Privacy policy

Privacy policy for the websites of the European Respiratory Society (“ERS”). ERS is committed to protecting your online privacy. This policy governs all pages hosted by ERS, including the European Lung Foundation website and any other websites it maintains and it will create in the future.

ERS uses the information it collects about you to better understand how its websites are used, to send information on ERS you have requested or that may be considered of interest to you, to process your membership application and to render services you have ordered or which are included in your membership.

To understand how your personal information will be treated, please read the following policy. This policy may change from time to time so please refer to it periodically. In addition, we will where applicable send you a notice of any such change.

What identifiable information is collected from you?

The type and amount of information received and stored by ERS depends on how you use the ERS websites. You can access most ERS pages without stating who you are and without revealing any personal information, except in the case of online membership applications or in the case you want to access the “myERS” members’ dedicated section of the website.

ERS does not collect information identifying you personally (such as your name, address, phone number or e-mail address) unless that information is voluntarily disclosed. There are instances where ERS requests information that does identify you personally for the purpose of providing you with specific services or of corresponding with you. Information that you supply in this way will not be shared with any third party except where needed to provide a requested service or required by law.

If you register for a newsletter, log on to certain ERS websites, order a publication, request information, provide feedback, attend an online course, join a discussion group or join an electronic mailing list or newsletter, you may be asked to provide personal information such as your name, postal address and e-mail address.

This information is collected only with your knowledge and permission and is kept in various ERS databases and mailing lists. If you are purchasing something using an ERS website, you may be asked to provide your credit card details. These details are transferred to a secure, online payment service, hosted outside ERS. Credit card information is not retained or processed by ERS. ERS websites with specific requirements to collect personal information may publish a privacy policy specific for that site. In these cases, the websites specific policies will be complementary to this general ERS privacy policy, but will give additional details for that particular site.

How does ERS use the information?

ERS does not distribute, sell or rent user information to anyone. ERS uses the information collected about you to improve its understanding of web visitors, to send information that you have requested or that may be considered of interest to you, to process your membership application and to render services you have ordered or which are included in your membership. Some information identifying ERS members is forwarded to third parties for purely technical and administrative processing (e.g. High Wire ERS Journal access). These parties are not authorized to distribute, sell or rent user information.

With whom may ERS share the information?

ERS will not disclose any information identifying you personally, except with your prior explicit permission or where required by law.

Opting out, changing or having your information deleted

At any time, you can cancel or modify your information by returning to the web page where you first provided the information or contacting us through “myERS”. You can also at any time ask to see your data by contacting us through “myERS”, Members are invited to regularly update their profile in the “myERS” members’ dedicated section of the website. ERS takes very seriously the accuracy of the information it holds on you. Where contact details are not provided on the page and if you wish to have all your personal information deleted from our databases, you can contact us to privacy@ersnet.org for further information.

What choices are available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of the information?

Any information on new ERS products that you registered to receive will be sent to you electronically or by other means. ERS may also send you e-mail messages and newsletters which you consented to and are of interest to you. You can indicate that you do not wish to receive such e-mail messages or newsletters by contacting us through “myERS” or using the unsubscribe link in the newsletters and you will be removed from the recipients’ list.

How does ERS protect your personal information?

ERS ensures to the best of its ability that any personal information you provide is secure on its systems. However, it cannot guarantee that submitting information over the Internet is 100% secure. As a result, ERS does not confirm or warrant the security of personal information submitted; you do so at your own risk.

Automatically collected information

Cookies (Full Cookies Policy)

ERS websites use cookies in order to provide you with a more personalized web experience. A cookie is a text-only string of information that is created and stored on your computer by your browser. It contains information about your visit that your browser uses to personalize certain pages or elements. For statistical analysis purposes, a cookie may also be used to pass a randomly generated and anonymous unique number to our servers. Cookies cannot be used by themselves to identify you. A cookie will typically contain the name of the domain from which the cookie has come, as well as the lifetime and expiration of the cookie, and a value, usually a text value or a randomly generated unique number.

If you do not wish to receive cookies, you can easily modify your browser to reject all cookies or to notify you whenever one is about to be placed on your computer. However, if cookies are not accepted you may not be able to experience all the interactive features of the ERS websites. You are therefore encouraged to allow cookies in order to fully enjoy the ERS websites features.

Log files

Most web servers, including ERS ones, use log files, which record information such as service provider IP addresses, browser brand and version, referring websites, search terms used, average number of requested pages, average visit duration, total visitor traffic and information gathered for aggregate use.

Disclaimer

ERS website contain hypertext links to other sites. ERS is not responsible for any third-party content or privacy practices accessible through this website. We do not endorse any of the companies or opinions listed in or linked to or from the website. We also do not accept or host any advertising.