result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, breaches will not be reported to the supervisory authority.
Children -
The GDPR contains new provisions intended to enhance the protection of children’s personal data. As we do not identify individual's beyond their IP address, username and email address, we do not believe any action is required.
Other provisions -
As our data processing does not possess a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, we are not required to undertake a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), nor are we required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). We reserve the right to reveal information we hold about you (or any other related information collected on this service) in the event of a formal complaint or legal action arising from any situation caused by your use of this forum, in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom.
We will consider on an ongoing basis all other requirements.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
You agree, through your use of this forum, to the following guidelines governing the forum. Should you post in violation of any of these guidelines, the administrators reserve the right to terminate your account without notice.
• Posts may not discriminate or contain discriminatory language related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin or religious faith/beliefs.
• Post may not contain false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hate, harassment, or profane language.
• Posts may not contain adult material or anything in violation of the laws governing the United Kingdom or International law.
• Posts may not contain any copyrighted material unless you own the copyright or you have written consent from the owner of the copyrighted material.
• Posts may not contain spam, flooding, advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations.
• Posts may not contain the real names of any individuals, please refer to the acronym post for guidelines.
Note that all valid requests for membership are approved and therefore it is impossible for us to block any specific person before they are a member.
The posted messages express the views of the author, and not necessarily the views of this forum, its moderators, its subsidiaries, or the forum's owner. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented. Anyone who feels that a posted message is objectionable should notify an administrator or moderator of this forum immediately. The moderators and the owner of this forum reserve the right to remove objectionable content if they determine that removal is necessary.
Note that the moderators are all volunteers and therefore any reported post will be reviewed when someone is available which may not be immediately.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the owner of this forum, any related websites to this forum, its moderators and its subsidiaries
You have the ability when you register to choose your username. We advise that you keep the name appropriate. Please do not use your real name or your email address as your user name, to protect your anonymity. You agree to never give your password out to another person except an administrator, for your protection and for validity reasons. You also agree to NEVER use another person's account for any reason. We also HIGHLY recommend you use a complex and unique password for your account, to prevent account theft.
After you register and login to this forum you will be able to fill out a detailed profile. It is your responsibility to present clean and accurate information. Any information the forum owner or moderators determine to be inaccurate or vulgar in nature will be removed, with or without prior notice. Appropriate sanctions may be applicable.
By applying for membership you consent to the forum holding the personal data you provide, including but not limited to username, email address, hostname and IP address. This data is stored on servers in Germany. This data will be solely used for administering the forum and contacting you via the forum messaging service with the exception of gross violation of forum policy as stated above and/or legal action being taken when it may, subject to the necessary warrants, be provided to law enforcement officials.
