Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 31.03.2026

 

1. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for processing your personal data is:

 

Honey Bee Watch CLG Address: Suite 2, Cathedral Buildings, Middle Street, Galway, Ireland 
Email: honeybeewatch.info@gmail.com

 

2. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use the Honey Bee Watch platform, a citizen science-based system to record locations and observations of free-living honey bee colonies (FLCs). We process personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).

 

3. Categories of Personal Data

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

3.1 Data You Provide

• Name or username
• Email address
• Account details
• Free-living colonies’ observational data (notes, photos, comments)
• Location data you submit on free-living colonies’ nests (coordinates, map inputs)

3.2 Automatically Collected Data

• IP address
• Device and browser information
• Usage data (log files, interactions)

 

3.3 Special Note on Location Data

Location data may constitute personal data, where it can be used to identify an individual. We treat such data with heightened care. For this purpose, the locations displayed on the web map are masked (e.g., rounding of coordinates to avoid precise identification).

 

4. Data Sharing and Recipients

We may share your data with:

• Research institutions and universities
• Environmental and conservation organizations
• Technical service providers (hosting, cloud services, analytics)

Where data is shared, we ensure:

• Data minimization
• Appropriate safeguards (e.g., data processing agreements)

We do not sell personal data.

5. Publicly Available Data

Observation data may be publicly displayed, including:

• Submitted observations
• Associated location data (masked for reducing identification)
• Usernames

To protect FLCs, exact nest locations are restricted (e.g., location data are generalized).

6. International Data Transfers

If personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure appropriate safeguards and adequacy that comply with European Commission guidelines.

 

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary:

• Account data: until account deletion [AM1] 
• Observation data: may be retained longer for scientific research (subject to safeguards under GDPR Art. 89)
• Logs and technical data: limited retention period  

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the following rights:

• Right of access (Art. 15)
• Right to rectification (Art. 16)
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) (Art. 17)
• Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18)
• Right to data portability (Art. 20)
• Right to object (Art. 21)
• Right to withdraw consent (Art. 7)

To exercise your rights, contact: honeybeewatch.info@gmail.com.

 

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures, including:

• Encryption where appropriate
• Access controls
• Secure infrastructure

10. Cookies and Tracking

We may use cookies and similar technologies. Where required, we will obtain your consent in accordance with the ePrivacy Directive.

 

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date.

 

12. Contact

For any questions regarding this policy or your data:

Email: honeybeewatch.info@gmail.com

Organization: Honey Bee Watch CLG Address: Suite 2, Cathedral Buildings, Middle Street, Galway, Ireland

 

13. Consent Statement

By using the platform and submitting observations, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.