Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how FindB Europa (“we”, “us” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit its institutional portfolio website, which is intended to receive enquiries about business partnerships, sponsorships, barter arrangements and other forms of collaboration.

It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, when consent is required and how you can manage your preferences.

2. Who is responsible

The brand and contact points for privacy matters are:

• Brand: FindB Europa, The Immigrant Social Network.
• Website: www.joaodelabernarde.com. Official platform: comunidadesfindbeuropa.com.
• Privacy contact: Alesca de Labernarde and João Carlos de Labernarde.
• Privacy email: suporte@comunidadesfindbeuropa.com.
• Postal address for contact purposes: Rua Marechal Zagalo, 42, 3880-250 Ovar, Aveiro, Portugal.

3. What cookies and similar technologies are

Cookies are small text files that a website may store on your computer, phone, tablet or other device. They can help a website work, remember choices or collect information about how it is used.

Similar technologies include pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, software development kits and other ways of storing information on, or accessing information from, a device. The legal rules cover these technologies even if they are not technically cookies.

Cookies may be set by the website you visit (first-party cookies) or by another service integrated into it (third-party cookies). They may be temporary and deleted when you close your browser (session cookies) or remain for a defined period (persistent cookies).

4. Legal framework

Cookie use in the European Union is governed mainly by the ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC, as amended and implemented in each Member State, together with national electronic privacy rules. Where cookies or similar technologies involve personal data, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) also applies.

In Ireland, the relevant national framework includes the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Privacy and Electronic Communications) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 336/2011), as amended, alongside the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. In Portugal, Law No. 41/2004 applies. Other national rules may apply depending on the circumstances.

In general, storing information on, or accessing information from, a user's device requires prior consent unless a narrow legal exemption applies. The exemption generally covers technologies that are strictly necessary to provide a service the user explicitly requested, or that are used solely to transmit a communication. A cookie is not exempt merely because it is useful to the website.

5. Categories of cookies

We group cookies and similar technologies into the following categories.

5.1 Strictly necessary

These are used only where strictly necessary to provide a service you expressly requested or to enable a communication. On this website they store your cookie choices. Where a technology falls within a legal exemption, consent is not required, but we still tell you its purpose. Staff sign-in to the administration area also uses a strictly necessary, HTTP-only session cookie, which is set only on that area and which visitors never receive.

5.2 Preferences or functionality

These remember choices such as your language. They require consent where they are not strictly necessary for a service you expressly requested. On this website, the item that remembers your language is stored only if you accept this category.

5.3 Analytics and performance

These can measure visits, show how pages are used, identify technical errors and improve performance. They are not exempt from consent and must stay blocked until you consent. We do not use any today.

5.4 Advertising, marketing and conversion tracking

These can measure advertising campaigns, track conversions, build advertising profiles or deliver targeted advertising. They must not be set or activated before you give valid consent. We do not use any today.

5.5 Third-party and embedded content

Features such as embedded videos, maps, social media content, chat tools, booking tools or external forms can cause third parties to store or access information on your device. We do not use such features today. If we do in the future, we will assess the technologies involved and block non-essential storage or access until you give valid consent where required.

6. Cookie inventory

This list reflects what the website actually stores today. It is updated whenever the technologies we use change.

• Name: findb-consent. Provider: FindB Europa (first party). Purpose: records your cookie choices so we do not ask again. Category: strictly necessary. Type and duration: persistent, up to 6 months. Data and recipients: your category choices and the date, with no recipients and no international transfers. Consent: not required.
• Name: findb-locale. Provider: FindB Europa (first party). Purpose: remembers the language you pick. Category: preferences. Type and duration: persistent, 12 months. Data and recipients: your language choice, with no recipients and no international transfers. Consent: required, and the item is not stored unless you accept the Functional category.
• Name: staff session cookie (administration area only). Provider: FindB Europa (first party). Purpose: keeps authorised staff signed in. Category: strictly necessary. Type and duration: session, HTTP-only. Data and recipients: a session identifier, with no recipients and no international transfers. Consent: not required. Visitors do not receive this cookie.
• Analytics, advertising and third-party cookies: none are in use.

7. Consent and the cookie banner

Where consent is required, we obtain it before setting or activating the relevant cookies or similar technologies. Consent is freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous and shown by a clear affirmative action. Our cookie banner and preference tool:

• Offer clearly visible options to accept all, reject non-essential cookies and manage preferences.
• Keep non-essential cookies disabled by default.
• Let you choose by category.
• Avoid pre-ticked boxes, pre-enabled toggles, misleading colours or unnecessary steps designed to encourage acceptance.
• Make refusing non-essential cookies as easy as accepting them.
• Give information about purposes, providers and durations in this policy and in the preference tool.
• Record your choice and the version of the notice shown.
• Let you change or withdraw your choice later.

7.1 Access to the website

Access to the portfolio is not made conditional on accepting cookies that are not necessary for the service you requested.

8. How to change or withdraw consent

You can change or withdraw your consent at any time with the “Cookie settings” link, which is available on every page through the footer. Withdrawing is as easy as giving consent. When you withdraw, we stop the relevant non-essential activity and delete or disable the related identifiers under our control, including the stored language. Withdrawal does not make processing carried out before it unlawful.

You can also configure your browser to block or delete cookies. Blocking strictly necessary items may affect some website functions, and browser settings do not replace our obligation to obtain consent where required.

9. Personal data and cookies

Some cookies and similar technologies may collect or generate personal data, such as online identifiers, IP-related information, device information or browsing activity. Where personal data is processed, we comply with the GDPR, including the principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation and security.

The legal basis for processing personal data under the GDPR is distinct from the consent required under the ePrivacy rules for storing or accessing information on a device. Where both apply, complying with one does not replace complying with the other.

For more on personal data, your rights and how to contact us, see the Security and Privacy Policy.

10. Third-party services and international transfers

If the website uses third-party services that place cookies or access device information, we identify them and explain their purposes in the cookie inventory. Third-party providers may process information under their own terms and privacy notices, depending on their role.

Where personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area, we assess the requirements of Chapter V GDPR and put in place an applicable transfer mechanism and safeguards where required. No third-party analytics, advertising or social media provider is in use on this website today.

11. Data retention and security

Cookie durations vary by purpose and are listed in the inventory above. We do not keep cookie-derived personal data for longer than necessary for the stated purpose or the applicable legal requirements. We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect consent records and any personal data collected through cookies, restrict access to authorised persons and assess suppliers that process data on our behalf.

12. Your rights and complaints

Where cookie-related processing involves personal data, you may have rights under the GDPR, including rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and, where applicable, data portability. These rights depend on the circumstances and are subject to the conditions and exceptions set out in law.

For privacy enquiries, contact Alesca de Labernarde and João Carlos de Labernarde at suporte@comunidadesfindbeuropa.com.

You may also lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority. In Ireland this is the Data Protection Commission (dataprotection.ie); in Portugal it is the CNPD (cnpd.pt). The competent authority may depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules.

13. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in the law, website features, suppliers or the cookies and similar technologies actually used. The current version and its date are shown on this page. Where required, we ask for fresh consent if the purposes or technologies change in a way that requires it.

14. Contact and related policies

Institutional partnership portfolio and contact details:

• Website: www.joaodelabernarde.com.
• Official FindB Europa platform: comunidadesfindbeuropa.com.
• Privacy contact: Alesca de Labernarde and João Carlos de Labernarde.
• Email: suporte@comunidadesfindbeuropa.com.
• This Cookie Policy should be read together with the Security and Privacy Policy and any other applicable notices.

15. Legal references

This policy mainly refers to:

• Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive), as amended and implemented in national law.
• Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
• Law No. 41/2004 (Portugal, electronic communications).
• Irish Data Protection Commission: guidance on cookies and other tracking technologies, and on when consent is required (dataprotection.ie).
• Your Europe: online privacy and cookies (europa.eu/youreurope).