Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 6, 2026

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The protection of privacy, personal data, and visitors’ rights is a commitment of this website.

This Privacy Policy describes how information may be collected, used, stored, and protected while browsing this website, in accordance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law – LGPD (Law No. 13,709/2018).

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By accessing this website, visitors acknowledge that they are aware of the practices described in this Policy.

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1. Purpose of the Website

 

This website is predominantly institutional, academic, scientific, and informational in nature, with the purpose of presenting the professional and academic background of Bernhard J. Smid, including, among others:

• books and publications;

• scientific articles;

• research;

• presentations;

• participation in national and international events;

• teaching, research, and outreach activities;

• interviews;

• projects;

• professional experience;

• content related to Institutional, Governmental, and International Relations, sustainability, innovation, international trade, governance, and related topics.

2. Data Collected

 

During browsing, certain technical information may be automatically collected, including:

• IP address;

• browser used;

• operating system;

• access device;

• pages visited;

• date and time of access;

• browsing statistics.

When visitors choose to use contact, subscription, or registration forms available on the website, voluntarily provided information may be collected, such as:

• name;

• email address;

• telephone number;

• organization;

• message submitted.

3. Purpose of Data Use

 

Information that may be collected may be used to:

• respond to contact requests;

• provide information requested by visitors;

• improve the browsing experience;

• produce website usage statistics;

• continuously improve the content made available;

• comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Personal data is not sold or shared with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.

 

4. Cookies

 

This website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve the browsing experience and understand how visitors use its content.

 

Visitors may configure their browsers to block or delete cookies, acknowledging that certain functionalities may be affected.

 

5. Sharing of Information

 

Information that may be collected may only be shared when:

• required by law;

• subject to a determination by a competent judicial or administrative authority;

• necessary for the technical maintenance of the website;

• consent has been provided by the data subject.

6. Information Security

 

Reasonable technical and administrative measures are adopted to protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

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Although security procedures consistent with good market practices are employed, no digital environment can be considered absolutely secure.

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7. Use of Photographs, Images, and Audiovisual Content

 

The photographs, illustrations, images, and other visual resources made available on this website are intended exclusively for institutional, academic, scientific, and informational purposes.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, most of the photographs published are authored by Bernhard J. Smid or form part of his personal collection.

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Some images may have been subjected exclusively to technical quality-enhancement treatments, such as adjustments to resolution, sharpness, lighting, contrast, framing, restoration, or other improvements carried out using specialized software or applications, while preserving their authenticity and informational purpose.

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Whenever necessary, images may be updated, replaced, edited, or removed at the request of the person depicted, for reasons of privacy, protection of personality rights, institutional updates, copyright, personal convenience, or any other ethical or legal circumstances that justify such alteration.

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The administration of this website reserves the right to make such modifications at any time, without prior notice.

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8. Embedded Third-Party Content

 

This website may incorporate content made available by third-party platforms, particularly videos hosted on YouTube, maps, presentations, or other multimedia resources.

 

The use of such content is consistent with its respective educational, academic, and institutional purposes.

 

Access to these resources may be subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policies of the respective platforms, over which this website has no control.

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9. External Links

 

This website may contain links to third-party websites.

 

Navigation on such websites is undertaken at the user’s sole responsibility. Visitors are advised to read the respective Privacy Policies of those websites.

 

10. Data Subject Rights

 

Under the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD), data subjects may request, where applicable:

• confirmation of the existence of processing;

• access to personal data;

• correction of incomplete or outdated data;

• anonymization, blocking, or deletion of data;

• portability, where applicable;

• withdrawal of consent;

• information regarding any sharing of data.

Requests may be submitted through the contact channels made available on this website.

 

11. Copyright and Intellectual Property

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the texts, articles, books, photographs, illustrations, presentations, documents, research, graphics, videos produced by the author, and other content made available on this website constitute the intellectual property of Bernhard J. Smid and are protected under Brazilian and international copyright laws.

 

The reproduction, distribution, adaptation, publication, or use, in whole or in part, of such content shall require prior authorization from the rights holder, except in cases legally permitted, particularly for academic, scientific, or journalistic purposes, provided that the source is duly cited and the author’s moral rights are respected.

 

12. Changes to this Policy

 

This Privacy Policy may be amended periodically to reflect legal, technical, or administrative changes.

 

Visitors are advised to consult this page regularly to stay informed of any updates.

 

13. Contact

 

In case of questions regarding this Privacy Policy, the processing of personal data, or any content made available on this website, contact may be made through the channels provided on the “Contact” page.

 

By using this website, visitors acknowledge that they are aware of the conditions established in this Privacy Policy.