Privacy Policy
Date Last Updated 31/12/2023
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Introduction
This Privacy Policy contains important information about how we use your personal information. We respect the privacy of individuals who interact with our business and where you choose to provide us with information about yourself, you trust us to act in a responsible manner with that information.
In this privacy policy, references “us”, “we”, “VML” or “our”, and are all references to VML.
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If you have any questions, comments or concerns about any aspect of this policy or how VML handles your information please email our privacy team at dpo@vml.com
What information do we collect?
We collect personal information from you in several ways; you may share information with us, or we may collect it using other means. In this section we explain the different ways we collect personal information from you and some ways in which that information will be used.
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Requesting information from us and responding to your queries
We process contact information such as name, email address, telephone number or postal address, preferences, and other declared personal information about you when you provide it to us. For example, when you fill out online forms, subscribing to our services, call, or text us, enquire about our products and services.
Interacting with us via Social Media Channels
We process information relating to you when you interact with us through social media platforms such as Linkedin or Facebook.
Registering for and attending our events, seminars, or conferences
If you choose to attend one our events, we will ask for your contact information to provide you with details of the event and manage your attendance. For in-person events, we may ask you to provide us with accessibility information, if appropriate
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Updating you on developments and initiatives
We may process your contact information to keep you updated on updates and developments in our business.
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Interacting with our website
When you visit our website we may collect details of your website visit, including name, email, phone number, IP address (a unique identifier for your computer or other device), website URL and mobile device ID. Our website also uses cookies please see our cookie policy here for details.
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Applying for a job at VML
We process information provided by you in relation to submitting a job application to VML (this may include sensitive personal information for example ethnic origin). Please see our Recruitment Privacy Policy here for further information.
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Visiting our offices
We may collect information such as contact information (including name, email address, telephone number) and CCTV footage in respect to your visit to our office address.
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Interacting with us as a client of VML
When interacting with us as a client, we process information we may receive from you or from others in relation to our provision of services to our clients. Please see our Client Privacy Policy here for further information.
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Interacting with us as a supplier or partner to VML
We process information in relation to you as an individual if you provide services to us (or if you work for a company that provides services to us). Please see our Supplier Privacy Policy here for further information.
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How do we use it?
We will use your personal information in the following ways. We are also required by law to state a “legal basis for processing”, i.e., to tell you on what grounds we are allowed to use your information, and this is also set out below:
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How we will use your personal information
To provide or respond to you, with information that you have requested, e.g., this could relate to a newsletter, bulletin, an invitation for an event, your interaction with us on social media
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To keep you updated with developments and initiatives at VML, its affiliates or partners
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To process your registration for and attendance at events, seminars, conferences, and meetings with VML, its affiliates or partners
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To respond to specific queries you may raise regarding VML, its affiliates and partners
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To provide you with better ways of accessing information from this website
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To process and consider your job application.
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To manage your visit to the office
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Our legal basis for processing
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Consent – we only use your personal information for this purpose if you have asked us to do so. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
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Our legitimate interests – we use your information to provide you news and updates on VML, its affiliates or partners. You will always have the opportunity to opt-out in each correspondence.
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Our legitimate interests – we use your information to book you on to the requested events and to send confirmation to you and the event organiser.
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Consent – we only use your personal information for this purpose if you have asked us to do so. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
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Consent – we only use your personal information for this purpose if you have consented for us to do so. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
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Our legitimate interests – we use your personal information to assess your job application, update you on its status and keep you informed of other opportunities, if you have asked us to, via the methods you have selected.
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Our legitimate interests or any other purposes required by law such as for example, compliance with fire protection regulations.
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For how we use your information that is collected using cookies and similar technologies, please review our cookie policy here.
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Do we pass your information to third parties?
We may send your personal information to other VML and WPP group companies, affiliates and third parties to help us process your personal information for the purposes set out in this policy. Further details of our group companies can be found here.
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We may disclose your personal information if we or any of our assets are the subject of a sale or similar corporate transaction. We will ensure that the third parties who receive your personal information are required to keep it confidential.
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We may disclose personal information to third parties when we reasonably believe we are required by law, and in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding suspected or actual unlawful or otherwise prohibited activities, including, but not limited to, fraud.
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Where do we send your information?
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We are a global company and therefore we may transfer your personal information to countries around the world including the US and other countries outside of the UK and Europe. We will, where the country to which your data is transferred has not been found to provide an adequate level of protection, put in place appropriate safeguards (we use standard contractual clauses) to ensure your information is protected.
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How long do we keep your information?
We only keep your personal information for as long as we need to, to be able to use it for the reasons given in this privacy policy, and for as long as we are required to keep it by law.
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Third Party Websites
Our website links to third party sites which we do not operate or endorse. These websites may use cookies and collect your personal information in accordance with their own privacy policies. This privacy policy does not apply to third party websites and we are not responsible for third party websites.
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How do we protect your information?
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure that your personal information disclosed to us is kept secure, accurate and up to date and kept only for so long as is necessary for the purposes for which it is used.
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Children’s Privacy
This website is not intended or designed to attract children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from or about any person under the age of 16. If you are under 16 years old and wish to ask a question or use this site in any way which requires you to submit your personal information, please get your parent or guardian to do so on your behalf.
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Your rights
You are entitled to ask:
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for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and details about how we are processing your personal information;
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to have any inaccuracies in your personal information corrected;
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if we are processing your personal information by automated means and on the basis of your consent (see “How do we use it?”, above), for us to provide your personal information to you in a structured, commonly-used and machine-readable format. You can also ask us to provide your personal information directly to a third party in this format, and, if technically feasible, we will do so; and
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to have your personal information erased, or for our use of it to be restricted (for example, if your preferences change, or if you don’t want us to send you the information you have requested).
Please contact us using the details set out below if you would like to exercise any of these rights.
You also have the right to make a complaint to the supervisory authority if you’re not happy with how we’ve handled your personal information. In the UK, the supervisory authority is the Information Commissioner’s Office (http://www.ico.org.uk).
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Responsible Disclosures
VML appreciates and values the identification and reporting of security vulnerabilities carried out by well-intentioned, ethical security researchers. Please read our Responsible Disclosures Policy in full.
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Privacy Policy in Japan
Please click this link for further information with regard to the Privacy Policy in Japan.
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California Residents
If you are a California resident, if you need additional information and rights that may apply to you as an employee, applicant or contractor click here, for such that may apply to you as a client click here or for such that may apply to you as a supplier click here.
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How to contact us
If you wish to exercise any of your rights in relation to your personal information or if you have any queries about how we use your personal information, please let us know by contacting us at the following address: Wunderman Thompson LLC d/b/a VML, 175 Greenwich Street, Floor 16, New York, NY 10007
United States or by email at dpo@vml.com
Changes to this privacy policy
We review this privacy policy on a regular basis to ensure that it is up-to-date with our use of your personal information, and compliant with applicable data protection laws.
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We reserve the right, at our discretion, to revise this privacy policy at any time. The updated privacy policy will be posted on our website. You are encouraged to review this privacy policy from time to time.
Cookie Policy
Date Last Updated 31/12/2023
Cookies
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What are cookies?
We may use information obtained from cookies or similar technology. Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information which we download onto your computer or device when you visit our website. Therefore, when we refer to “you” in this section we mean your computer. We can recognise these cookies on subsequent visits and they allow us to remember you.
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Cookies come in many forms. We have set out below the main types and categories of cookies that are used. This section refers to all types and categories of cookies and not just those we use on our website.
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First and third-party cookies - whether a cookie is first-party or third-party refers to the domain placing the cookie. First-party cookies are those set by a website that is being visited by the user, the website displayed in the URL window e.g. WPP.com. Third-Party cookies are cookies that are set by a domain other than that of the website being visited by the user. If a user visits a website and another entity sets a cookie through that website this would be a third-party cookie.
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Persistent cookies – these cookies remain on a user's device for the period of time specified in the cookie. They are activated each time that the user visits the website that created that particular cookie.
Session cookie – these cookies allow website operators to link the actions of a user during a browser session. A browser session starts when a user opens the browser window and finishes when they close the browser window. Session cookies are created temporarily. Once you close the browser, all session cookies are deleted.
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What do we use cookies for?
Cookies fall into one or more of the categories set out below. This website uses cookies that fall into all the categories. Also we use data from targeting cookies placed on your computer by third parties when you have visited other websites.
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1. Strictly necessary cookies – These cookies enable services you have specifically asked for.
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These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies certain services you have asked for cannot be provided. e.g. the ASP.NET cookie.
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Cookie subgroup: www.vml.com
Cookies: OptanonConsent, eupubconsent, OptanonAlertBoxClosed
Cookies used: First Party, First Party
Lifespan: 365 Days, 365 Days
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2. Performance cookies – These cookies collect information on the pages visited.
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These cookies collect information about how users use a website, for instance which pages users go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don't collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. They are only used to improve how the website works.
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Cookie subgroup: www.vml.com
Cookies used: First Party, First Party
Lifespan: 730 Days, A few seconds, 1 Day
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3. Functionality cookies – These cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience.
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These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, e.g. the AddThis cookie that is used in WPP’s corporate reports. The AddThis cookie provides ‘share this page’ functionality, where a user can email a link from a report to their friends. They may also be used to help provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity to other websites.
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Cookie subgroup: vimeo.com, youtube.com
Cookies: __cf_bm, vuid, CONSENT, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, YSC
Cookies used: Third Party, Third Party
Lifespan: A few seconds, 730 Days; 6173 Days, 180 Days, Session
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4. Targeting cookies or advertising cookies – these cookies collect information about your browsing habits in order to make advertising relevant to you and your interests.
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These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator's permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisation such as advertisers. Quite often targeting or advertising cookies will be linked to site functionality provided by the other organisation.
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Cookie subgroup: vml.com, www.vml.com, linkedin.com, ads.linkedin.com, salesforce
Cookies: _ga_RJVP86FJ5C; _an_uid, _gd#############, _gd_session; AnalyticsSyncHistory, bcookie, lang, li_gc, li_sugr, lidc, UserMatchHistory; bscookie; lang; igodigitaltc2, igodigitalstdomain, igodigitalst
Cookies used: First Party, First Party, Third Party, Third Party, Third Party, Third Party
Lifespan: 368 Days; 7 Days, 730 Days, A few seconds; 30 Days, 365 Days, Session, 729 Days, 90 Days, 1 Day, 30 Days; 365 Days; Session; 365 Days
If you want to delete any cookies that may already be on your computer or device, please refer to the instructions for your file management software to locate the file or directory that stores cookies. If you want to stop cookies being stored on your computer in future, please refer to your browser manufacturer’s instructions by clicking “Help” in your browser menu. Further information on cookies is available at www.allaboutcookies.org. By deleting our cookies or disabling future cookies you may not be able to access certain areas or features of our website.
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What other information do we collect through our website?
WPP may also collect and store aggregate or anonymous information about a user’s interaction with the Site.
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We may use this aggregate or anonymous information we collect about our customers, traffic patterns, and related site information to better design our Site and to share with reputable third-party vendors. Please note, aggregate and anonymous information is not personal information and cannot directly or indirectly identify an individual on its own.
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Analytics and Interest-based Advertising
We may disclose your information for analytics and interest-based advertising purposes, as described below.
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Analytics. We partner with certain third parties to obtain the automatically collected information discussed above and to engage in analysis, auditing, research, and reporting. These third parties may use pixels or server logs, and they may set and access device IDs and IP addresses from your device.
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Interest-based advertising. We may also enable third-party tracking mechanisms to collect information about you and your computing devices for use in online interest-based advertising. For example, third parties may use the fact that you visited our website to target online ads to you. In addition, our third-party advertising networks might use information about your use of our website to help target advertisements based on your online activity in general. For information about interest-based advertising practices, including privacy and confidentiality, visit the Network Advertising Initiative website or the Digital Advertising Alliance website.
The use of online tracking mechanisms by third parties is subject to those third parties’ own privacy policies, and not this policy. If you prefer to prevent third parties from setting and accessing cookies on your computer or other device, you may set your browser to block cookies. Additionally, you may remove yourself from the targeted advertising of companies within the Network Advertising Initiative by opting out here, or of companies participating in the Digital Advertising Alliance by opting out here. Although our website currently does not respond to “do not track” browser headers, you can limit tracking through these third-party programs and by taking the other steps discussed above.
You may also opt-out of interest-based by adjusting the advertising preferences on your mobile device (for example, in iOS, visit Settings > Privacy > Advertising > Limit Ad Tracking, and in Android, visit Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of interest-based ads). Additionally, you may opt out for companies that participate in the Digital Advertising Alliance's AppChoices tool by downloading it here and following the instructions in the app.
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How can I control cookies?
You have the right to decide if you want to accept or reject cookies through the following methods:
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Our Website Cookie Preference Centre: You can exercise your preferences about what cookies are placed on our websites through visiting our Website Cookie Preference Tool available here: Cookie Settings.
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Browser Controls: You can accept or reject cookies through changing your web browser settings. If you want to reject cookies through your browser, you should visit your browser help menu for further information. In the scenario where you reject cookies, you may still be able to use our website, but some parts may be restricted.
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Changes to this cookie policy
We review this cookie policy on a regular basis to ensure that it is up-to-date with our use of your personal information, and compliant with applicable data protection laws.
CCPA Policy
Date Last Updated 31/12/2023
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If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act, including any amendments made via the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) and any relevant implementing regulations, (“CCPA”) provides you with certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to know about personal information collected, disclosed, sold or shared; the right to request that we delete personal information that we have collected from you; the right to correct personal information that we have collected from you, the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information; and the right not to be discriminated against. All of these rights are subject to certain exceptions.The purpose of this privacy policy is to make you aware of how we, as a Business, will handle your personal information. This notice applies to consumers who are residents of the State of California.
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To review our privacy practices in general, please review our main privacy policy.
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To review our California Job Applicant Privacy Notice for job applicants who are California residents click here.
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Collection of Personal Information
When you interact with our business (such as by visiting our website), we may collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (“personal information”). We may have collected the following categories of personal information over the past 12 months:
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Identifiers, such as your name, email address, or IP address.
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Categories of personal information described in subdivision (e) of California Civil Code Section 1798.80, such as your name and telephone number.
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Internet or other electronic network activity information, such as cookies, web logs, IP addresses, and mobile device IDs.
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Professional or employment-related information, such as your company name and address or any information that you share with us on your job application.
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Inferences drawn from any of the information identified above.
We collect the personal information listed above from the following sources:
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From you directly, when you visit our website or provide us with your personal information as part of interacting with our services.
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From your operating system and platforms.
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From your internet service provider.
Disclosure or Sale of Personal Information
In the last 12 months, we may have disclosed the following categories of personal information for our business or commercial purposes:
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Identifiers, such as your name, email address, or IP address.
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Categories of personal information described in subdivision (e) of California Civil Code Section 1798.80, such as your name and telephone number.
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Internet or other electronic network activity information, such as cookies, web logs, IP addresses, and mobile device IDs.
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Professional or employment-related information, such as your company name and address.
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Inferences drawn from any of the information identified above.
We may have shared any of the information listed above with:
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Our affiliates, including WPP group companies (you can find further details on our group companies here).
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Our service providers.
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Data analytics providers.
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Social networks.
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Advertising companies.
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Government entities (to the extent required by law).
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Other third parties, if our assets are the subject of a sale or a similar corporate transaction.
We use or disclose your information for the following purposes:
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To provide you with materials and information you requested.
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To send you information that may be of interest to you, such as newsletters, whitepapers, news bulletins, and other business information.
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To respond to specific queries you may raise regarding VML and its various operating companies and brands.
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To provide you with better ways of accessing information on our website.
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To process your queries and requests, such as those submitted via or pursuant to the “Contact” and “Careers” sections on our website.
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To allow you to submit information to our new business team.
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To process your registration for events, seminars, conferences, and meetings via our website.
Please note that you may find additional information about any of the topics above in our main privacy policy.
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Your Rights
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Right to Know and Correct
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California residents have the right to request that we disclose certain information about our collection and use of your personal information over the past twelve months (“Right to Know”). Once we receive and confirm your verifiable consumer request, we will disclose to you the following information (unless an exemption applies):
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The categories of personal information we collected about you.
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The categories of sources for the personal information we collected about you.
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The categories of personal information that we have disclosed for a business or commercial purpose.
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Our business or commercial purposes for collecting, sharing or selling personal information.
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The categories of third parties with whom we share that personal information.
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The specific pieces of personal information we collected about you (i.e., a data portability request).
In the event that the information provided to you is inaccurate, you have the right to correct personal information that we collected from you.
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Right to Delete
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California residents have the right to request that we delete the personal information that we collected from you and retain, subject to certain exceptions (“Right to Delete”). Once we receive and confirm your verifiable consumer request, we will delete (and direct our service providers to delete) your personal information from our records, unless an exception applies.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing
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The CCPA provides California residents with the right to opt-out of the “sale” or “sharing” of their personal information, as those terms are defined in the CCPA.
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We do not sell or share the personal information we collect about or from California residents. We do not knowingly collect, sell, or share personal information about California residents under the age of 16.
Right to Nondiscrimination
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The CCPA provides California residents with the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for the exercise of their privacy rights conferred by the CCPA. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.
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The rights outlined above may be subject to certain exceptions. Additionally, we do not use your “sensitive personal information” for any purposes that would permit you to limit our use of such information. You may review Cal. Civ. Code Section 1798.121(a) to learn more about these permitted purposes.
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Exercising Your Rights
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If you are a California resident and wish to request for us to provide you with your Right to Know, Right to Correct or Right to Delete, you may submit a request to us through the following ways:
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By email at dpo@vml.com.
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By phone at our toll free number +1 844 496 1443
Upon receiving a request from you, we will first verify your identity by comparing the information you provide (your name, email address, or phone number) with the information we have on file. We may ask you for additional information to verify your identity or to comply with your request. We will also inform you if we are unable to complete your request due to an exemption.
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Authorized Agent
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You may authorize an agent to make a request on your behalf. To designate an agent, please provide a written and signed document by you that authorizes the agent to act on your behalf. You may submit this document at the email address below. We may still require you to provide sufficient information to allow us to reasonably verify that you are the person about whom we collected personal information.
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Contact for More Information
If you wish to contact us regarding our California Privacy Addendum, you may do so through the following methods:
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By email at dpo@vml.com.
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By phone at our toll free number +1 844 496 1443