1. Data controller

The data controller for this website is Riccardo Fausti, Italian language coach, based in Terni, Italy (VAT number / P.IVA 01645160555). You can contact me about anything related to your personal data at riccardo@riccardofausti.com. I have not appointed a Data Protection Officer, as this is not required for my activity.

2. What data I collect, why, and on what legal basis

Newsletter. If you subscribe to the Italy Explained newsletter, I process your email address to send you the weekly letter and occasional information about my lessons. Legal basis: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), given when you subscribe and confirm your subscription. You can withdraw it at any time through the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email.

Booking a call or a programme. When you book a free call or a coaching programme through Google Calendar’s booking page, I process the data you enter there (such as your name, email address and any notes) to organise the call or the lessons. Legal basis: the performance of a contract or of pre-contractual steps taken at your request (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). Billing data for paid programmes are also processed to comply with Italian tax law (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR).

Emails and messages. If you write to me, I use your email address and the content of your message only to reply to you. Legal basis: pre-contractual steps at your request (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) or my legitimate interest in answering your enquiry (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Comments. If you leave a comment on the blog, the name, email address and text you submit are stored so that the comment can be published and moderated. Comments may be checked by Akismet, an automated anti-spam service, and your email address may be used to show your profile picture if you have a Gravatar account. Legal basis: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), given when you submit the comment.

Website operation, statistics and cookies. This website is hosted on WordPress.com, which uses cookies and similar technologies to make the site work and to produce aggregated visit statistics. A banner informs you about cookies on your first visit. Legal basis: my legitimate interest in running a secure and functional website (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). For details on the cookies used, please see the Automattic cookie policy.

Providing your data is voluntary. However, without an email address I cannot send you the newsletter or reply to you, and without the booking details I cannot organise a call or a programme. Your data are not used for any automated decision-making or profiling.

3. Who processes the data on my behalf

Your data are not sold or shared for marketing purposes. They are processed only by me and by the following providers, which act as data processors:

• Automattic Inc. (WordPress.com, Akismet, Gravatar) for website hosting, the newsletter and comments. Privacy policy
• Google (Google Calendar and Google Meet) for bookings and online calls. Privacy policy

Billing data may also be shared with my accountant, where required by law.

Some of these providers may process data outside the European Economic Area, for example in the United States. In these cases, the transfer is covered by the safeguards provided for by the GDPR, such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses.

The website also contains links to YouTube, Spotify and Instagram. When you click on them, you leave this website and the privacy policies of those platforms apply.

4. How long I keep your data

• Newsletter: until you unsubscribe.
• Bookings and lessons: for as long as needed to provide the service. Billing documents are kept for 10 years, as required by Italian law.
• Emails: for as long as needed to follow up on your request.
• Comments: until the comment is removed, by you or by me.

5. Your rights

Under Articles 15 to 22 of the GDPR, you have the right to access your data, to have it corrected or erased, to restrict or object to its processing, and to receive it in a portable format. Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal. To exercise any of these rights, simply write to riccardo@riccardofausti.com.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Italian data protection authority, the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali, or with the supervisory authority of the EU country where you live or work.

6. Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The date of the latest version is always shown at the top of this page.