#yourdataisyours
We know that you care about your personal data and how it is used, and we want you toΒ trustΒ that Unilever uses your personal data carefully. This Privacy Notice will help you understand what personal data we collect, why we collect it and what we do with it.
As you read our Notice, please keep in mind that it applies to allΒ Unilever UK LtdΒ companies.
Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our privacy practices and let us know if you have anyΒ questionsΒ by sending us anΒ emailΒ or submitting a request through the βContact UsβΒ formΒ on our websites.
We have tried to keep this Notice as simple as possible, but if youβre not familiar with terms, such as cookies, IP addresses, and browsers, then please read about theseΒ key termsΒ first.
You have theΒ right to objectΒ to certain uses of your personal data including the use of your personal data for direct marketing. See whatΒ your rights areΒ and how you can exercise them here.
Who is collecting it?
Any personal data provided to or collected by Unilever is controlled byΒ Unilever UK Ltd, theΒ data controller.
This Privacy Notice applies to personal data collected by Unilever in connection with the services and products we offer. References to βUnileverβ in this Notice meansΒ Unilever UK LtdΒ and any company directly or indirectly owned and/or controlled byΒ Unilever UK LtdΒ that you are interacting with or have a business relationship with.
This Privacy Notice also applies to Unileverβs marketing content, including offers and advertisements for Unilever products and services, which we (or a service provider acting on our behalf) send to you onΒ third-partyΒ websites, platforms and applications based on your site usage information. These third-party websites generally have their own Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions. We encourage you to read them before using those websites.
What personal data is being collected?
Personal dataΒ means any information that can be used to identify directly or indirectly a specific individual.
You areΒ not requiredΒ to provide Unilever the personal data that we request, but if you choose not to do so, we may not be able to provide you with our products or services, or with a high quality of service or respond to any queries you may have.
We may collect personal data from a variety ofΒ sources. This includes:
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Personal data you give us directly,
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Personal data we collect automatically, and
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Personal data we collect from other sources.
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Personal dataΒ means any information that can be used to identify directly or indirectly a specific individual. This definition includes personal data collected offline through our Consumer Engagement Centres, direct marketing campaigns, sweepstakes and competitions and online through our websites, applications and branded pages on third-party platforms and applications accessed or used through third-party platforms.
You may be asked to provide your personal data when you are in contact with us.Β Unilever UK LtdΒ companiesΒ may shareΒ yourΒ personal data withΒ each other and other Unilever Group companiesΒ andΒ use it in a manner consistent with this Privacy Notice. WeΒ may also combineΒ it with other information to improve our products, services, content, and advertising.Β
You areΒ not requiredΒ to provide Unilever the personal data that we request, but if you choose not to do so, we may not be able to provide you with our products or services, or with a high quality of service or respond to any queries you may have.
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Ways in which we collect your personal data
We may collect personal data from a variety ofΒ sources. This includes:
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Personal data you give us directly. We collect data about how you use our services and products, such as the types of content you view or engage with, or the frequency and duration of your activities. We also collect personal data you provide us when you sign up for a marketing newsletter, complete a survey or register for an account to buy our products. In so doing, we may ask for personal data, such as your name, gender, date of birth, address, email address, telephone number or credit card details. Some Unilever brands may collect βspecial categories of personal dataβ about you with your explicit consent. For more information on the special categories of data we collect and how we use it, please refer to the relevant section below.
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Personal data we collect automatically. We also receive and store certain types of personal data whenever you interact with us online. For example, we use cookies and tracking technologies (to find out more, see our privacy key terms) to obtain personal data when your web browser accesses our websites or advertisements and other content served by or on behalf of Unilever on other websites. Your personal data is also collected when you search, buy, post, participate in a contest or questionnaire or communicate with our customer service teams. Examples of the types of personal data we collect include; IP address (to find out more see our privacy key terms), device ID, location data, computer and connection information such as browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system, and purchase history β which Unilever sometimesΒ aggregatesΒ with similar information from other consumers. During some of your internet browsing on Unileverβs websites we may also use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods used to browse awayΒ from the page. We may also collect technical information to help us identify your device for fraud prevention and diagnostic purposes.
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Personal data we collect from other sources. We collect personal data from other sources including our trusted partnerships with third-parties and where we operate Unilever accounts on third-party platforms: For example, when you use the βlikeβ functionality on Facebook or the +1 functionality on Google+. Additionally, we receive information about you and other visitorsβ interactions with our advertising to measure whether our advertising is relevant and successful. We also collect information about you and your activities from aΒ third-partyΒ when we jointly offer services or products, or from third-party data enrichment providers (to find out more see our privacy key terms) who may deliver insights to Unilever about the personal data we hold.
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When and why we collect βspecial categories of personal dataβ
Certain categories of personal data, such as race, ethnicity, religion, health, sexuality or biometric data are classified as βspecial categories of dataβ and benefit fromΒ additional protectionΒ under the European data protection legislation.
WeΒ limitΒ the circumstances where we collect and process these special categories of data.Β Β
Unilever sometimes collects data related to your health such as allergies, pregnancy or skin type to send you tailored ads and relevant promotions. Unilever only collects and uses this personal data where you have provided us with your consent for us to do so. In some instances, you may have requested services or products that do not directly involve the collection of any special categories of data, but may imply or suggest your religion, health or other special categories of data.
To illustrate circumstances where Unilever collects and processes special categories of data we have provided the following examples:
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Unilever collectsΒ expectant mothersβ due datesΒ in itsΒ ZwitsalΒ or Baby Dove newsletter sign-up page. It may also place cookies on the sign-up page which capture this information too. This data is then used to create an audience of expectant mothers to receive online advertising from relevant Unilever brands. For more information on Unileverβs profiling activities, please refer to the relevant section;
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Similarly, Unilever collects personal data related toΒ consumersβ allergiesΒ to provide consumers with ads and promotions for products which are relevant to their needs.
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How do we protect childrenβs privacy?
We understand the importance of takingΒ extra precautionsΒ to protect the privacy and safety of children using Unilever products and services.Β
Most of Unileverβs websites are designed andΒ intended for use by adults. Where one of our websites is intended for use by a younger audience, we will obtain consent from the person withΒ parental responsibilityΒ before we collect personal data where it is required by applicable laws and regulations (the age at which consent is necessary varies fromΒ CountryΒ toΒ Country).Β
If you are a child under the age where parental consent is required in yourΒ Country, you should review the terms of this Privacy Notice with yourΒ parentΒ orΒ guardianΒ to make sure you understand and accept them. If we discover that we have collected personal data from a child without consent from a parent or guardian where such consent should have been obtained, we willΒ deleteΒ that personal data as soon as practical. Access to certain parts of the Unileverβs websites and/or eligibility to receive prizes, samples or other rewards are generally limited to users over a certain age.Β
We sometimes use your personal data to carry outΒ age verificationΒ checks and enforce any such age restrictions.
What purpose do we use your data for?
WeΒ collect,Β processΒ andΒ discloseΒ your personal dataΒ onlyΒ forΒ specific and limitedΒ purposes. For example, toΒ process yourΒ payments,Β toΒ assess and handle anyΒ complaints, toΒ develop and improveΒ our products, services, communication methods and the functionality of our websites, to provideΒ personalisedΒ products, communications and targeted advertising as well as product recommendations to you.
WeΒ alsoΒ create profiles by analysing the information about your online surfing, searching and buying behaviour and your interactions with our brand communications by building segments (creating groups that have certain common characteristics) and by placing your personal data in one or more segments.Β
Additionally, Unilever processes your personal dataΒ alsoΒ usingΒ automated means. An automated decision is a decision which is madeΒ solelyΒ by automatic means,Β whereΒ no humansΒ are involved in the decision-making process related to your personal data.
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WeΒ collect,Β processΒ andΒ discloseΒ your personal data for the followingΒ purposes:
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ToΒ process yourΒ payments, if you purchase our products, to provide you with yourΒ order status, deal with your enquiries and requests, and assess and handle anyΒ complaints;
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ToΒ process and answer yourΒ inquiriesΒ or to contact you to answer your questions and/or requests;
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ToΒ develop and improveΒ our products, services, communication methods and the functionality of our websites;
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For the purposes ofΒ competitionsΒ orΒ promotionsΒ that you have entered;
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To communicateΒ informationΒ to you and to manage yourΒ registrationΒ and/orΒ subscriptionΒ to our newsletter or other communications;
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To manage ourΒ everyday business needsΒ regarding your participation in our contests, sweepstakes or promotional activities or request;
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ToΒ authenticate the identityΒ of individuals contacting us by telephone, electronic means or otherwise;
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For internalΒ trainingΒ andΒ quality assuranceΒ purposes;
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To understand and assess theΒ interests,Β wants, andΒ changing needsΒ of consumers, to improve our website, our current products and services, and/or developing new products and services; and
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To provideΒ personalisedΒ products, communications and targeted advertising as well as product recommendations to you.
When we collect and use your personal data for purposes mentioned above or for other purposes, we willΒ informΒ you before or at the time of collection.
Where appropriate, we will ask for yourΒ consentΒ to process the personal data. Where you have given consent for processing activities, you have theΒ right to withdraw your consentΒ at any time.
In some cases, we rely onΒ legitimate interestΒ for processing your personal data. A legitimate interest could exist for example, when you sign up for a loyalty scheme with one of our brands and we use the personal data collected to conduct data analytics to improve our products or services. This ground will only be used where it is necessary to achieve a legitimate interest, for example to assist in the performance of a contract, or to optimise a service, and does not outweigh your rights as an individual. This legal basis will only be relied upon where there is no less intrusive way to process your personal data. We can assure you that if legitimate interest is used as a ground for processing your personal data,Β we will keep a record of this and you have the right to ask for this information.
We process your personal data to perform aΒ contractΒ to which you are or will be a party. For example,Β we need to process your personal dataΒ to deliver aΒ product orΒ aΒ serviceΒ you bought, to allow you to take part in one of our competitions, or to send you samples that you have requested.
WeΒ alsoΒ processΒ your personal data when we have aΒ legal obligationΒ (e.g., tax or social security obligations) to perform such processing. For example, a court order or a subpoena may require us to process personal data for aΒ particular purpose, or we may beΒ compelledΒ to process personal dataΒ toΒ report suspicious transactionsΒ under theΒ local anti-moneyΒ laundering rules.
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Profiling
Unilever uses your personal data to buildΒ profiles.Β We create profiles byΒ analysingΒ the information about your online surfing, searching and buying behaviour and your interactions with our brand communications by building segments (creating groups that have certain common characteristics) and by placing your personal data in one or more segments. These segments are used by Unilever toΒ personaliseΒ the website and our communications to you (such as showing relevant content to you when you visit our site or in a newsletter to you), and to display relevant offers and advertisements from the Unilever brands on the Unilever sites, and via third-party websites. The segments can also be used for third-party campaigns on the Unilever sites.Β Unilever profiles your data where you have providedΒ consentΒ for us to do so; for example, accepting the setting of cookies on your browser online or signing up for email newsletters from one of our brands.
You canΒ withdraw your consentΒ to prevent your personal data being used this way at any time using theΒ manage cookiesΒ section of our Cookie Notice orΒ unsubscribingΒ to the use of your email address if you have logged into one of our websites or signed up to any marketing newsletters.
By way of example βΒ
- Unilever collects data, with your consent, from:Β
- Our websites about what you view and theΒ way you interactΒ with our content; β―
- OurΒ digital display advertisingΒ that we serve to you on social platforms and other publisherβs websites; and β―
- Forms you fillΒ in online and send to us about what your interests are.
- We also track theΒ products you buyΒ when you click on one of our display adverts and go on to purchase something from a selection of our retail partners.
- If you have asked to receiveΒ emailsΒ orΒ SMS communicationsΒ from us, we track whether you open, read or click on the content to see what you are interested in so that we can give you more content that we think you are more likely to enjoy.
- We use this data to profile yourΒ likesΒ andΒ dislikes.β― For instance, if we see that you are regularly viewing Vegan recipes on our βRecipediaβ website, and you have opted in to receiving emails from us, we might give you an update on the new Vegan recipes that have just hit the site for your interest, or we may tailor our web content when you visit towards things we think youβll be most interested in.
- Based on this profile information, we may also give you advertising that we think you willΒ likeΒ andΒ want to seeΒ as you view content from us or from our network of publishers that we advertise with. β―Sometimes, with your consent, we may use your currentΒ locationΒ to serve advertising to you that is to do with promotions or events that are happening nearby that we think you might be interested in.
- We may also use information you have provided toΒ selectedΒ third-partiesΒ andΒ consented to be shared, like your age, gender, life stage, lifestyle and wider interests to identify people who we think will have similar interests to you and who we believe will be interested in similar advertising.
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Automated decision-making
In some instances, Unilever processes your personal data usingΒ automated means. An automated decision is a decision which is madeΒ solelyΒ by automatic means,Β whereΒ no humansΒ are involved in the decision-making process related to your personal data. For example:
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Unilever usesΒ game simulationsΒ ofΒ science-based behavioural assessmentsΒ andΒ data science techniquesΒ to assess prospective employees. Candidates are required to play a set of games and the behavioural patterns exhibited during gameplay are assessed by a Unilever customisedΒ algorithmΒ to predict theΒ candidateβs potential for a specific role. This algorithm isΒ regularly testedΒ to ensure it remains fair, effective and unbiased.
We will not make decisions based solely on automated decision making that have significant impact on you.Β If we do so we notify you and provide you withΒ clear informationΒ about our decision to rely on automated processing to make our decision and our lawful basis for doing so. For example, Unilever processes your personal data using automated means only if it is necessary for the entering into or the performance of aΒ contractΒ with you, or when you have given yourΒ explicit consent.
You have the rightΒ not to be subjectΒ to a decision which is based solely on automated processing and which produces legal or other significant effects on you.Β In particular, youΒ have the right:
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to obtainΒ human intervention;Β
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to express yourΒ point of view;
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to obtain anΒ explanation of the decisionΒ reached after an assessment;Β and
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toΒ challengeΒ such a decision.
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Who will it be shared with?
AsΒ part of the Unilever Group,Β a global business,Β Unilever UK LtdΒ shares your personal dataΒ within the Unilever GroupΒ and withΒ selected third-partiesΒ in the following circumstances:
- Third-partyΒ serviceΒ providers. In order to carry out your requests, respond to your inquiries, fulfil your orders, honour coupons, provide you with samples, enable you to participate in sweepstakes or make various other features, services and materials available to you through our websites we share your personal data withΒ third-party service providers that performΒ functions on our behalf, such as companies that: host or operate Unileverβs websites, process payments, analyse data, provide customer service, postal or delivery services, and sponsors or otherΒ third-partiesΒ that participate in or administer our promotions. They have access to personal data needed to perform their functions but may not use it for other purposes. Further, they must process this personal data in accordance with this Privacy Notice and as permitted by applicable data protection laws and regulations.
- Other third-parties. Your personal data will also be used by us or shared with our sponsors, advertisers, advertising networks, advertising servers, social media networks, and analytics companies or other third-parties in connection withΒ marketing,Β promotional,Β data enrichmentΒ (to find out moreΒ about our privacy key terms follow the link) and other offers, as well as product information.Β
- Business transfers. Your personal data will be used by us or shared withΒ theΒ Unilever Group, primarily for business and operational purposes.Β AsΒ Unilever GroupΒ continuesΒ to developΒ theΒ business,Β it mayΒ sell or purchase assets, subsidiaries or business units.Β In such transactions, your personal data generally is one of theΒ transferred business assetsΒ but remainsΒ subject to the promises madeΒ in any pre-existing Privacy Notice (unless, of course, you consent otherwise). If another entity acquires us, our businesses or substantially all or part of our assets, or assets related to Unileverβs websites, your personal data will be disclosed to such entity as part of theΒ due diligence processΒ and will be transferred to such entity as one of the transferred assets.Β Also, if any bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding is brought by or against us, all such personal data will be considered an asset of ours and as such it is possible they will be sold or transferred to third-parties.
- Legal disclosure. We may transfer and disclose your personal data to third-parties:
- To comply with aΒ legal obligation;
- When we believe inΒ good faithΒ that an applicable law requires it;
- At the request of governmental authorities conducting anΒ investigation;
- To verify or enforce our βTerms of Useβ or other applicable policies;
- To detect and protect againstΒ fraud, or anyΒ technicalΒ orΒ security vulnerabilities;
- To respond to anΒ emergency; or otherwise
- To protect theΒ rights,Β property,Β safety, orΒ securityΒ of third-parties, visitors to Unileverβs websites, Unilever or the public.
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International data transfers
Unilever shares personal dataΒ within the Unilever GroupΒ or with third-parties for purposes described in this Privacy Notice.Β
Unilever will only send personal data collected within theΒ European Economic AreaΒ (EEA)Β to foreign countriesΒ in circumstances such as:
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To followΒ yourΒ instructions;
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To complyΒ with aΒ legal duty; or
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To workΒ with our agents and advisers who we use to helpΒ run our businessΒ andΒ services.
If we do transfer personal data to outside of the EEA, Unilever will make sure that it isΒ protected in the same wayΒ as if it was being used in the EEA. Weβll use one of the following safeguards:
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Transfer to a non-EEAΒ CountryΒ whose privacy legislation ensures anΒ adequate level of protectionΒ of personal data to the EEA one;
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Put in place aΒ contractΒ with the foreign third-party that means they must protect personal data to the same standards as the EEA; or
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Transfer personal data to organisations that are part ofΒ specific agreements on cross-border data transfers with the European Union (e.g.,Β Privacy Shield, a framework that sets privacy standards for data sent between the United States and the European countries, or similar frameworks).
How do we protect your personal data?
Unilever takes theΒ securityΒ of your personal data very seriously. WeΒ take everyΒ effort toΒ protectΒ your personal data from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.Β
Our measures include implementing appropriateΒ access controls,Β investing in the latestΒ Information Security CapabilitiesΒ to protect the IT environments we leverage,Β and ensuring weΒ encrypt,Β pseudonymiseΒ andΒ anonymiseΒ personal data wherever possible.Β
Access to your personal data is only permitted among our employees and agents on aΒ need-to-know basisΒ and subject to strictΒ contractual confidentiality obligationsΒ when processed by third-parties.
How long do we keep your personal data for?
We will keep your personal data forΒ as long as we needΒ it for theΒ purposeΒ it is being processed for. For example, where you make a purchase online with us we will keep the data related to your purchase, so we can perform the specific contract you have entered and after that, we will keep the personal data for a period which enables us to handle or respond to any complaints, queries or concerns relating to the purchase.
Your data may also be retained so that we can continue toΒ improve your experienceΒ with us and to ensure that you receive any loyalty rewards which are due to you.Β
We retain the identifiable data we collect directly for targeting purposes forΒ as little time as possible, after which we employ measures toΒ permanently deleteΒ it.Β
We will actively review the personal data we hold andΒ delete it securely, or in some casesΒ anonymiseΒ it, when there is no longer a legal, business or consumer need for it to be retained.Β
What are your rights?
YourΒ rights in relation to your personal dataΒ howΒ itΒ is processed. YouΒ can exercise these rights at any point. We have provided an overview of these rights below together with what this entails for you. You can exercise your rights by sending anΒ emailΒ or submitting a request through the βContact UsβΒ formΒ on our websites.
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Where we process your personal data, you haveΒ a number ofΒ rights over how the data is processed and can exercise these rights at any point. We have provided an overview of these rights below together with what this entails for you. You can exercise your rights by sending anΒ emailΒ or submitting a request through the βContactΒ Usβ formΒ on our websites.
- The right to be informed. You have the right to be provided with clear, transparent and easily understandable information about how we use your personal data and your rights. Therefore, weβre providing you with the information in this Notice.Β Β
- The right to access and rectification. You have the right to access, correct or update your personal data at any time. We understand the importance of this and should you want to exercise your rights, please contact us.
- The right to data portability. The personal data you have provided us withΒ may beΒ portable. This means it can be moved, copied or transmitted electronically under certain circumstances.
- The right to be forgotten. Under certain circumstances, you have right to request that we delete your data.Β If you wish to delete the personal data we hold about you, please let us know and we will take reasonable steps to respond to your request in accordance with legal requirements. If the personal data we collect is no longer needed for any purposes and we are not required by law to retain it, we will do what we can to delete, destroy or permanently de-identify it.Β
- The right to restrict processing. Under certain circumstances, you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data.
- The right to object. Under certain circumstances, you have the right to object to certain types of processing, including processing for direct marketing (i.e., receiving emails from us notifying you or being contacted with varying potential opportunities).
- The right to lodge a complaint with aΒ Supervisory Authority. You have the right to lodge a complaint directly with any localΒ Supervisory AuthorityΒ about how we process your personal data.Β
- The right to withdraw consent. If you have given your consent to anything we do with your personal data (i.e., we rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your personal data), youΒ have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (although if you do so, it does not mean that anything we have done with your personal data with your consent up to that point is unlawful). You can withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time by contacting us with the details provided below.
- Rights related to automated decision-making. You have the right not to be subject to a decision which is based solely on automated processing and which produces legal or other significant effects on you.Β In particular, youΒ have the right:
- to obtainΒ human intervention;Β
- to express yourΒ point of view;
- to obtain anΒ explanation of the decisionΒ reached after an assessment;Β and
- toΒ challengeΒ such a decision.
Further information and advice about your rights can be obtained from the data protectionΒ Regulator in yourΒ Country.
How do you contact Unilever?
Unilever nominatedΒ theΒ Chief Privacy OfficerΒ who can be contacted at Unilever N.V., Weena 455, PO Box 760 3000 DK Rotterdam The Netherlands or byΒ email.
If you have anyΒ questionsΒ orΒ concernsΒ about Unileverβs Privacy Notice or data processing or if you would like to make aΒ complaintΒ about a possible breach of local privacy laws, please do so by sending anΒ emailΒ or submitting a request through the βContact UsβΒ formΒ on our websites.
When a privacy question or access request is received we have aΒ dedicated teamΒ which triages the contacts and seeks to address the specific concern or query which you are seeking to raise. Where your issue may be more substantive in nature, more information may be sought from you. All such substantive contacts receive a response. If you are unsatisfied with the reply received, you may refer your complaint to the relevantΒ Supervisory AuthorityΒ in yourΒ Country. If you ask us, we will endeavour to provide you with information about relevant complaint avenues which may be applicable to your circumstances.
How do we keep this notice up to date?
We willΒ updateΒ this Privacy Notice when necessary to reflect customer feedback and changes in our products and services. When we post changes to this statement, we will revise the βlast updatedβ date at the top of this Notice. If the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominentΒ noticeΒ (including, for certain services, email notification of Privacy Notice changes). We will also keep prior versions of this Privacy Notice in an archive for your review.
WeΒ will not reduce your rightsΒ under this Privacy Notice without your consent.Β
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Additional Privacy Terms or Notices
In addition to this Privacy Notice, there may be specific campaigns or promotions which will be governed byΒ additional privacy termsΒ orΒ notices. We encourage you to read these additional terms or notices before participating in any such campaigns or promotions as you will be required to comply with them if you participate. Any additional privacy terms or notices will be made prominently available to you.Β
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Last updated April 2019