BalkanBuzz

PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: July 1, 2025.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data BalkanBuzz collects from users, for what purposes it is processed, on what legal basis, to whom it may be disclosed, and what rights users have regarding their data. The Policy has been drafted in accordance with the Law on Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Serbia, and also takes into account the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users from the European Union and the diaspora who use the Platform.

1. Data controller

The controller of personal data collected via the website is:

BalkanBuzz
United Kingdom, London W1W 5PF
Email: info@balkanbuzz.com

For any questions regarding the processing of personal data, you may contact us using the contact details above.

2. What data we collect

Depending on how you use the Platform, we may collect the following categories of data:

  • Account registration data: first and last name, email address, password (in encrypted form), and, where applicable, the name of the artist/band or organization you represent.
  • Newsletter sign-up data: the email address entered via the newsletter form.
  • Contact form / communication data: name, email address, and the content of the message you send us.
  • Platform usage data: searches you enter (e.g., song or artist names), pages you visit, and the time and frequency of access.
  • Technical data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device data, and data collected via cookies (see Section 4).

We do not intentionally collect special categories of personal data (e.g., data on health, religious, or political beliefs).

3. Purposes and legal basis for processing

Purpose of processing Legal basis
Creating and managing the user account, providing Platform features Performance of contract (Terms of Use)
Displaying personalized search results and position tracking Performance of contract / legitimate interest
Sending newsletter and marketing notifications User consent
Responding to inquiries submitted via the contact form Legitimate interest / steps taken prior to entering into a contract
Improvement, security, and analytics of the Platform Legitimate interest
Complying with legal obligations (e.g., at the request of competent authorities) Legal obligation

Where processing is based on consent (e.g., newsletter), the user may withdraw that consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

4. Cookies

The website uses cookies to provide basic functionality (e.g., maintaining a logged-in session), traffic analysis, and, where applicable, marketing purposes. We may use cookies for the following purposes:

  • Necessary cookies – enable basic website functions (login, session) and cannot be disabled.
  • Analytics cookies – help us understand how users use the Platform (e.g., number of visits, most popular pages).
  • Functional/marketing cookies – used, where needed, to remember settings or display relevant content.

You can control cookie settings via your browser options. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

5. Who data may be disclosed to

We do not sell your data to third parties. Data may be shared with the following categories of recipients, solely to the extent necessary to provide the service:

  • hosting and IT infrastructure service providers who store and process data on our behalf;
  • email/newsletter delivery service providers;
  • web analytics service providers (e.g., for tracking visit statistics);
  • competent government authorities, where required by law or necessary to protect our rights.

All external service providers are obligated to process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection regulations and solely for the purposes defined in their agreement with BalkanBuzz.

Please note that the position and trend data we display originates from YouTube as a publicly available source; this refers to content about songs, not to the personal data of Platform users.

6. Data transfer outside the Republic of Serbia

If certain service providers (e.g., hosting, email services, analytics) are located outside the Republic of Serbia, including in European Union countries or other states, data transfer will be carried out with appropriate safeguards in accordance with the Law on Personal Data Protection (e.g., an assessment that the country ensures an adequate level of protection, or through contractual data protection clauses).

7. Data retention period

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected:

  • account data – for as long as the user has an active account on the Platform, or until a deletion request;
  • newsletter data – until unsubscribing from the recipient list;
  • contact form data – for a reasonable period needed to process the inquiry;
  • technical/analytics data – for the period necessary for analytics purposes, generally in aggregated or pseudonymized form after a shorter period has elapsed.

Upon expiry of the above periods, data is deleted or anonymized, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

8. Data security

We take reasonable technical, organizational, and personnel security measures to prevent unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure of personal data (e.g., password encryption, restricted access to databases, regular system updates). While we make efforts to protect your data, no system for transmitting or storing data over the internet is completely secure.

9. Your rights

In accordance with the Law on Personal Data Protection, with respect to your personal data you have the right to:

  • access the data we process about you;
  • correct inaccurate or complete incomplete data;
  • request deletion of data ("the right to be forgotten"), in cases provided for by law;
  • restrict processing in certain situations;
  • object to processing based on legitimate interest;
  • data portability in a structured, machine-readable format;
  • withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent (e.g., newsletter);
  • lodge a complaint with the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Serbia, if you believe that the processing of your data violates applicable regulations.

Requests concerning the exercise of the above rights may be sent to the email address info@balkanbuzz.com. We will endeavor to respond to your request within the legally prescribed period.

10. Data of minors

The Platform is not intended for persons under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect data about such persons without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If we become aware that we have collected data of a minor without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete such data.

11. Changes to the Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to periodically update this Privacy Policy in order to align it with changes in regulations or Platform functionality. We will notify you of changes by publishing an updated version on this page, indicating the date of the last change. We recommend checking this page from time to time.

12. Contact

For any questions, requests, or complaints regarding the processing of personal data, you can contact us at:

BalkanBuzz
United Kingdom, London W1W 5PF
Email: info@balkanbuzz.com