Cookie policy

The present document constitutes the Cookie Policy of the “ION Group” (hereinafter “ION Group” or “we”).

Your contact company within the ION Group is ION BV, a private limited company incorporated under Belgian law, having its registered office at Vredestraat 53, 8790 Waregem and registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under company number 0838.897.867.

This Cookie Policy aims to inform you about the use of cookies by the ION Group. This Cookie Policy must be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which you can find here.

This Cookie Policy may be amended, for example when new functionalities are added to the website. We therefore recommend that you consult this Cookie Policy regularly. Important changes will be announced on our main website (ion.be/en). This version of the Cookie Policy was last amended on the 30th of June 2022.

1. ION GROUP COOKIES

Whenever you visit our website, we collect information by automated means through the use of cookies.

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your browser, your computer or your mobile device. The website stores the cookies on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information, so that your device is recognised when you revisit the website. Cookies can have different purposes: ensuring that the website takes account of your preferences by, for example, remembering certain preferences, collecting statistical data, adapting content, etc.

2. WHAT COOKIES ARE USED ON THE ION GROUP WEBSITE?

We use first-party cookies as well as third-party cookies, session cookies and permanent cookies:

• First-party cookies are cookies installed by the ION Group itself on its website.
• Third-party cookies are cookies installed by other parties (i.e. cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting, e.g. Google Analytics cookies).
• Session cookies are deleted after the user closes the browser.
• Permanent cookies remain on the user’s device for a certain period of time.

Below you will find an overview of the cookies used by the ION Group.

Strictly necessary cookies

Strictly necessary cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be deactivated in our cookie banner. These cookies are placed directly on your browser on the basis of our legitimate interest to offer you a website that functions properly and safely. You can set your browser to block these cookies or alert you about these cookies, but, in that case, some parts of the website will not function properly. You can deactivate these cookies by changing your browser preferences.

Functional cookies (essential cookies)

Functional cookies enable the website to provide additional functionalities and personal settings. The ION Group places these cookies directly on your browser on the basis of our legitimate interest to offer you a website that functions properly and safely. You can set your browser to block these cookies or alert you about these cookies. If you do not allow these cookies, some of our services may not function properly. You can deactivate these cookies by changing your browser preferences.

Analytical cookies (non-essential cookies)

Analytical cookies provide us with information about the use of our website and enable us to optimize our website. Analytical cookies collect information about your visit to and use of the website, for example to know the number of pages visited or the number of users who have viewed a particular page. allow us to count visitors and trace their origin so that we can analyze and improve the performance of our website. These cookies provide us with information about how our website is used and help us to optimize our website. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move throughout the site. These cookies do not collect information that directly identifies a user. All information these cookies collect is aggregated. They are useful for any changes and improvements to the website and any information these cookies collect will only be used to improve the website and how the website functions. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you visited our site. These cookies are set based on your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time (see point 3).

(Social) "Sharing cookies (non-essential cookies)

We use social sharing cookies from LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other similar social media sites to enable you to share content from our websites that interests you with other people on social networks. We may serve targeted advertisements on these networks based on your interaction with our websites. These cookies are placed on our website via hyperlinks, social plugins or links to social media operators. When you use these share buttons, a third party cookie is installed (see also “third party cookies” below).

Social plug-ins establish a connection to the servers of the operators of social networks. With the next click you will be sent to the relevant social media page of the ION group or one of its affiliated companies.

Your data will be passed on to the operator of the respective social network. The ION group allows the collection of the data by setting the social plug-in on its website, but has no influence on what data or the amount of data the social network collects using the social plug-in. The social networks receive information such as which of our websites you have visited at that time and before. A cookie with a unique identifier is placed via the social plugin each time the website in question is visited. This enables the social network to create a profile of your usage behaviour. It is possible that such a profile will be assigned to you in the event of a later first registration with the social network, but the ION group will not have access to this profile.

 If you are already registered with a social network during your visit to our websites, the operator of that social network can assign the visit to your personal account via the social plug-ins. When using functions of the social plug-ins (e.g. "Like" button, "Tweets", leave comments ...) the information about this use is transmitted directly from your browser to the respective social network and there stored. The same applies if you call up a website of a social media provider by clicking on the corresponding symbol button.

If you are not a member of a social network, it is still possible that the social networks receive and store your IP address and information about the browser and operating system you use via the social plug-ins.

These cookies are placed on the basis of your consent. You can revoke your consent at any time (at a later date) (see point 3).

Marketing cookies        

Marketing cookies (eg advertising or tracking cookies) collect information about your browsing habits to make advertising more relevant to you and your interests. 

We (mainly) use third-party cookies from companies such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, etc. to understand how users arrive at our websites and how they interact with us on the website. We also use these cookies to understand how our media campaigns work. This information is used to evaluate and improve the content of our website and our campaigns and ultimately to improve the user experience.

We use marketing cookies to (i) deliver ads that are more relevant to you and your interests, (ii) limit the number of times you see an ad, (iii) help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign, and (iv) ) understand the user's behavior after seeing an advertisement].

These cookies are placed on the basis of your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time (at a later date) (see point 3).

Third party cookies

Some of the cookies we use are from third parties, such as [Google, Adobe, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram , etc.] to provide us with web analytics and intelligence about our websites. These companies use programming codes to collect information about your interaction with our websites, such as the pages you visit, the links you click, and how long you are on our websites.

However, these cookies may also collect information about you for their own purposes. This Cookie Policy does not apply to the use of your information by third parties for their own purposes. That is why the ION group recommends that you check the cookie policies of these third parties. 

Third party cookies are placed on your browser based on your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time (at a later date) (see point 3).

3. HOW CAN YOU DELETE OR BLOCK COOKIES OR CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS?

You have the choice to accept all cookies, refuse all cookies, or adjust your cookie settings via the cookie banner that appears on our website when you visit the site for the first time. If you refuse cookies or do not click our cookie banner, only the essential cookies are placed on your browser. If you consented to the use of non-essential cookies, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can withdraw your consent via the cookie tool on our website.

If you wish to block cookies, delete existing cookies or change your cookie settings, you can always do so via your browser settings. You can find these settings in the “options” or “preferences” menu of your Internet browser. Via the following hyperlinks, for example, you will find further instructions on how to deactivate the use of cookies on certain browsers and/or how to delete cookies:

• Cookie preferences Internet Explorer
• Cookie preferences Microsoft Edge
• Cookie preferences Firefox
• Cookie preferences Chrome
• Cookie preferences Safari

Further information on how to remove and block cookies can be found on the website: All about cookies.

Please note that if you do not accept certain cookies or if you deactivate cookies, certain parts of the website or certain elements may not be accessible and/or displayed correctly. You may also be unable to use certain applications, and/or some parts of our website may need more time to work or may not function properly.

4. DATA SUBJECTS’ RIGHTS

Certain data we collect from you through cookies allow us to identify you as a natural person or may be linked to you. These data therefore qualify as personal data, which is why our Privacy Policy applies to the processing of these data by our cookies.

You can find your rights as a data subject under Title VIII of our Privacy Policy.

5. RETENTION PERIOD OF PERSONAL DATA

Certain data we collect from you through cookies allow us to identify you as a natural person or may be linked to you. These data therefore qualify as personal data, which is why our Privacy Policy applies to the processing of these data by our cookies.

The retention period of these collected personal data may differ from the storage period (lifetime) of the cookie. We never keep the personal data for longer than necessary for the purpose of the processing for which the personal data were collected.  

You can find more information about this under Title VI of our Privacy Policy.

6. TRANSFER OF (PERSONAL) DATA

The ION Group itself does not transfer (personal) data to parties established in countries outside the European Economic Area. Certain third parties (e.g. Google), which the ION Group relies on and which have access to (personal) data collected by cookies, may transfer your (personal) data to a country outside the European Economic Area (e.g. the United States). Please refer to the privacy and cookie policies of the respective third parties for more information about this transfer:

• Google Ads en Google Analytics
• Outbrain
• Facebook
• Bing Ads (Microsoft)
• Hotjar
• Pardot en Salesforce
• LinkedIn

The ION Group uses Google Analytics cookies to analyse your use of its website. To protect your personal data, we have concluded a data processing agreement with Google Analytics. Furthermore, we aimed to make the use of these cookies as privacy friendly as possible by choosing to mask the last octet of your IP address and by disabling the possibility of ‘data sharing’. In addition, we do not use any other Google services in combination with the Google Analytics cookies. You can always withdraw your consent to the setting of these cookies (see point  3). If you use Google Chrome, you can always install the Google browser extension that provides an opt-out for Google Analytics cookies.

7. ANY QUESTIONS?

If you have further questions about the website or about this Cookie Policy, you can always contact us by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Listing of cookies

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Functional Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and to optimise your user experience. These cookies cannot be disabled. In most cases, these cookies are only used in response to an action by yourself, essentially to request a service, for example registering your privacy settings, logging in to the website or completing a form. Functional and analytical cookies do not store any unique personal information.

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Targeting Cookies

These targeting cookies can be placed on our website by advertisers. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other websites. They do not store any direct personal information, but they are based on unique identifiers of your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will see fewer targeted ads.