Reliable exporters: find them and meet them

This Privacy Policy describes and gives you clear and comprehensive information about the data that Global Sources collects from you, and provides an explanation of how and why we collect, use and manage that data.

For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679),the data controller is Global Sources (see Contact Details). Global Sources is based in Hong Kong and is responsible for data collected in relation to websites and tradeshows managed by Global Sources.You should be aware that although Global Sources may be principally responsible for looking after your personal data, information may be held in databases which can be accessed by other affiliated entities of Global Sources.

We may make changes to this Policy from time to time in order to keep it up to date and compliant with legal requirements. Please refer to the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page to see when this Policy was last revised. We may also notify you about significant changes by email, using the address you last provided or by posting an alert which will be displayed when you access our systems. This Policy is not intended to override the terms of any contract that you have with us or between buyers and suppliers (or any rights you might have available under applicable data protection laws).

• Email at dpo@globalsources.com

• Email at service@globalsources.com
• Phone (65) 6547-2800

• A list of EU Regulators may be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/structure/data-protection-authorities/index_en.htm.
• A list of authorities participating in the Global privacy Enforcement network may be found here: https://www.privacyenforcement.net/about_the_network#members

If you are located in Hong Kong, you may lodge your complaint with us or to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong: https://www.pcpd.org.hk/english/complaints/how_complaint/complaint/complaint.html

We are also represented in the EU and our representative in the EU may be contacted through service@globalsources.com.

Our website may, from time to time, contain links to and from the websites of our partner networks, advertisers and affiliates. If you follow a link to any of these websites, please note that these websites have their own privacy notices and that we do not accept any responsibility or liability for these notices. Please check these notices before you submit any personal information to these websites.

We collect your data in a variety of ways:

• Registration Forms
  We ask visitors to register their attendance by completing a form which we then enter into our systems.
• Check-In updates
  We ask visitors to update/complete data retrieved from previous registrations held in our system.
• Business Cards
  We scan and store details of visitors’ business cards.
• Booth Visit History
  Exhibitors use the Global Sources Supplier App to scan visitors’ badges when visitors call at their booths. Visit data is then uploaded to our servers.

• TRegistration & Inquiry Forms
  We ask visitors to our online sites to register in order to personalize and use the site’s messaging functions. We support both a full and a lite registration mode that captures minimal data. Additionally, we have a self-registration function for suppliers who wish to register as an advertiser on our site.
• TSubscription Forms
  We capture details of site visitors’ subscriptions and preferences to services such as Notifications, Product/Supplier Alerts, Print Magazines, and eMagazines.
• TSample/Small Order Forms
  We capture details of sample and small orders placed by visitors to advertisers on the site.
• TPrivate Sourcing Events
  We capture basic details of buyers interested in applying for our Private Sourcing service.

• Telemarketing
  We periodically contact people and seek information for market surveys and research questionnaires or to qualify prospects for our services or those of our advertiser community, e.g., to qualify potential:
  • - visitors to our shows and/or online sites, or
  • - advertisers/exhibitors to our shows and/or online sites
• Customer Service
  Online users, and Trade Show visitors and potential advertisers contact us for enquiries, complaints, suggestions or feedback through our Customer Service Team via online chat system, hotline, fax or email.
  Additionally, there are small numbers of potential advertisers who call in. Their details are qualified and entered into our systems.

We use Cookies and other related technologies on our sites. To the extent that information collected through Cookies and similar technologies constitutes personal information, the provisions in our Cookie Policy apply and complement this Privacy Policy.

We collect data from other sources, such as public databases, joint marketing partners and other third parties including third party software applications and social media platforms. The data collected through these third party sources will be combined with information we collect through our services where this is necessary to help manage our relationship with you.

• Contact and Communication Details

  This includes your name, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and social media contact details.

• Business Details

  Job title, role, company name, and company demographics, i.e., number of employees, turnover, etc. Please note that contact details typically are work related since our mission is to facilitate B2B trade.

• Preferences
  Marketing preferences inferred from subscriptions to product/supplier alerts, print and eMagazines and Trade Show news.

  Display and language preferences

• Communications
  Details of calls/messaging made between:
  • - Customer service team members and visitors and advertisers/exhibitors
  • - Sales Team members and advertisers/exhibitors or prospects
  • - Advertisers/exhibitors and online visitors sent through Message Center, e.g., RFI, RFQ, RFS.
  • - Advertisers/Exhibitors and online visitors sent though Tencent chat facility
• Buying & Payment History
  What sample requests or other orders placed between advertisers and site visitors
  What seminars/events booked at Trade Shows

  What print and eMagazines subscribed to

• Device and Log Information
  The internet domain and IP address from where you access our websites and apps.
  The type of browser software and operating system used to access our websites and apps.
  The date and time you access our websites and apps
  If you linked into our websites and apps from another website, the address of that website (referrer URL), and:
  • - The pages you enter, visit and exit our websites and apps from
  • - Your account log-in/online identifier
  • - Unique device identifiers (such as the address of the device's wireless network interface (MAC Address), or mobile phone number used by the device)
• Online Behavioral Data
  We use Cookies and other tracking technologies to capture activity on our sites, such as:
  • - Session frequency
  • - Search terms used
  • - Pages visited and how they were accessed (for path analysis)
  • - Products /suppliers inquired on or profiles viewed
  • - Whitepapers downloaded
  • - Apps downloaded

  While this information itself does not hold personal identifiers, it may be linked to profile data and used for behavioral profiling (see our Cookie Policy for further details about cookies).

• Offline Behavioral Data
  Trade shows, exhibitions, and conferences visitors attended
  Exhibitors visited (captured through Global Sources Buyer App)

  Summits/seminars/events attended

We use the data to provide you with our products and services, to develop new offerings and to protect Global Sources and our visitors, exhibitors, buyers, suppliers and advertisers as detailed below. In some instances, we will request that you provide data to us directly. If you do not provide the data that we request, or prohibit us from collecting such data, we may not be able to provide the requested products and services.

• To create personalized product recommendations on behalf of online advertisers to present to online visitors by email or phone.
• To market relevant Global Sources online services (e.g., Product/Supplier Alerts, Magazines) by print DMs, eDMs, telemarketing calls, SMS or other platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn or through third party agencies.
• To market relevant Global Sources Tradeshows and services (e.g., Buyer apps, Summits, Start Up Launchpad) by print DMs, eDMs, telemarketing calls, SMS or through other platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn or through 3rd party agencies
• To create contact lists of Online and/or Trade Show visitors who have opted in to third party marketing. These lists are segmented based on visitor preferences, behaviors or demographics and can be rented/sold to verified third party vendor for direct marketing on behalf of their clients.
• Using third party marketing materials from our partners (advertisers or service providers) to market to Global Sources Online and Trade Show visitors who have opted in to third party marketing. These visitors are segmented based on preferences, behavior or demographics, by print DMs, eDMs, telemarketing calls, SMS or through other platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn or through third party agencies.
• Create contact lists for surveys and similar market research activities.
• To facilitate review of visitor details for qualification purposes by Advertisers and Exhibitors who have received Requests for Information or similar from visitors to our Online site or Tradeshows, through our Messaging Service and to facilitate communications between parties by email/phone/chat in relation to such requests .
• Our Customer Services team may use your personal data when responding to your comments, feedback, inquiries, questions, to give you appropriate support to fulfil your needs and requests
• Our Technical Support team may use your personal data to (i) facilitate internal purposes such as auditing, data analysis, and research to improve our products, services and improve your user experience, including providing more relevant customized content to you; (ii) detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect your rights and property as well as ours.
• Use the data for purposes associated with our legal and regulatory obligations.

• To comply with a relevant legal or regulatory obligation that we are subject to
• To fulfill obligations under a contract signed between you and us, or
• To support 'legitimate interests' that we have as a business provided it is always carried out in a way that is proportionate and that respects your privacy rights
• Or exceptionally for clearly defined and limited cases, where you have freely given consent

• We regularly review our information collection, storage and processing practices, including physical, logical and organizational security measures, to guard against unauthorized access to systems and data stores.
• Our regular reviews include engaging external security consultants to test effectiveness of implemented security measures.
• We restrict access to personal information to our employees, contractors and agents who need access to the relevant personal information in order for them to process it for us and who are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations.
• We implement strong access control mechanisms, such as two-factor authentication, identity & access management in addition to strong password policies.
• Where appropriate, we use technical solutions such as encryption, pseudonymization and anonymization to further protect data at rest and in transit.

On your part, we encourage you to use a unique and strong password to protect your account, activate the two-factor authentication (2FA) feature that we provide, limit access to your computer and log out after using our services. In addition, you should make sure your computer is updated with the latest security patches and protected with an anti-malware product at all times.

Please note that you are responsible for the personal information that you choose to share, disclose or submit voluntarily while using our website and which can be viewed by members of third party applications or messengers.

We will retain your personal data for as long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes listed in this Privacy Policy. When your personal information is no longer required, we will ensure it is either securely deleted or stored in a way which means it will no longer be used by the business.

In some circumstances we may retain your personal information for longer periods of time, for example, where we are required to do so to meet legal, regulatory, tax or accounting requirements or in the event of any complaint or challenge, or if we reasonably believe there is a possibility of legal action relating to your personal information or dealings. Under normal circumstances this should not exceed 7 years from the date of the last engagement with you.

• Service providers, who perform functions on our behalf such as fulfilling orders, who help manage our IT and back office systems, delivering packages, sending postal mail and email, removing repetitive information from customer lists, analyzing data, providing marketing assistance, providing search results and links (including paid listings and links), and providing customer services.
• Data protection authorities, regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, in Hong Kong, EU and around the world.
• Other third parties, for the purpose of detecting, preventing or otherwise addressing fraud, security or technical issues, protecting against harm to the rights, property or safety of our users or the public.
• We may disclose or transfer your data to a third party in the event of any reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of Global Sources business, assets or stock (including any bankruptcy or similar proceedings).

We may use your personal information to send you direct marketing communications about our products and services or our related services according to your preferences either with your consent or because we have a legitimate interest to do so, including our latest product announcements and upcoming events. This may be in the form of emails, SMS, telephone calls or targeted online advertisement. We limit direct marketing to a reasonable proportionate level, and to send you communications which we think will be interesting and relevant to you, based on the information we have about you.

You have choices when it comes to how we use your data and we want to ensure you have the information to make the choices that are right for you.

If you no longer want to receive marketing-related emails, SMS, or printed materials, you may opt out by following the instructions in any such emails, SMS or printed materials you receive from us.

Based on information we have collected about you and your viewing habits and analytics about performance of our content, offers and ad, we personalize the content, offers and ads made available to you to make your experience more relevant.

This constitutes profiling: We segment visitors by applying selection criteria and business rules using software code (and algorithms) to process relevant data semi-automatically to produce personalized content recommendations, e.g., recommended products which appear in marketing emails or online when you visit our sites. If you wish to opt-out of receiving personalized content, please contact the Customer Services Team or DPO.

• Recognized by the European Union as providing an adequate level of data and legal protection, for example, to the US under the EU - U.S. Privacy Shield which covers the protection of personal information transferred to the US. (https://www.privacyshield.gov/article?id=OVERVIEW )
• Or by ensuring that transfers to other Non-EU counties are protected by appropriate contractual commitments.

You have the right to request more information about the safeguards we have put in place. Please contact the DPO.

• Access to Your Data - You can ask us to:
  • - Confirm whether we are processing your personal information
  • - Give you a copy of that data
  • - Provide you with other information about your personal information, such as what data we have, what we use it for, who we disclose it to, whether we transfer it abroad and how we protect it, how long we keep it for, what rights you have, how you can make a complaint, where we got your data from and whether we have carried out automated decision making or profiling, to the extent that information has not already been provided to you in this notice.
• Rectification

  You can ask us to rectify inaccurate personal information in our files. We may seek to verify the accuracy of the data before rectifying it.

• Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) - You can ask us to erase your personal information, but only where:
  • - It is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected; or
  • - You have withdrawn your consent (where the data processing was based on consent); or
  • - It follows a successful right to object; or
  • - It has been processed unlawfully; or
  • - It is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
  We are not required to comply with your request to erase your personal information if the processing of your personal information is necessary:
  • - For compliance with a legal obligation; or
  • - For the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

  In the context of marketing, please note that we will maintain a suppression list if you have opted out from receiving marketing content to ensure that you do not receive any further communications.

• Restriction - You can ask us to restrict (i.e. keep but not use) your personal information, but only where:
  • Its accuracy is contested, to allow us to verify its accuracy; or
  • The processing is unlawful, but you do not want it erased; or
  • It is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, but we still need it to establish, exercise or defend legal claims; or
  • You have exercised the right to object, and verification of overriding grounds is pending.
  We can continue to use your personal information following a request for restriction, where:
  • We have your consent; or
  • To establish, exercise or defend legal claims; or
  • To protect the rights of another natural or legal person.
• Objection

  You can object to any processing of your personal information which has our 'legitimate interests' as its legal basis, if you believe your fundamental rights and freedoms outweigh our Legitimate Interests. Once you have objected, we have an opportunity to demonstrate that we have compelling legitimate interests which override your rights, however, this does not apply as far as the objections refers to the use of personal information for direct marketing purposes.

• Data Portability
  You can ask us to provide your personal information to you in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, or you can ask to have it 'ported' directly to another Data Controller, but in each case only where:
  • - The processing is based on your consent or the performance of a contract with you; and
  • - The processing is carried out by automated means.
• Information about any automated processing

  e.g. segmentation or profiling using your data. You can ask not to be subject to such processing.

• Information about International Transfers.

  You can request details about international transfers of your data

• Identity - We take the confidentiality of all records containing personal information seriously and reserve the right to ask you for proof of your identity if you make a request.
• Fees - We will not ask for a fee to exercise any of your rights in relation to your personal information, unless your request for access to information is unfounded, repetitive or excessive, in which case we will charge a reasonable amount in the circumstances.
• Timescales - We aim to respond to any valid requests within one month unless it is particularly complicated or you have made several requests, in which case we aim to respond within three months. We will let you know if we are going to take longer than one month. We might ask you if you can help by telling us what exactly you want to receive or are concerned about. This will help us to action your request more quickly.
• Exemptions - Local laws, including in the EU member states, provide for additional exemptions, in particular to the right of access, whereby personal information can be withheld from you in certain circumstances, for example where it is subject to legal privilege.

You also have the right to complain to your supervisory authority (see 'Contact Details').

Last updated date: 25 September 2018 version 1.7