Data Protection & Privacy Principles

To ensure the lawful, fair, and transparent handling of personal data, TCN upholds the following principles:

• Process personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently.
• Collect personal data only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes.
• Limit data collection to what is necessary for the specified purposes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date personal data.
• Store personal data only as long as necessary.
• Process personal data securely to protect against unauthorised or unlawful access, loss, or damage.

Data Collection, Processing, & Website Privacy

1. Member and Website Visitor Data Collection
   • Member Data: TCN collects personal data directly from members with their consent, which is obtained through the application form during sign-up.
   • Website Visitor Data: We may collect limited personal data from website visitors, such as IP addresses and browsing behaviours, to improve user experience. This data is processed in compliance with data protection regulations and our Cookie Policy.
2. Purpose of Data Collection
   Members and visitors will be informed about the purpose of data collection, usage, and their rights. Any data collected from website visitors will be used for analytical purposes, website functionality, or to improve user experience.
3. Consent and Opt-out Options
   • Consent will be obtained when members sign up for the network, and website visitors may opt in or out of non-essential cookies through our Cookie Policy.
   • Data use will be limited to the purposes for which it was initially collected. For any further processing, explicit consent will be sought from the individual.
4. Access and Data Sharing
   • Member data is stored securely in a restricted-access database, accessible only to authorised TCN employees and not to partners, sponsors, or other third parties.
   • TCN will not share member contact details with partners or associates. Any introductions between members or with partners will be made with consent granted during membership sign-up.
5. Employee Confidentiality & Data Access
   • All employees sign a confidentiality agreement upon joining TCN to safeguard member data.
   • Only employees with member-facing roles and a legitimate need to access member data are granted access, which is rescinded upon termination.

Data Subject Rights

TCN upholds and respects the following rights of members and website users regarding their personal data:

• Access: Members and users can request access to their personal data.
• Rectification: Members may update inaccurate or incomplete data through their platform account or by submitting a new application form.
• Erasure: Members and users can request data deletion by contacting TCN.
• Consent Management for Media: Members may request the removal or retraction of photographs, videos, or other media in which they appear.

Data Breach Management

TCN takes extensive measures to protect member and visitor data from breaches:

• Our website, database, and platform are continuously updated with the latest security measures and software updates.
• Any data breaches will be promptly reported, investigated, and mitigated.
• Members and visitors will be notified if their data is at risk due to a breach.

Data Retention & Deletion

• Retention: Data will be retained for active membership purposes. Inactive member data will be stored for up to five years.
• Deletion: Members can request data deletion at any time, and data for individuals who are not accepted or leave the network will be securely deleted after five years.

Policy Updates

This policy is subject to periodic review and updates in alignment with evolving data protection laws, technological advancements, and the needs of our members and visitors. The most recent policy version will always be available on our website.

By interacting with TCN’s website and services, members and website visitors agree to abide by this Data Protection & Website Privacy Policy.