Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy (hereinafter, the "Policy") explains how mariociavarella.it (hereinafter, the "Website") uses cookies and similar technologies to provide, improve and protect its services. This Policy is provided pursuant to Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC), the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 ("GDPR"), UK GDPR and applicable national legislation including the Italian Data Protection Authority guidelines on cookies (10 June 2021) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

What are Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet or other electronic device) when you visit a website. Cookies allow the website to recognize your device and store certain information about your preferences or actions. Similar technologies include:

• Local storage: a mechanism for storing data locally in your browser with greater capacity than cookies.
• Session storage: temporary storage that is cleared when the browser session ends.
• Web beacons/pixels: small graphic images used to track user behavior and measure website performance.

Key Principles

• The Website uses a first-party consent cookie (mc_consent) to store and honor your cookie preferences.
• Non-essential cookies, including analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4), are disabled by default and are only activated after you provide explicit opt-in consent via the cookie banner.
• The contact form may employ reCAPTCHA for anti-spam protection, which may set cookies as part of its security verification process.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences through the following mechanisms:

Via the Website's Cookie Banner

Upon your first visit to the Website, a cookie consent banner will be displayed, allowing you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can modify your preferences at any time by accessing the "Cookie settings" link located in the footer of the Website. Where available, you may also access cookie preferences through the floating cookie settings button displayed on the page.

Via Browser Settings

You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to: view and delete cookies stored on your device, block all or specific cookies from being set, configure your browser to notify you when cookies are being set and delete all cookies when you close your browser Please note that blocking or deleting certain cookies may impact the functionality and user experience of the Website. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled through the cookie banner as they are essential for the Website's basic operation.

Do Not Track (DNT)

If your browser supports the Do Not Track (DNT) signal, you can enable it in your browser settings. Where technically feasible, this Website respects DNT signals by not activating analytics and other non-essential tracking technologies when DNT is detected.

Categories of Cookies Used

The Website uses cookies and similar technologies for different purposes. Below is a detailed description of each category of cookies, their purpose, legal basis and retention period.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the proper functioning of the Website and for storing your consent choices. They are necessary to provide services you have explicitly requested and cannot be disabled through the cookie banner. The legal basis for these cookies is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in ensuring website functionality) and compliance with legal obligations under the ePrivacy Directive.

Analytics Cookies (Non-Essential - Opt-in Required)

Analytics cookies help me understand how visitors interact with the Website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. These cookies enable me to measure website performance, identify popular content and improve user experience. The legal basis for these cookies is your explicit consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). These cookies are disabled by default and are only activated after you provide explicit opt-in consent through the cookie banner.

Note: Exact cookie names, durations and behaviors may vary depending on the Google Analytics configuration and updates to the service. For comprehensive information, please refer to Google's documentation: Google Analytics Cookies and Google Privacy Policy.

Security and Anti-Spam Technologies

To protect the Website and its users from automated abuse, spam and malicious activities, the contact form may employ Google reCAPTCHA, a security service provided by Google LLC. reCAPTCHA uses cookies and similar technologies to distinguish between human users and automated bots. The legal basis for this processing is legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) in ensuring the security and integrity of the Website and preventing abuse.

When reCAPTCHA is active, it may set cookies and collect information such as IP addresses, browser information and user interaction data to assess the risk score. This data is processed by Google in accordance with its privacy policy and terms of service.

For detailed information about reCAPTCHA's data processing practices, please refer to: Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service.

For additional information about how personal data is processed when using the contact form, please refer to my Privacy Policy.

Data Transfers and Third-Party Services

When you consent to the use of analytics cookies or when anti-spam technologies are employed, your data may be processed by third-party service providers, including Google LLC, which may transfer and process data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom. Such transfers are conducted in accordance with appropriate safeguards as required by GDPR, UK GDPR and applicable data protection laws, including Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

For more information about international data transfers and the safeguards in place, please refer to my Privacy Policy.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or the use of cookies on this Website, please contact the Data Controller at privacy@mariociavarella.it.

Updates to This Policy

This Cookie Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in my cookie practices, legal requirements or operational needs. The "Last updated" date at the top of this document indicates when the Policy was last revised. I encourage you to review this Policy regularly to stay informed about how I use cookies and similar technologies.

Legal References and Resources

This Cookie Policy is based on and complies with the following legal frameworks and official guidance:

• ePrivacy Directive — Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector: EUR-Lex
• GDPR — Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data: EUR-Lex
• UK GDPR — The UK's implementation of GDPR post-Brexit: ICO UK GDPR
• Italian Data Protection Authority Cookie Guidelines (10 June 2021): Garante - Guidelines on cookies and other tracking tools
• CCPA/CPRA — California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act: California Attorney General