Privacy Policy

Last updated: 21 August 2026

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This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, used, stored, shared, and protected in connection with ForenSoc ’27 — International Forensic Social Sciences Conference, organized by the Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS) and co-organized by Istanbul Medipol University.

This Privacy Policy applies to personal data processed through the ForenSoc ’27 website, conference registration, abstract submission, sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, contact forms, conference communications, onsite and online participation, and related organizational activities.

By using this website, submitting a form, registering for the conference, submitting an abstract, requesting information, or otherwise interacting with ForenSoc ’27, personal data may be processed as described in this Privacy Policy and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Data Controller

The Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS) acts as the Data Controller for personal data processed through the ForenSoc ’27 website and for the central administration of the conference, unless otherwise stated for a particular activity or service.

Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS)
Non-profit scientific association
Based in Athens, Greece
Official conference website: www.forensoc.org
Email: contact@balkanacademy.org
Phone: +90 533 414 1913

Istanbul Medipol University, as co-organizer and venue host, may receive or process limited personal data where reasonably necessary for conference organization, venue-related coordination, scientific or administrative activities, and related services.

Where Istanbul Medipol University or another organization independently determines the purposes and means of processing personal data under its control, its own applicable privacy and data protection responsibilities may apply.

Certain conference administration, website management, technical services, payment processing, communications, and related operational activities may also be carried out by authorized service providers acting on behalf of BAFS and, where applicable, as data processors.

Personal Data We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with the website and the conference, we may collect the following categories of personal data:

• Title

• First name and surname

• Academic degree or professional designation

• Institution, organization, university, or employer

• Department or professional field

• Country and city

• Postal or contact address

• Email address

• Telephone number

• Professional or academic status

• Student, resident, or trainee status, where applicable

• Proof of student, resident, or trainee status where required

• Registration category

• Participation format, including onsite or online participation

• Preferred payment method

• Billing and invoice information

• Payment or transaction-related information

• Information concerning an intention to submit an abstract

• Abstract titles

• Author and co-author details

• Institutional affiliations

• Keywords

• Scientific content submitted as part of an abstract

• Presentation preferences and presentation format

• Conflict of interest, funding, ethics, or similar declarations where requested

• Sponsorship or exhibition enquiry information

• Information about how you heard about the conference

• Communication and newsletter preferences

• Correspondence and communications with the organizers

• Technical information relating to use of the website

• Any other information voluntarily provided through forms or communications

Technical information may include information such as:

• Browser type

• Device type

• Operating system

• Pages visited

• Date and time of visits

• Referring website or traffic source

• Approximate location derived from technical data

• Cookie identifiers

• Cookie and privacy preferences

• Website interaction information

The organizers seek to collect only personal data reasonably necessary for the relevant conference-related purpose.

Purposes of Processing

Personal data may be processed for purposes including:

• Managing conference registration

• Confirming registration status

• Processing and verifying registration payments

• Managing onsite and online participation

• Processing and reviewing abstract submissions

• Communicating abstract acceptance, rejection, revision, or other scientific decisions

• Preparing the scientific programme

• Preparing participant, author, speaker, and committee records

• Preparing presentation schedules

• Issuing Certificates of Attendance and Certificates of Presentation

• Preparing badges and access arrangements

• Providing access to online conference services

• Communicating important conference information and updates

• Managing venue and logistical arrangements

• Responding to enquiries and requests

• Managing sponsorship and exhibition applications

• Maintaining administrative, accounting, financial, scientific, and legal records

• Preparing anonymous or aggregated conference statistics and reports

• Protecting the security and integrity of the website and conference systems

• Preventing misuse, fraud, unauthorized access, or other security incidents

• Improving conference organization, communications, website performance, and functionality

• Fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory, financial, accounting, tax, or contractual obligations

• Sending newsletters, announcements, or information concerning future BAFS activities where consent has been provided or another appropriate legal basis applies

Personal data will not be sold to third parties.

Legal Basis for Processing

Depending on the activity and applicable law, personal data may be processed on one or more of the following legal bases.

Registration and Conference Administration

Personal data necessary to process registration, provide conference participation, manage payments, issue certificates, and deliver requested conference services may be processed because it is necessary to take steps requested by the participant or to perform the conference registration relationship.

Abstract Submission and Scientific Programme

Information submitted in connection with an abstract may be processed in order to administer the submission, conduct scientific review, communicate decisions, prepare the programme, manage presentations, and publish relevant scientific information in accordance with the conference submission process.

Sponsorship and Exhibition

Information provided in connection with sponsorship or exhibition enquiries may be processed in order to respond to the request, prepare proposals or agreements, administer the relevant arrangement, and provide related conference services.

Legal Obligations

Certain personal and financial data may be processed or retained where necessary to comply with accounting, taxation, financial, regulatory, administrative, or other legal obligations.

Legitimate Interests

Where permitted by applicable law, personal data may be processed where necessary for the legitimate interests of BAFS in organizing and administering ForenSoc ’27, maintaining appropriate records, ensuring information and website security, preventing misuse, responding to enquiries, communicating necessary conference information, and improving conference services, provided such interests are not overridden by the rights and freedoms of the individual.

Consent

Where consent is required, including for certain promotional communications, non-essential cookies, advertising technologies, or other processing activities requiring consent under applicable law, personal data will be processed on the basis of consent.

Where processing is based on consent, consent may be withdrawn at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

Conference Registration

Personal data submitted through the registration form may be used to:

• Process and confirm registration

• Determine the appropriate registration category

• Verify student or trainee status where applicable

• Process or verify payment

• Issue invoices or related financial documents

• Communicate with registered participants

• Provide access to onsite or online conference services

• Prepare badges, attendance records, and certificates

• Manage logistical and administrative arrangements

Registration is considered complete only when the applicable registration requirements have been fulfilled.

Abstract Submission

Personal data provided through abstract submission may be processed for:

• Scientific and administrative review

• Communication with submitting and presenting authors

• Preparation of the scientific programme

• Preparation of presentation schedules

• Publication of accepted abstract titles, author names, affiliations, keywords, and scientific content where applicable

• Preparation of Certificates of Presentation

• Maintenance of the scientific record of the conference

By submitting an abstract, authors acknowledge that information necessary for scientific communication may be published in the conference programme, abstract book, conference website, digital conference materials, or related official conference communications.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that they are authorized to provide the personal data of co-authors included in an abstract submission and that co-authors are appropriately informed about the submission.

Publication of Scientific and Professional Information

Certain professional or scientific information may be made publicly available in connection with ForenSoc ’27.

This may include:

• Speaker names

• Professional or academic titles

• Institutional affiliations

• Committee memberships

• Presentation titles

• Author and co-author names

• Abstract content

• Scientific programme information

• Professional biographies

• Photographs supplied for publication

Such information will be used where reasonably necessary for conference organization, scientific communication, and public presentation of the scientific programme.

Scientific information intentionally published as part of the conference record may continue to be retained where appropriate for academic, archival, or scientific integrity purposes.

Payment Information

Conference payments may be completed through bank transfer, secure payment links, or authorized third-party payment service providers.

BAFS and the ForenSoc ’27 website do not directly request or store complete credit or debit card details where payment is processed through an external payment provider.

Information that may be processed for payment administration includes:

• Participant name

• Registration category

• Amount paid

• Payment method

• Transaction or payment reference

• Bank transfer information

• Payment confirmation or receipt

• Invoice details

Financial and transaction-related records may be retained where required for accounting, legal, taxation, or administrative purposes.

Email Communications

Participants, authors, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and other individuals who interact with ForenSoc ’27 may receive communications necessary for the administration of the conference.

These may include:

• Registration confirmations

• Payment instructions and confirmations

• Abstract submission confirmations

• Scientific review and acceptance notifications

• Requests concerning submitted information

• Programme information

• Deadline reminders relevant to participation

• Venue and logistical information

• Online participation instructions

• Changes affecting the conference

• Certificate-related communications

These operational communications are separate from optional marketing or newsletter communications.

Where individuals separately consent to receive BAFS newsletters, conference announcements, or other promotional communications, they may receive such communications until they withdraw their consent or unsubscribe.

Consent to receive optional promotional communications is not required in order to register for or participate in ForenSoc ’27.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

The ForenSoc ’27 website uses cookies and similar technologies for website operation, security, functionality, user preferences, analytics, measurement, and, where enabled, advertising purposes.

These technologies may include cookies, tags, pixels, or similar tools used for:

• Essential website functions

• Website security

• Technical performance

• Maintaining user preferences

• Remembering cookie choices

• Website analytics

• Measuring website traffic and engagement

• Understanding how visitors reach and use the website

• Improving website content and usability

• Measuring the effectiveness of conference communications or promotional activities

The website is hosted and managed using Wix and may also use integrated technologies and services including Google services such as Google Tag Manager and LinkedIn measurement or advertising technologies, where enabled.

Essential technologies necessary for the operation and security of the website may operate without consent where permitted by applicable law.

Where consent is required, non-essential analytics, advertising, or similar technologies will be used in accordance with the visitor's consent choices.

Visitors may accept, reject, or manage non-essential cookies and related technologies through the website's cookie consent settings. Cookie preferences may be changed or withdrawn where the website functionality allows this.

Browser settings may also be used to manage or delete cookies.

Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functionality.

Third-Party Services

In order to operate ForenSoc ’27, BAFS may use authorized third-party service providers and platforms.

These may include:

• Wix for website hosting, forms, website management, security, and related technical services

• Google services, including Google Tag Manager and related analytics or technical tools where enabled

• LinkedIn, including measurement or advertising technologies where enabled

• Payment service providers

• Banking institutions

• Email and communication service providers

• Online meeting, streaming, or hybrid conference platforms

• File storage and document management services

• Certificate preparation or delivery services

• Website and IT service providers

• Map and location services

• Security and fraud-prevention services

• Social media platforms

• Administrative and technical conference service providers, including ArchEd Group, where involved in conference operations on behalf of BAFS

Such providers will receive access to personal data only to the extent reasonably necessary for the relevant service.

Some third-party platforms may act as independent data controllers for aspects of their services and process personal information in accordance with their own privacy policies and terms.

Sharing of Personal Data

Where reasonably necessary for legitimate conference purposes, personal data may be shared with or accessed by:

• Istanbul Medipol University as co-organizer

• The BAFS Conference Secretariat

• Members of the Organizing Committee where necessary

• Members of the Scientific Committee where necessary

• Abstract reviewers

• Authorized conference administrative personnel

• Website and IT service providers

• Technical service providers

• Payment and banking service providers

• Accounting or financial service providers

• Online conference or streaming platform providers

• Certificate preparation or delivery providers

• Sponsors or exhibitors only where appropriately required and legally permitted

• Professional advisers, accountants, auditors, or legal advisers where necessary

• Public authorities, courts, regulators, or other institutions where disclosure is required by applicable law

• Other parties where the individual has provided appropriate consent

Only information reasonably required for the relevant purpose should be shared.

Personal data is not sold or rented to third parties for their independent commercial use.

International Data Transfers

ForenSoc ’27 is an international hybrid scientific conference.

BAFS is based in Greece, the physical conference takes place in Türkiye, Istanbul Medipol University acts as co-organizer and venue host, participants may be located worldwide, and some website, communication, payment, analytics, technical, or digital service providers may operate or store information in different countries.

As a result, personal data may be processed, accessed, stored, or transferred outside the country in which it was originally collected.

Where applicable data protection law requires specific safeguards for international transfers, BAFS and relevant service providers will use an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism and reasonable technical and organizational safeguards.

Depending on the circumstances, these safeguards may include:

• Data processing agreements

• Contractual protections

• Standard contractual mechanisms recognized under applicable data protection law

• Transfers permitted under applicable statutory exceptions

• Other legally recognized international transfer mechanisms

Data Retention

Personal data will not be retained for longer than reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to applicable legal, accounting, scientific, administrative, and regulatory requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the category and purpose of the information.

In particular:

• Registration and participant information may be retained for the period necessary to administer the conference and manage post-conference enquiries, documentation, and certificates.

• Payment, invoice, and accounting information may be retained for the period required under applicable financial, taxation, and accounting legislation.

• Abstract submission, review, programme, author, and scientific records may be retained as part of the scientific and administrative record of the conference.

• Information necessary to verify or reissue certificates may be retained for appropriate administrative purposes.

• Sponsorship and exhibition records may be retained where necessary for contractual, financial, or administrative purposes.

• Correspondence may be retained where reasonably necessary to document conference administration or respond to future enquiries.

• Information used for newsletters or future scientific communications will be retained until consent is withdrawn, the individual unsubscribes, or the information is otherwise no longer required.

• Technical and analytics data may be retained according to the settings and retention periods of the relevant website and technology providers.

When personal data is no longer required, it will be deleted, anonymized, or securely archived where continued retention is legally, scientifically, or institutionally appropriate.

Sensitive and Special Categories of Personal Data

Participants should avoid submitting unnecessary health, medical, psychological, biometric, criminal-history, or other sensitive personal information through ordinary conference forms or email communications unless specifically requested for a legitimate conference-related purpose.

Where an individual voluntarily provides sensitive or special-category personal data, such information will be processed only where necessary and where an appropriate legal basis exists under applicable law.

Such information will not be used for unrelated marketing purposes.

Data Security

Reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to protect personal data against unauthorized access, accidental loss, alteration, misuse, disclosure, or destruction.

Access to personal information is limited, where reasonably possible, to individuals and service providers who require the information for legitimate conference-related purposes.

However, no website, internet transmission, email system, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users are therefore encouraged not to transmit unnecessary sensitive information through ordinary email or general website forms.

Photography, Video, and Conference Recordings

Photographs, video recordings, screenshots, or other audiovisual materials may be produced during onsite or online activities of ForenSoc ’27 for purposes including:

• Conference documentation

• Scientific communication

• Institutional reporting

• Archival purposes

• Promotion of ForenSoc ’27

• Communication concerning future BAFS scientific or educational activities

Where required by applicable law, appropriate notice or consent procedures will be used.

Participants who have specific concerns regarding photography or recording may contact the Conference Secretariat.

Scientific sessions may also be streamed or recorded as part of the hybrid conference format. Presenters will be informed of applicable recording arrangements where appropriate.

Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the applicable data protection legislation and circumstances of processing, you may have the right to:

• Request information about how your personal data is processed

• Request access to personal data held about you

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data

• Request deletion of personal data where legally applicable

• Request restriction of certain processing activities

• Object to certain processing activities

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

• Request a copy of personal data you have provided, where applicable

• Request data portability where legally applicable

• Object to direct marketing communications

• Unsubscribe from non-essential conference or BAFS communications

• Lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority

These rights may be subject to limitations or exemptions under applicable law. Certain information may, for example, need to be retained to comply with legal, accounting, contractual, administrative, or scientific-record obligations.

To exercise a data protection right or submit a privacy-related request, please contact:

Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS)
Email: contact@balkanacademy.org

Reasonable steps may be taken to verify the identity of the person making a request before personal data is disclosed, corrected, or deleted.

Children's Data

The ForenSoc ’27 website and conference are primarily intended for adult professionals, academics, researchers, university students, trainees, and institutional participants.

The website is not designed to knowingly collect personal information directly from children.

Where participation by a person under the applicable age of majority is permitted, additional consent, authorization, or safeguarding procedures may be required in accordance with applicable law.

If the organizers become aware that personal information relating to a child has been collected in circumstances requiring parental or legal representative authorization, appropriate steps will be taken.

Links to External Websites

The ForenSoc ’27 website may contain links to websites, platforms, or services operated by third parties.

BAFS and the organizers do not control the privacy practices of independent external websites or platforms.

Users who access third-party services are encouraged to review the privacy policies and terms of those services before providing personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be amended where necessary to reflect changes in:

• Conference procedures

• Website functionality

• Service providers

• Data-processing practices

• Organizational arrangements

• Applicable legal or regulatory requirements

The most recent version will be published on this page together with the date of the latest revision.

Material changes may also be communicated through appropriate conference channels where necessary.

Contact

For questions concerning this Privacy Policy, the processing of personal data, or the exercise of data protection rights, please contact:

Conference Secretariat
ForenSoc ’27 — International Forensic Social Sciences Conference
Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS)

Email: contact@balkanacademy.org
Phone: +90 533 414 1913

Last updated: 21 August 2026