+ Your privacy is important to us. It is Bellingcat's policy to respect + your privacy and comply with any applicable law and regulation regarding any + personal information we may collect about you, including across our website, + https://osm-search.bellingcat.com, and other sites we own and operate. +
++ Personal information is any information about you which can be used to + identify you. This includes information about you as a person (such as name, + address, and date of birth), your devices, payment details, and even + information about how you use a website or online service. +
++ In the event our site contains links to third-party sites and services, + please be aware that those sites and services have their own privacy + policies. After following a link to any third-party content, you should read + their posted privacy policy information about how they collect and use + personal information. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any of your + activities after you leave our site. +
+This policy is effective as of 15 June 2023.
+Last updated: 15 June 2023
++ Information we collect falls into one of two categories: 'voluntarily + provided' information and 'automatically collected' information. +
++ 'Voluntarily provided' information refers to any information you knowingly + and actively provide us when using or participating in any of our services + and promotions. +
++ 'Automatically collected' information refers to any information + automatically sent by your devices in the course of accessing our products + and services. +
++ When you visit our website, our servers may automatically log the standard + data provided by your web browser. It may include your device’s Internet + Protocol (IP) address, your browser type and version, the pages you visit, + the time and date of your visit, the time spent on each page, and other + details about your visit. +
++ Additionally, if you encounter certain errors while using the site, we may + automatically collect data about the error and the circumstances surrounding + its occurrence. This data may include technical details about your device, + what you were trying to do when the error happened, and other technical + information relating to the problem. You may or may not receive notice of + such errors, even in the moment they occur, that they have occurred, or what + the nature of the error is. +
++ Please be aware that while this information may not be personally + identifying by itself, it may be possible to combine it with other data to + personally identify individual persons. +
++ We may ask for personal information — for example, when you register an + account or when you contact us — which may include one or more of the + following: +
++ We consider 'user-generated content' to be materials (text, image and/or + video content) voluntarily supplied to us by our users for the purpose of + publication, processing, or usage on our platform. All user-generated + content is associated with the account or email address used to submit the + materials. +
++ Please be aware that any content you submit for the purpose of publication + will be public after posting (and subsequent review or vetting process). + Once published it may be accessible to third parties not covered under this + privacy policy. +
++ Transaction data refers to data that accumulates over the normal course of + operation on our platform. This may include transaction records, stored + files, user profiles, analytics data and other metrics, as well as other + types of information, created or generated, as users interact with our + services. +
++ We only collect and use your personal information when we have a legitimate + reason for doing so. In which instance we only collect personal information + that is reasonably necessary to provide our services to you. +
++ We may collect personal information from you when you do any of the + following on our website: +
++ We may collect, hold, use and disclose information for the following + purposes, and personal information will not be further processed in a manner + that is incompatible with these purposes: +
++ We may combine voluntarily provided and automatically collected personal + information with general information or research data we receive from other + trusted sources. For example, If you provide us with your location, we may + combine this with general information about currency and language to provide + you with an enhanced experience of our site and service. +
++ When we collect and process personal information, and while we retain this + information, we will protect it within commercially acceptable means to + prevent loss and theft, as well as unauthorised access, disclosure, copying, + use or modification. +
++ Although we will do our best to protect the personal information you provide + to us, we advise that no method of electronic transmission or storage is + 100% secure and no one can guarantee absolute data security. +
++ You are responsible for selecting any password and its overall security + strength, ensuring the security of your own information within the bounds of + our services. For example, ensuring any passwords associated with accessing + your personal information and accounts are secure and confidential. +
++ We keep your personal information only for as long as we need to. This time + period may depend on what we are using your information for, in accordance + with this privacy policy. For example, if you have provided us with personal + information as part of creating an account with us, we may retain this + information for the duration your account exists on our system. If your + personal information is no longer required for this purpose, we will delete + it or make it anonymous by removing all details that identify you. +
++ However, if necessary, we may retain your personal information for our + compliance with a legal, accounting, or reporting obligation or for + archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific, or historical + research purposes or statistical purposes. +
++ We do not aim any of our products or services directly at children under the + age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information about + children under 13. +
+We may disclose personal information to:
+Third parties we currently use include:
++ The personal information we collect is stored and/or processed in + Netherlands, or where we or our partners, affiliates, and third-party + providers maintain facilities. +
++ The countries to which we store, process, or transfer your personal + information may not have the same data protection laws as the country in + which you initially provided the information. If we transfer your personal + information to third parties in other countries: (i) we will perform those + transfers in accordance with the requirements of applicable law; and (ii) we + will protect the transferred personal information in accordance with this + privacy policy. +
++ Your choice: By providing personal information to us, you + understand we will collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal + information in accordance with this privacy policy. You do not have to + provide personal information to us, however, if you do not, it may affect + your use of our website or the products and/or services offered on or + through it. +
++ Information from third parties: If we receive personal + information about you from a third party, we will protect it as set out in + this privacy policy. If you are a third party providing personal information + about somebody else, you represent and warrant that you have such person’s + consent to provide the personal information to us. +
++ Marketing permission: If you have previously agreed to us + using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may + change your mind at any time by contacting us using the details below. +
++ Access: You may request details of the personal information + that we hold about you. +
++ Correction: If you believe that any information we hold + about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, + please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy. We will + take reasonable steps to correct any information found to be inaccurate, + incomplete, misleading, or out of date. +
++ Non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you + for exercising any of your rights over your personal information. Unless + your personal information is required to provide you with a particular + service or offer (for example processing transaction data), we will not deny + you goods or services and/or charge you different prices or rates for goods + or services, including through granting discounts or other benefits, or + imposing penalties, or provide you with a different level or quality of + goods or services. +
++ Notification of data breaches: We will comply with laws + applicable to us in respect of any data breach. +
++ Complaints: If you believe that we have breached a relevant + data protection law and wish to make a complaint, please contact us using + the details below and provide us with full details of the alleged breach. We + will promptly investigate your complaint and respond to you, in writing, + setting out the outcome of our investigation and the steps we will take to + deal with your complaint. You also have the right to contact a regulatory + body or data protection authority in relation to your complaint. +
++ Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe from our email database or + opt-out of communications (including marketing communications), please + contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy, or opt-out + using the opt-out facilities provided in the communication. We may need to + request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity. +
++ We use 'cookies' to collect information about you and your activity across + our site. A cookie is a small piece of data that our website stores on your + computer, and accesses each time you visit, so we can understand how you use + our site. This helps us serve you content based on preferences you have + specified. +
+Please refer to our Cookie Policy for more information.
++ If we or our assets are acquired, or in the unlikely event that we go out of + business or enter bankruptcy, we would include data, including your personal + information, among the assets transferred to any parties who acquire us. You + acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any parties who acquire + us may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, continue to use your + personal information according to this policy, which they will be required + to assume as it is the basis for any ownership or use rights we have over + such information. +
++ Our website may link to external sites that are not operated by us. Please + be aware that we have no control over the content and policies of those + sites, and cannot accept responsibility or liability for their respective + privacy practices. +
++ At our discretion, we may change our privacy policy to reflect updates to + our business processes, current acceptable practices, or legislative or + regulatory changes. If we decide to change this privacy policy, we will post + the changes here at the same link by which you are accessing this privacy + policy. +
++ If the changes are significant, or if required by applicable law, we will + contact you (based on your selected preferences for communications from us) + and all our registered users with the new details and links to the updated + or changed policy. +
++ If required by law, we will get your permission or give you the opportunity + to opt in to or opt out of, as applicable, any new uses of your personal + information. +
++ The GDPR distinguishes between organisations that process personal + information for their own purposes (known as “data controllers”) + and organizations that process personal information on behalf of other + organizations (known as “data processors”). We, Bellingcat, + located at the address provided in our Contact Us section, are a Data + Controller and/or Processor with respect to the personal information you + provide to us. +
++ We will only collect and use your personal information when we have a legal + right to do so. In which case, we will collect and use your personal + information lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner. If we seek your + consent to process your personal information, and you are under 16 years of + age, we will seek your parent or legal guardian’s consent to process your + personal information for that specific purpose. +
++ Our lawful bases depend on the services you use and how you use them. This + means we only collect and use your information on the following grounds: +
++ Where you give us consent to collect and use your personal information for a + specific purpose. You may withdraw your consent at any time using the + facilities we provide; however this will not affect any use of your + information that has already taken place. When you contact us, you may + consent to your name and email address being used so we can respond to your + enquiry. While you may request that we delete your contact details at any + time, we cannot recall any email we have already sent. If you have any + further enquiries about how to withdraw your consent, please feel free to + enquire using the details provided in the Contact Us section of this privacy + policy. +
++ Where you have entered into a contract or transaction with us, or in order + to take preparatory steps prior to our entering into a contract or + transaction with you. For example, if you purchase a product, service, or + subscription from us, we may need to use your personal and payment + information in order to process and deliver your order. +
++ Where we assess it is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as for us + to provide, operate, improve and communicate our services. We consider our + legitimate interests to include research and development, understanding our + audience, marketing and promoting our services, measures taken to operate + our services efficiently, marketing analysis, and measures taken to protect + our legal rights and interests. +
++ In some cases, we may have a legal obligation to use or keep your personal + information. Such cases may include (but are not limited to) court orders, + criminal investigations, government requests, and regulatory obligations. If + you have any further enquiries about how we retain personal information in + order to comply with the law, please feel free to enquire using the details + provided in the Contact Us section of this privacy policy. +
++ We will ensure that any transfer of personal information from countries in + the European Economic Area (EEA) to countries outside the EEA will be + protected by appropriate safeguards, for example by using standard data + protection clauses approved by the European Commission, or the use of + binding corporate rules or other legally accepted means. +
++ Restrict: You have the right to request that we restrict + the processing of your personal information if (i) you are concerned about + the accuracy of your personal information; (ii) you believe your personal + information has been unlawfully processed; (iii) you need us to maintain the + personal information solely for the purpose of a legal claim; or (iv) we are + in the process of considering your objection in relation to processing on + the basis of legitimate interests. +
++ Objecting to processing: You have the right to object to + processing of your personal information that is based on our legitimate + interests or public interest. If this is done, we must provide compelling + legitimate grounds for the processing which overrides your interests, + rights, and freedoms, in order to proceed with the processing of your + personal information. +
++ Data portability: You may have the right to request a copy + of the personal information we hold about you. Where possible, we will + provide this information in CSV format or other easily readable machine + format. You may also have the right to request that we transfer this + personal information to a third party. +
++ Deletion: You may have a right to request that we delete + the personal information we hold about you at any time, and we will take + reasonable steps to delete your personal information from our current + records. If you ask us to delete your personal information, we will let you + know how the deletion affects your use of our website or products and + services. There may be exceptions to this right for specific legal reasons + which, if applicable, we will set out for you in response to your request. + Please be aware that search engines and similar third parties may still + retain copies of your personal information that has been made public at + least once, like certain profile information and public comments, even after + you have deleted the information from our services or deactivated your + account. +
++ For any questions or concerns regarding your privacy, you may contact us + using the following details: +
+
+ Bellingcat Data Controller
+ contact@bellingcat.com
+
+ These Terms of Service govern your use of the website located at + https://bellingcat.com and any related + services provided by Bellingcat. +
++ By accessing https://bellingcat.com, + you agree to abide by these Terms of Service and to comply with all + applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with these Terms of + Service, you are prohibited from using or accessing this website or using + any other services provided by Bellingcat. +
++ We, Bellingcat, reserve the right to review and amend any of these Terms of + Service at our sole discretion. Upon doing so, we will update this page. Any + changes to these Terms of Service will take effect immediately from the date + of publication. +
+These Terms of Service were last updated on 15 June 2023.
++ By using this website, you warrant on behalf of yourself, your users, and + other parties you represent that you will not: +
++ The intellectual property in the materials contained in this website are + owned by or licensed to Bellingcat and are protected by applicable copyright + and trademark law. We grant our users permission to download one copy of the + materials for personal, non-commercial transitory use. +
++ This constitutes the grant of a license, not a transfer of title. This + license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these + restrictions or the Terms of Service, and may be terminated by Bellingcat at + any time. +
++ You retain your intellectual property ownership rights over content you + submit to us for publication on our website. We will never claim ownership + of your content but we do require a license from you in order to use it. +
++ When you use our website or its associated services to post, upload, share + or otherwise transmit content covered by intellectual property rights, you + grant to us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, + worldwide license to use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly display, + translate or otherwise create derivative works of your content in a manner + that is consistent with your privacy preferences and our Privacy Policy. +
++ The license you grant us can be terminated at any time by deleting your + content or account. However, to the extent that we (or our partners) have + used your content in connection with commercial or sponsored content, the + license will continue until the relevant commercial or post has been + discontinued by us. +
++ You give us permission to use your username and other identifying + information associated with your account in a manner that is consistent with + your privacy preferences and our Privacy Policy. +
++ Our website and the materials on our website are provided on an 'as is' + basis. To the extent permitted by law, Bellingcat makes no warranties, + expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties + including, without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of + merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of + intellectual property, or other violation of rights. +
++ In no event shall Bellingcat or its suppliers be liable for any + consequential loss suffered or incurred by you or any third party arising + from the use or inability to use this website or the materials on this + website, even if Bellingcat or an authorised representative has been + notified, orally or in writing, of the possibility of such damage. +
++ In the context of this agreement, “consequential loss” includes + any consequential loss, indirect loss, real or anticipated loss of profit, + loss of benefit, loss of revenue, loss of business, loss of goodwill, loss + of opportunity, loss of savings, loss of reputation, loss of use and/or loss + or corruption of data, whether under statute, contract, equity, tort + (including negligence), indemnity or otherwise. +
++ Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, + or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these + limitations may not apply to you. +
++ The materials appearing on our website are not comprehensive and are for + general information purposes only. Bellingcat does not warrant or make any + representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of + the use of the materials on this website, or otherwise relating to such + materials or on any resources linked to this website. +
++ Bellingcat has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its website and is + not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of + any link does not imply endorsement, approval or control by Bellingcat of + the site. Use of any such linked site is at your own risk and we strongly + advise you make your own investigations with respect to the suitability of + those sites. +
++ We may suspend or terminate your right to use our website and terminate + these Terms of Service immediately upon written notice to you for any breach + of these Terms of Service. +
++ Any term of these Terms of Service which is wholly or partially void or + unenforceable is severed to the extent that it is void or unenforceable. The + validity of the remainder of these Terms of Service is not affected. +
++ These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the + laws of Netherlands. You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of + the courts in that State or location. +
++ This acceptable use policy covers the products, services, and technologies + (collectively referred to as the “Products”) provided by + Bellingcat under any ongoing agreement. It’s designed to protect us, our + customers and the general Internet community from unethical, irresponsible + and illegal activity. +
++ Bellingcat customers found engaging in activities prohibited by this + acceptable use policy can be liable for service suspension and account + termination. In extreme cases, we may be legally obliged to report such + customers to the relevant authorities. +
+This policy was last reviewed on 15 June 2023.
++ We provide our facilities with the assumption your use will be + “business as usual”, as per our offer schedule. If your use is + considered to be excessive, then additional fees may be charged or capacity + may be restricted. +
++ We are opposed to all forms of abuse, discrimination, rights infringement + and/or any action that harms or disadvantages any group, individual or + resource. We expect our customers and, where applicable, their users + (“end-users”) to likewise engage our Products with similar + intent. +
++ We regard our customers as being responsible for their own actions as well + as for the actions of anyone using our Products with the customer’s + permission. This responsibility also applies to anyone using our Products on + an unauthorised basis as a result of the customer’s failure to put in place + reasonable security measures. +
++ By accepting Products from us, our customers agree to ensure adherence to + this policy on behalf of anyone using the Products as their end users. + Complaints regarding the actions of customers or their end-users will be + forwarded to the nominated contact for the account in question. +
++ If a customer — or their end-user or anyone using our Products as a result + of the customer — violates our acceptable use policy, we reserve the right + to terminate any Products associated with the offending account or the + account itself or take any remedial or preventative action we deem + appropriate without notice. To the extent permitted by law, no credit will + be available for interruptions of service resulting from any violation of + our acceptable use policy. +
++ Our Products must not be used to transmit, distribute or store any material + in violation of any applicable law. This includes but isn’t limited to: +
++ The customer is solely responsible for all material they input, upload, + disseminate, transmit, create or publish through or on our Products, and for + obtaining legal permission to use any works included in such material. +
++ Our Products must not be used for the purpose of sending unsolicited bulk or + commercial messages in violation of the laws and regulations applicable to + your jurisdiction (“spam”). This includes but isn’t limited to sending spam, + soliciting customers from spam sent from other service providers, and + collecting replies to spam sent from other service providers. +
++ Our Products must not be used for the purpose of running unconfirmed mailing + lists or telephone number lists (“messaging lists”). This + includes but isn’t limited to subscribing email addresses or telephone + numbers to any messaging list without the permission of the email address or + telephone number owner, and storing any email addresses or telephone numbers + subscribed in this way. All messaging lists run on or hosted by our Products + must be “confirmed opt-in”. Verification of the address or + telephone number owner’s express permission must be available for the + lifespan of the messaging list. +
++ We prohibit the use of email lists, telephone number lists or databases + purchased from third parties intended for spam or unconfirmed messaging list + purposes on our Products. +
++ This spam and unauthorised message activity policy applies to messages sent + using our Products, or to messages sent from any network by the customer or + any person on the customer’s behalf, that directly or indirectly refer the + recipient to a site hosted via our Products. +
++ Our Products must not be used for the purpose of advertising, transmitting + or otherwise making available any software, program, product or service + designed to violate this acceptable use policy, or the acceptable use policy + of other service providers. This includes but isn’t limited to facilitating + the means to send spam and the initiation of network sniffing, pinging, + packet spoofing, flooding, mail-bombing and denial-of-service attacks. +
++ Our Products must not be used to access any account or electronic resource + where the group or individual attempting to gain access does not own or is + not authorised to access the resource (e.g. “hacking”, + “cracking”, “phreaking”, etc.). +
++ Our Products must not be used for the purpose of intentionally or recklessly + introducing viruses or malicious code into our Products and systems. +
++ Our Products must not be used for purposely engaging in activities designed + to harass another group or individual. Our definition of harassment includes + but is not limited to denial-of-service attacks, hate-speech, advocacy of + racial or ethnic intolerance, and any activity intended to threaten, abuse, + infringe upon the rights of or discriminate against any group or individual. +
++ Other activities considered unethical, exploitative and malicious include: +
++ Our Products may not be used by any person or entity, which is involved with + or suspected of involvement in activities or causes relating to illegal + gambling; terrorism; narcotics trafficking; arms trafficking or the + proliferation, development, design, manufacture, production, stockpiling, or + use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, weapons of mass destruction, + or missiles; in each case including any affiliation with others whatsoever + who support the above such activities or causes. +
++ We prohibit the impersonation of Bellingcat, the representation of a + significant business relationship with Bellingcat, or ownership of any + Bellingcat property (including our Products and brand) for the purpose of + fraudulently gaining service, custom, patronage or user trust. +
++ This policy outlines a non-exclusive list of activities and intent we deem + unacceptable and incompatible with our brand. +
++ We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time by publishing the + revised version on our website. The revised version will be effective from + the earlier of: +
+