privacy policy

At Roularta, we value your privacy highly. Below you will find the privacy policy of Roularta Media Group and its subsidiaries (collectively “Roularta,” “we,” “us”). This policy informs you about which data we collect, why we collect it, and how you can control it. Roularta reserves the right to modify this privacy policy and will inform you of any changes via our website, app, or email. Changes take effect automatically and immediately upon publication.

1. Who is this policy intended for?

Below you will find the privacy policy of Roularta Media Group and its subsidiaries (collectively “Roularta,” “we,” “us”). At Roularta, we value your privacy. This privacy policy is intended for:

Customers: individuals who purchase products or services from us, such as free or paid magazine subscriptions or access to digital content, members of communities within Roularta, and holders of a Roularta/My Magazines account.
Prospects: individuals who have shown interest in our products or services, for example by subscribing to newsletters or participating in promotions.
Visitors to our websites and apps: anyone who visits and uses our websites or apps.
Participants in our activities: people who participate in activities organised by us, such as events, competitions, quizzes and campaigns.
Suppliers: companies that supply goods or services to us.

This privacy policy informs you about what data we collect, why we collect it, and how you can control it. Roularta reserves the right to amend this privacy policy and will notify you of such changes via our website, app, or email. Changes will take effect automatically and immediately upon publication.

For staff and applicants, please refer to the HR privacy policy .

2. The controller

All Roularta entities act as data controllers when they process your personal data. This may occur in the context of their services (selling, delivering, or making available products, subscriptions, access to articles, offers, and personalized content on or through a Roularta domain), when you visit a Roularta domain, or when you participate in our events, contests, quizzes, and campaigns.

An overview of all Roularta entities can be found here

3. General information about data processing

3.1. What personal data do we process?

Below you will find a general overview of all possible categories of personal data we may collect and use in the context of our services, when you visit a Roularta domain or participate in our events, contests, quizzes, and campaigns. In Title 4, you will find a table listing the specific categories of personal data processed for each processing activity. Please note that we do not necessarily process every specific personal data that falls under a category.

Identification and contact details:
1. Name
2. Address
3. Phone number
4. Email address
5. Gender (= salutation )
6. Date of birth
Account details:
1. Username
2. Password
3. Account settings
4. Data relating to your privacy preferences ( opt -ins for marketing (channel/brand/purpose) and push notifications) and personalization preferences (brand preference, theme preference, location(s)).
Financial data:
1. Payment details
2. Data related to your creditworthiness
Communication data:
1. Emails
2. Letters
3. Other forms of communication
Professional information:
1. Employer
2. Job title
3. CV
4. Training data
5. Work experience
Data related to subscriptions and memberships:
1. Data about taking out, renewing or terminating a subscription or membership
2. Reason for terminating the subscription or membership
Digital usage and device data :
1. Location data (approximate)
2. Time, frequency and duration of use
3. Use of newsletters, websites, articles, videos, photos, pages
4. Referrer or keyword that brought you to the website
5. Use of adblocker software
6. Device, system software or browser you use
7. Use of websites, apps, digital services
8. Visiting and reading behavior
9. Data about purchases and interactions with services
10. IP address
11. Log files
12. Activities on websites and apps
13. Preferences or interests expressed through registration or participation forms, social media, promotions, websites or mobile applications or competitions

3.2 What are our purposes and legal grounds for processing your personal data?

3.3 Who do we share your personal data with?

The personal data collected will be recorded and processed in our database. For each specific processing described in Title 4 , Roularta may share your personal data with:

its employees, to the extent necessary for their duties;
other Roularta entities and our legal successors, to the extent necessary for the purposes stated in this privacy policy;
judicial authorities, police services or other authorities, where there is a legal obligation to do so;
subcontractors who work on behalf of and for the account of Roularta (processors):
- suppliers of IT-related services;
- CRM service providers;
- suppliers of data-related services;
- organizers of events, trade fairs and webinars .

Roularta ensures that these recipients only have access to personal data that are relevant, adequate and necessary for the processing.

The specific recipients are listed with the relevant processing activity under Title 4 .

If Roularta transfers personal data to third parties in any other way, this will be done with explicit communication informing you about the third party, the purposes of the transfer, and the processing. Where legally required, we will ask for your explicit consent. You always have the right to object and withdraw your consent. More information can be found under Section 3.8 .

3.4 Do we transfer your personal data to countries outside the European Economic Area?

The transfers described above may result in your personal data being transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) that are not deemed by the EU Commission to offer an adequate level of data protection. For example, we may transfer your personal data to the United States. Before transferring your data, we will ensure that appropriate measures are in place, including entering into a data transfer agreement with EU-approved model clauses , to ensure that your personal data still receives an adequate level of protection.

You can always request access to the appropriate safeguards that Roularta has provided.

3.5 How do we handle personal data of minors?

We protect the privacy of minors and encourage parents to be actively involved in their children’s online activities. Roularta does not knowingly or intentionally collect personal data from minors.

We encourage minors to inform their parents about their online activities and to ask their permission before sending personal data to Roularta. If minors wish to create an account, we advise them to carefully read this privacy policy together with their parents.

We advise minors to use a pseudonym in their email address instead of their real name and to provide only the necessary data to use our products and services.

Parental consent is required to apply for subscriptions, products and services that Roularta offers through our websites.

3.6 How long do we retain your personal data?

3.7 How do we protect your personal data?

Roularta takes appropriate and necessary organizational and technical security measures to protect your personal data and privacy, in order to prevent the loss, unlawful use, or alteration of your personal data. The number of our company employees who have access to your personal data is limited and carefully selected. These employees are granted access to your personal data to the extent they need it to properly perform their duties.

Our websites sometimes contain links to third-party sites (e.g., social media platforms, organizers of events we sponsor) whose terms of use do not fall within the scope of this privacy policy. Please carefully review their policies regarding the protection of your personal data.

3.8. What rights do you have and how can you exercise them?

3.8.1. General

You have certain rights regarding the personal data we hold about you. You can exercise these privacy rights by contacting us as described below:

Right of access: You have the right to access the data we hold about you. We want you to be aware of the data we hold about you and to enable you to verify that we are processing your data in accordance with applicable data protection laws and regulations.
Right to rectification: if your data is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request rectification of this data;
Right to restriction of processing: Under certain circumstances, you have the right to block or stop the use of your data. In that case, we can still store your data, but we can no longer use it.
Right to erasure : you have the right, under certain circumstances, to request that your data be deleted from our systems;
Right to withdraw your consent: If our processing of your personal data is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This also applies to the use of your data for direct marketing ( see under Title 8.2 );
Right to data portability: Under certain circumstances, you have the right to obtain your data from us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format so that you can reuse it for your own purposes;
Right to lodge a complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority.
- In Belgium, this is the Data Protection Authority: Drukpersstraat 35, 1000 Brussels, tel +32 (0)2 274 48 00, Fax +32 (0)2 274 48 35, e-mail: contact@apd-gba.be ;
- In the Netherlands this is the Dutch Data Protection Authority: Postbus 93374, 2509 AJ Den Haag, tel 088-1805 250.

You can exercise the right of access and the right to rectification yourself for:

your subscriber and subscription details via our customer service portal https://account.mijnmagazines.be/ or https://compte.mesmagazines.be ;
your registered personal data: via your account on Roularta’s websites and digital applications: https://myaccount.roularta.be/ .

You can also exercise all your rights by contacting us:

In Belgium: by email to privacy@roularta.be or by post to Roularta Media Group (Privacy Office), Meiboomlaan 33, 8800 Roeselare;
In the Netherlands: by email to privacy@roularta.nl or by post to Roularta Media Nederland (Privacy Office), Postbus 22693, 1100 DD Amsterdam (Duivendrecht).

For the security and confidentiality of your personal data, we must be certain that it is you exercising your privacy rights. Therefore, we may apply two-step verification by asking you to confirm your identity via a verification email (which we send to an email address we have on file) or a code we send to you via SMS (to the mobile number we have on file).

Roularta has 30 days to respond to your request. Please note that this period only begins when Roularta has received your request and has all the necessary information to fulfill it.

3.8.2. Right to object to direct marketing

You have the right to object at any time, without giving any reason, to the use of your personal data for direct marketing and to its transfer to third parties.

If you give us your postal address:

You may receive periodic mailings from us about products, services and events.
you can receive mailings from commercial partners with interesting offers.

If you do not want this, please contact us at privacy@roularta.be (Belgium) or privacy@roularta.nl (Netherlands), stating your name and address. If you no longer wish to receive advertising mail from any company, you can register on the Robinson List . As a member of the Belgian Direct Marketing Association, Roularta takes this into account when contacting non-customers.

If you give us your telephone or mobile number :

You may receive phone calls or text messages from us about products, services and events.
You can be contacted by telephone by other companies with whom we collaborate.

If you do not want this, please contact us at privacy@roularta.be (Belgium) or privacy@roularta.nl (Netherlands). If you no longer wish to receive calls from any company, you can register on the Do Not Call Me list .

When you install an app from us:

You can receive push notifications about new content on the app.
Do you agree to access certain functionalities on your device as indicated during installation?

If you give us your email address:

You may receive emails from us about products, services, and events. If you are not a customer, we will only send these emails with your prior consent. We will also only send email marketing regarding products and services from our partners with your prior consent. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time. See Section 3.8.1 above .

You can unsubscribe via the link in every email campaign and editorial newsletter. To unsubscribe from all commercial or promotional emails from Roularta, please contact us at privacy@roularta.be (Belgium) or privacy@roularta.nl (Netherlands).

We reserve the right to contact you electronically to fulfill your contract or to fulfill our legal obligations. As a registered reader, trial subscriber, or subscriber (free or paid), we may contact you by phone or email for support with technical issues or other customer service matters.

3.9. How can you contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO)?

4. Specific information about data processing

Purposes	Processing	Legal basis	Categories of personal data	Retention period	Recipients
To create and manage your Roularta / My Magazines account	– Create an account via the registration form – Keeping track of your privacy and personalization preferences – Managing your account (changing personal data, deactivating your account, managing your privacy and personalization preferences and cookie consents ) – Manage your subscriptions (link, share, change or pause your subscriptions) – Link payment options. – Management of orders via webshop. – Register for events. – Participation in loyalty promotions. – Participation in verticals / communities (e.g. the Investors Club)	Necessary for the performance of our agreement with you.	– Identification and contact details – Account details – Financial data – Data related to subscriptions and memberships	As long as you have an active account, a user can delete the account themselves via myaccount.roularta.be	OneWelcome
To provide products and services you have ordered, such as magazine subscriptions or access to digital content	– Management of customer, payment, and subscription data, including web registrations , mailing lists, and press outlet contact information. – Linking digital access rights to a Roularta / My Magazines account – Shipping of magazines and other copies, e-commerce orders, and gifts related to subscriptions and individual products.	Necessary for the performance of our agreement with you.	– Identification and contact details – Financial data – Data related to subscriptions and memberships – Professional information – Digital usage and device data	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends. – Data from non-paying subscribers and individual product purchasers will be deleted after 5 years without interaction.	Distributors of newspapers and magazines, external partners with whom a processing agreement exists.
To participate in competitions, promotions and events	Registering data via web forms for competitions and events or competition modules for online quizzes, games and competitions, sending e- mails to confirm the e-mail address	Your prior consent. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time. See 3.8.1 above .	– Identification and contact details	– The data will be deleted after 5 years without interaction.	Qualifio, Basedriver, Companies or organizations with which Roularta would collaborate to carry out the competition, promotional campaign or event.
Personalization and targeting	– The collection and combination of personal data to build a profile. – Combining and analyzing personal data from different parties in a cleanroom environment to gain valuable insights, such as profile enrichment and target group analysis (“Data Matching”). – Personalizing offers through direct marketing, digital applications (such as websites or apps) and targeted advertising, both from us and our partners. – Tailoring our website(s), newsletters and advertisements to your preferences or profile.	Your prior consent. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time. See 3.8.1 above . To the extent we collect this data through online technologies that collect or store data on your device (pixels and cookies), our Cookie Policy applies. We therefore recommend that you read this Cookie Policy.	– Digital usage and device data – Account details – Identification and contact details	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends. – Data from non-paying users and individual product purchasers will be deleted after 5 years without interaction.	BlueConic , Google Ad manager, Azure Data Platform, WeHave
Direct marketing	– Promotional communications to existing customers and subscribers for promotions, events, and subscription offers. – Direct marketing to prospects, including free trials. – Free distribution of publications to a defined target group ( controlled (circulation ).	– If you have given permission for this. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time. See 3.8.1 above . – When we are permitted to do so by law on the basis of our legitimate interest.	Identification and contact details	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends. – Data from non-paying subscribers and individual product purchasers will be deleted after 5 years without interaction.
To gain insight into market trends, customer preferences and improve products and services.	– Dashboarding, reporting, and data analysis for optimizing subscriptions, product and advertising sales, and improving editorial output. – Aggregated analysis of visitor and reader behavior for editorial purposes and reliable visitor figures for advertisers.	– Our legitimate interest to innovate, improve our services/products and develop new services/products. – Your prior consent to the extent we collect this data through pixels and cookies. See also our cookie policy .	– Identification and contact details – Account details – Data related to subscriptions and memberships – Digital usage and device data	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends. – Data from non-paying subscribers and individual product purchasers will be deleted after 5 years without interaction. – Google Analytics: cookie lifetime 13 months – Data retention for users and events: 26 months – Cim Gemius : cookie lifetime 33 months, requested to change this to 12 months (Oct 2020) – under further review by CIM – IO technologies : 13 months	Microsoft Azure (via Sentia ), Google , CIM Gemius , IO technologies
To respond to questions, requests or complaints and to provide optimal customer service.	Handling information requests, questions or complaints	Necessary for the performance of our agreement with you.	– Identification and contact details – Communication data	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends. – Data from non-paying subscribers and individual product purchasers will be deleted after 5 years without interaction.
Preventing, detecting and combating fraud and abuse		Our legitimate interest to prevent, detect and combat fraud and abuse.	– Identification and contact details – Account details – Digital usage and device data		Judicial authorities, police services or other government agencies; Professional advisors such as lawyers
To ensure the security and integrity of IT systems and networks.	– Monitor customer activity, perform security updates, and create backups to detect suspicious activity, prevent data loss, and enable recovery. – Identify, report, and respond to security incidents that may affect customer data.	Our legitimate interest in ensuring the security of our IT systems and preventing misuse.	– Identification and contact details – Digital usage and device data	?	Judicial authorities, police services or other government agencies; Professional advisors such as lawyers; IT suppliers
To comply with our legal obligations.	– Data from paying subscribers is retained for tax reasons for up to 7 years after the subscription ends.	Legal Obligation	– Identification and contact details – Account details – Financial data Data related to subscriptions and memberships	up to 7 years after the end of the subscription
Supplier management	Management of supplier data, primarily for invoicing and communication.	Necessary for the performance of our agreement with you.	– Identification and contact details – Financial data	As long as the supplier is active.
Manage applications	Assessing suitability and communicating decisions.	Your prior consent. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time. See 3.8.1 above .	– Identification and contact details – Professional information	5 years after application
Dispute management	Managing and resolving legal disputes, including gathering evidence and communicating with legal advisors.	Our legitimate interest to defend our legal position, assess claims and respond to legal proceedings.	– Identification and contact details – Account details – Communication data	Up to a maximum of 10 years after the end of the dispute.	Judicial authorities, police services or other government agencies; Professional advisors such as lawyers
Trends Business Infomation	Your personal data is processed to provide B2B business information to clients with whom we have a contractual relationship. These clients use the information for creditworthiness assessments, compliance purposes, fraud prevention, data quality , and market research.	We process your personal data based on TBI’s legitimate interest in providing complete and reliable trading information. Our clients must have a valid legal basis for using the trading information we provide.	Personal data from public sources: Identification data (e.g. name) Company number Contact details (e.g. email address) Job title Date of establishment Activities Bank account Capacity Admissions Establishment unit number Address of the establishment unit Judicial information (bankruptcies, judicial reorganizations and summonses) Personal data from non-public sources Payment experiences Outstanding receivables and payment history Name of operational manager Contact details (e.g. email address)	We will not retain your data for longer than is legally permitted and than is necessary for the purposes stated above.	We only provide your personal data to clients contractually affiliated with TBI and to other entities within the Roularta Media Group. Our clients include: Companies, both SMEs and larger companies, focusing on a B2B market; Banks and insurance companies; Local, regional and federal governments; Interest groups; Number professions (BIBF, IAB, IBR); Bailiffs, lawyers, notaries, jurists; Academics.