Privacy &
Cookies

1. About this policy

This Privacy & Cookies Policy describes how Shaun Scholtz (“I,” “me,” or “my”) collects, uses, discloses and protects information when you visit shaunscholtz.com (“the Site”) or contact me through the Site.

I am responsible for the personal information collected through the Site and act as the person responsible for privacy matters.

2. Information collected automatically

When you visit the Site, certain technical information may be processed automatically by the systems used to deliver, maintain and secure it. This information may include:

• Your Internet Protocol address;
• Browser and device type;
• Operating system;
• The date and time of your visit;
• Pages or resources requested;
• Referring website; and
• Information relating to errors, security events or attempted misuse.

This information is used only where reasonably necessary to operate, protect and troubleshoot the Site.

3. Google Analytics

With your consent, the Site uses Google Analytics 4, a website analytics service provided by Google LLC, to understand how visitors find and use the Site.

Google Analytics may collect information such as:

• Pages viewed;
• Time and approximate duration of visits;
• General interactions with the Site;
• Referring websites or campaign sources;
• Browser, device and operating-system information;
• Approximate geographic region;
• A randomly generated browser or device identifier; and
• The date and time of visits and interactions.

Google Analytics is optional. Analytics does not load and analytics information is not sent to Google unless you select Accept analytics through the Site’s consent controls.

I use this information to understand which work and content people find useful, identify technical issues and improve the Site. I do not use Google Analytics for behavioural advertising, remarketing or automated decisions about visitors.

Google states that Google Analytics does not log or store individual Internet Protocol addresses. However, an address may be processed temporarily when analytics information is transmitted.

More information about Google’s handling of Analytics data is available through Google’s privacy documentation and its explanation of how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

4. Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small data files stored on your device by a website. The Site may also use similar browser-storage technologies to remember your privacy choices.

The Site uses the following categories of storage:

Strictly necessary storage

Strictly necessary storage is used to operate the Site, maintain security or remember whether you accepted or rejected analytics. It cannot be disabled through the Site’s consent controls because the Site needs it to respect your choice.

Your consent preference may be remembered for up to six months, unless you clear your browser storage or change your choice earlier.

Optional analytics cookies

If you accept analytics, Google Analytics may set the following first-party cookies:

The precise duration may be reduced by browser settings, privacy controls or future changes to the Site’s configuration.

5. Information you provide directly

The Site provides an email link through which you may contact me. If you choose to send an email, I will receive the information you voluntarily include, which may include your:

• Name;
• Email address;
• Organization or employer;
• Professional information; and
• Message and any attachments.

I use this information to read and respond to your message, discuss potential professional opportunities or services, maintain relevant correspondence and protect against fraud or misuse.

Please do not send sensitive personal, financial, medical or confidential information unless it is reasonably necessary for your inquiry.

6. Purposes and legal grounds

I collect and use personal information only for identified and reasonable purposes, including:

• Operating and securing the Site;
• Remembering and respecting your privacy choices;
• Measuring Site usage when you have consented;
• Improving content, accessibility and performance;
• Responding to communications and professional inquiries;
• Preventing fraud, abuse and security incidents; and
• Complying with applicable legal obligations.

Where applicable law requires a legal basis for processing:

• Optional analytics are processed with your consent;
• Information necessary to deliver and secure the Site is processed for legitimate operational and security interests; and
• Information you send directly is processed to respond to your request or take steps you have asked me to take.

You may withdraw your consent to optional analytics at any time.

7. Disclosure of information

I do not sell, rent or trade personal information.

Information may be processed or disclosed to service providers that help operate the Site, including website hosting, infrastructure, security and analytics providers. These providers may process information only as necessary to provide their services and subject to their applicable contractual and legal obligations.

Information may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to:

• Comply with a law, regulation, court order or lawful government request;
• Investigate or prevent fraud, abuse or security incidents;
• Protect my legal rights or the rights and safety of another person; or
• Establish, exercise or defend a legal claim.

8. Processing outside your jurisdiction

Some service providers, including Google, may process information in countries outside Canada. As a result, information may be subject to the laws of the country in which it is processed and may be accessible to courts, law-enforcement bodies or governmental authorities in that jurisdiction.

Where required, I take reasonable steps to assess the services used and ensure that appropriate contractual, organizational and technical protections are in place.

9. Data retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes.

Google Analytics user-level and event-level information is configured to be retained for two months. Aggregated statistical reports may remain available after the underlying user-level information expires.

Email correspondence is retained for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to the inquiry, maintain an appropriate professional record or fulfil applicable legal obligations. Information that is no longer required is deleted, anonymized or securely disposed of where reasonably practicable.

10. Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live and the laws applicable to you, you may have the right to:

• Know whether I hold personal information about you;
• Request access to that information;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request deletion of certain information;
• Withdraw consent;
• Object to or restrict certain processing; and
• Make a complaint concerning the handling of your information.

You can reject analytics when first visiting the Site or change your choice later by selecting Cookie settings in the Site footer.

Withdrawing consent stops future analytics collection from your browser. It does not invalidate processing that lawfully occurred before consent was withdrawn. When consent is withdrawn, the Site will attempt to remove its Google Analytics cookies from your browser.

Some Analytics information may not be reasonably connected to your identity. In those circumstances, I may be unable to locate information relating specifically to you without collecting additional identifying information.

To make a privacy request, contact me at sayhello@shaunscholtz.com. I may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

11. Safeguarding information

I use reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information handled through the Site. These measures are intended to protect information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, loss or destruction.

No website, network or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, while reasonable safeguards are used, absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

12. Children’s privacy

The Site is a professional portfolio intended for a general audience and is not directed toward children. I do not knowingly use the Site to collect personal information from children.

If you believe a child has provided personal information through the Site, contact me so that I can review and, where appropriate, delete it.

13. External websites

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, platforms or services. I do not control those third parties and this policy does not govern their privacy practices.

You should review the privacy information provided by a third party before providing information to it.

14. Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to the Site, its service providers, legal requirements or privacy practices.

The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Where a change materially affects how information is collected or used, additional notice or renewed consent will be provided where required.

15. Contact

Questions, requests or concerns regarding this policy or the handling of personal information may be directed to: