Effective Date: 1 March 2021
General Information
We take protecting your privacy very seriously.
This Privacy Policy explains how VPN Choice uses and protects information that you give us when you use our webiste located at http://www.vpnchoice.com.au/ . When we mention ‘Site’ we are referring to any VPN Choice website, mobile site, social media site, emails we send or any other VPN Choice platform. This includes where the site management is outsourced to any third party. Please refer back to this page periodically as our privacy statement is constantly evolving.
By using our services, you understand that we will collect and use your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you or your organisation has a separate agreement with us, that agreement may have privacy terms that also apply to the information you provide to us under that agreement. Please review the terms in that agreement because they may be different or more restrictive than the terms in this Privacy Policy.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to any third-party websites and apps that you may use, that are linked to in our services. You should review the terms and policies of any third-party websites and apps before clicking on any links.
As part of our services, we will collect and record information that helps measure and track our efforts and the validity of any transactions. This information includes the persons who are involved in using the services and any transactions and the devices those persons use or access.
We recommend that you read this Privacy Policy in full to ensure you are fully informed.
Why we collect your details
Part of delivering our high quality digital services is recognising who we’re talking to. This way we can provide the service that you want and need from us. To do that, we may need to request and store some of your private information. We know your privacy is vital, so these details will only ever be used in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Statement.
What we collect
We limit the information we collect to only what we consider is necessary. This includes
- Your billing information – name, contact details including email, postal address, IP address and phone number (you may remain anonymous or use a pseudonym if you wish).
- Any other information we need to deliver goods and services to you.
- Retaining server logs of requests made to our server, but for no more than 90 days.
- Retaining non-identifiable IP addresses, but for no more than five years.
Sometimes we may need to work with third party partners from time to time and use their external platforms. That means we may also collect your personal details from another sites. We’ll be transparent about this process. However, the Australian Privacy Principles and the Spam Act 2003 may possibly apply to one or more of those companies. Your privacy in that case may be covered by the other company’s policy as well as our own.
What we do with the data
We use these details to give you a more personalised service and experience, for internal record keeping, to improve our products and services, to customise our websites and platforms, to contact you periodically, telephone you and/or send you promotional emails, texts, faxes or mail about new products, services and special offers, to update you about things we’re doing that you might find interesting. When you register at www.vpnchoice.com.au, we might send you a welcome email with your account details and with information that helps you to understand our services.
How to unsubscribe
Unsubscribe or opt-out from our communications at any time by emailing privacy@vpnchoice.com.au.
Where we share your information
We share non-identifiable data with third parties such as Google, Facebook and others. Our main technology service providers are Google Adwords, Google Analytics, Facebook Social Plugins, Google +1, ShareThis, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Information submitted through our services may be shared with a third-party service provider who operates a platform for us. Our service providers have all passed strict organisational and technical security standards set up with your privacy in mind.
We don’t share your identifiable details with these third parties for marketing purposes. But we may release your information when we believe that it’s appropriate to comply with the law, to enforce our Product/Services policies, to protect our or others’ rights, property and/or safety. We may also share non-personally identifiable visitor information with other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
At all times we use our best endeavours to ensure that any recipients of your information will not be in breach of this privacy statement, and that your privacy is protected.
Security and keeping your personal details safe
We understand the importance of security. Being a VPN comarison service, security of right up our alley. We’ve put in place physical, electronic and managerial procedures to secure any information collected online from misuse, interference or loss. We do this by design and do our best to prevent unauthorised access, modification or disclosure of that information and we continuously monitor new technologies to do our best to anticipate and block hackers.
All information, submitted via the services, pass through our secure server, which offers 128-bit encryption. Our main servers are located in Sydney, Australia. Our suppliers have servers based in Australia. As part of doing business in the online world, your information may be accessible to the owners of these servers, but not in an identifiable format. Your information is not stored on third party servers.
Information in the cloud
When information is stored in a cloud, or you access our services, VPN Choice have adopted a privacy-by-design approach. That means building privacy measures into the design of the technology we use and we’re continuously working with our third party suppliers to make these better. Part of our contracting process is making sure our suppliers and their employees and service providers abide by the Australian Privacy Principles and the Spam Act 2003. You should know that if you’re accessing our information from third party sites, the privacy policy of those sites applies, not our own.
How we use cookies
A cookie is a text file containing a small amount of data which is downloaded to your computer or digital device when you use one of our services or engage in any VPN Choice Internet advertisements.
VPN Choice uses cookies to improve and tailor our services. They’re useful because they help us arrange the content and layout of our services and recognise computers or devices that have visited us before. The cookie file also helps us better analyse our web traffic. This information doesn’t identify you personally, and is used for statistical analysis and to help us personalise the content we deliver to you. If you prefer you can modify your settings to decline cookies. Note that if you do that, this might stop you from taking full advantage of our Products/Services.
VPN Choice may contract with third-party service providers to help us understand our customers better. These service providers aren’t allowed to use the information they collect on our behalf, other than to help us conduct and improve our business.
Other websites, platforms and technology
VPN Choice is present on social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Google My Business, Twitter and Instagram. If you “follow” us, “like” or “share” information you’ll be covered by that site’s privacy policy and not our own. If you’re a member of one of those social media sites, they may be able to connect your visits to one or more sites with other personal information.
Our services may contain links to other websites we think will improve your experience. Once you are on those third party sites, we don’t have any control over what those other websites do and we don’t endorse or condone third party content or conduct. We have limited or no control over information you give when visiting other websites not governed by our privacy policy. We recommend that you look out for and read the privacy policy of each website.
We and our trusted third party service providers don’t sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to outside parties. Our third party service providers must keep your information confidential and meet the strict organisational and technical security standards we demand.
Your control over your information
You’re able to restrict the collection or use of your personal information at any time by emailing privacy@vpnchoice.com.au.
If you’ve previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you can change your mind at any time by emailing the Privacy Officer at privacy@vpnchoice.com.au with the subject heading “Details Update”.
We will not sell or lease your personal information to third parties, except for direct marketing purposes, where we have your permission, or where we’re required by law to do so. VPN Choice may send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting. But again, you can also tell us you don’t want this to happen.
VPN Choice won’t disclose your information to another organisation, or share your personal information without your consent. You can opt out by emailing the Privacy Officer at privacy@vpnchoice.com.au with the subject heading “Opt out”. There is no charge for this correction.
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your information is accurate and up to date. If you think any information we’re holding about you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to the Privacy Officer at privacy@vpnchoice.com.au with the subject heading “Details Correction”. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect. There is no charge for this correction.
You’re also entitled to access your personal information as set out in Australian Privacy Principles, unless prevented by other laws or regulations. If you’d like a copy of what we’re storing, email us at privacy@vpnchoice.com.au with the subject heading “Request for Personal Information”. There is no charge for this correction.
GDPR
The focus of the GDPR is increased privacy for the personal “data” of individuals in the EU through the entire life-cycle of collection, use, retention, transfer and deletion of data. “Data” includes any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person and can include an individual’s name, photo, email address, identification number or opinion. Additional protections in the GDPR apply to ‘special categories’ of personal data, such as information relating to an individual’s gender identity, trade union activities and racial or ethnic origin. As we don’t have an establishment in the EU, does not offer goods and services in the EU, monitor the behaviour of individuals in the EU, process the personal information of individuals in the EU, target or and market goods and services to individuals in the EU or monitor or profile them, we consider that we are GDRP exempt.. If you wish to obtain any further information regarding our privacy policy as it applies individuals outside Australia please contact our Data Protection/Privacy Officer on this email privacy@vpnchoice.com.au.
Compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) protects an individual’s personal information regardless of their age.
The Privacy Act doesn’t specify an age after which an individual can make their own privacy decision. For their consent to be valid, an individual must have capacity to consent therefore, an individual under the age of 18 accessing our services must be supervised by an adult, parent and/or guardian.
Generally, we will not be aware if we are handling the personal information of an individual under the age of 18 but, that information will be dealt with in accordance with this privacy policy. If we do become aware of personal information of an individual under the age of 18, we will deal with the information on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule, an individual under the age of 18 has the capacity to consent if they have the maturity to understand what’s being proposed.
Panic button and GPS security
A panic button and GPS security may be included as a feature of one or more of our Sites. If a child or parent are in trouble and they press the button a site or app will notify the child or parents of their location the notification facilitated by GPS. The GPS will provide longitude and latitude coordinates and may access third party mapping to locate the person. However, no personal information will be transmitted other than the location and/or the fact that a panic button has been activated as an emergency.
If you’re unhappy
If you believe any of our products or services breach the Australian Privacy Principles, or a relevant code, please write to the Privacy Officer at privacy@vpnchoice.com.au with the subject heading “Privacy Complaint”. There’s no charge for this correction.
We’ll reply to your complaint as soon as possible, no later than 30 calendar days. If you think we haven’t adequately addressed your complaint, or you receive no response after 30 calendar days, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Please see their guide for more details.
This document seeks to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles 2014 (as amended and updated) and the Mobile Privacy Guidelines September 2013 (as amended and updated) published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner www.oaic.gov.au. and the GDPR (as an exempt party).