Impressum (Legal Notice)
Website Owner / Responsible for Content
Howard Austin
Spechtstrasse 5
4104 Oberwil, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 61 401 0519
Email: info@howardaustin.ch
Editor Responsible Under Swiss Law
Howard Austin
Spechtstrasse 5
4104 Oberwil, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 61 401 0519
Email: info@howardaustin.ch
Copyright & IP
Liability for Content & Links
Governing Law
Privacy Policy (Datenschutzerklärung)
1. Controller
Howard Austin
Spechtstrasse 5, 4104 Oberwil, Switzerland
Email: info@howardaustin.ch | Phone: +41 (0) 61 401 0519
2. Scope
3. Categories of Data We Process
- Usage/technical data: IP address, device/browser info, pages viewed, timestamps, referrer URL, interactions.
- Contact data (when you contact us): name, email, phone, message content, and metadata (submission time, technical logs).
- Newsletter data: email address (mandatory), optionally name; subscription status, double-opt-in confirmation, and newsletter interaction data (e.g., opens/clicks if enabled).
- Contract/communication data (if applicable): correspondence and service-related records.
4. Sources
Data comes from you (e.g., form entry), and automatically via our site and analytics tools.
5. Purposes and Legal Bases
- Provide and secure the website (legitimate interests / Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
- Respond to inquiries via the contact form (consent and/or pre-contractual measures / Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(a), 6(1)(b) GDPR).
- Send newsletters and measure reach (consent / Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
- Analytics to improve site experience (consent where required; otherwise legitimate interests with privacy-protective settings / Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(a) or 6(1)(f) GDPR).
6. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies for operation and improvement. You can block/delete cookies in your browser; some features may be limited.
Analytics cookies (examples): _ga, _ga_<container-id>, _gid. Names/durations may change as Google updates services.
7. Google Analytics (GA4)
Provider: Google Ireland Limited (Dublin, Ireland); processing may involve Google LLC (USA).
GA4 uses cookies and event-based tracking to create aggregated statistics. According to Google, GA4 does not log/store IP addresses and offers privacy-friendly defaults. We set data retention (where available) to up to 14 months and do not enable Google Signals/advertising features unless explicitly stated and consented to.
Legal basis: consent where required; otherwise legitimate interests with privacy-protective settings.
Opt-out: consent banner preferences (if present), browser settings to block cookies, or Google’s Opt-out Add-on.
Transfers: If data is processed outside CH/EEA (e.g., USA), safeguards apply (e.g., EU Standard Contractual Clauses and provider measures).
8. Contact Form
When you submit the contact form, we process the data you provide to handle and respond to your inquiry.
- Data processed: name, email, phone (if provided), message content, submission timestamp, and technical logs (to ensure delivery/security).
- Legal basis: your consent (Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) and/or pre-contractual/contractual measures(Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).
- Retention: inquiries and related correspondence are generally retained for 12–24 months after last contact unless legal obligations require longer retention.
- Withdrawal: you can withdraw consent at any time; prior processing remains lawful.
By submitting this form, you consent to the processing of your data to handle your inquiry as described above. You can withdraw my consent at any time.
9. Newsletter via Mailchimp
You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates.
- Provider: The Rocket Science Group LLC d/b/a Mailchimp, a company of Intuit Inc., 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.
- Data processed: email address (mandatory), optionally name; subscription date/time, double-opt-in confirmation, and newsletter interaction data (e.g., opens, clicks) if tracking is enabled by Mailchimp.
- Procedure: We use double opt-in (you confirm your email via a follow-up message). Mailchimp stores your subscription data to document the signup and manage mailings.
- Analytics/Tracking: Our newsletters may contain a “web beacon”/tracking pixel that records delivery/open events and link clicks to improve content and deliverability. You can disable images in your email client to limit some tracking, but the most effective method is to unsubscribe.
- Legal basis: consent (Art. 31 revFADP; Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
- Transfers & safeguards: Processing occurs in the USA. Appropriate safeguards apply (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) and provider data protection measures. See Mailchimp/Intuit privacy terms for details.
- Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email or by contacting us at info@howardaustin.ch. After unsubscribing, we may retain your email on a suppression list (minimum necessary data) to ensure no further emails are sent.
You agree to receive the newsletter and consent to the processing of your data (email, optional name) by Mailchimp as described in the Privacy Policy above. You can revoke your consent at any time via the unsubscribe link.
10. Disclosures to Third Parties
We share data only as necessary:
- Processors (under contract): hosting, analytics (Google), email/newsletter service (Mailchimp), and IT support.
- Legal obligations: authorities or third parties if required by law or to protect our rights.
We do not sell personal data.
11. International Transfers
If data is transferred to countries without an adequate level of protection, we implement appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) or rely on legal exceptions (e.g., contract performance, consent).
12. Retention
We keep data only as long as needed or required by law:
- Contact inquiries: generally 12–24 months after last interaction.
- Newsletter data: until you unsubscribe; minimal suppression data may be retained to honor your opt-out.
- Analytics data: up to 14 months in GA4 (subject to Google’s settings).
- Contract/records: per statutory retention periods.
13. Security
14. Your Rights
Subject to revFADP and, where applicable, GDPR, you may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict/object, data portability (where applicable), and to withdraw consent at any time.
Contact: info@howardaustin.ch. We may verify your identity.
Supervisory authority in Switzerland: FDPIC (www.edoeb.admin.ch).