Data protection in the seetal chile

Admittedly, there are more interesting topics than this. Nevertheless, it is important that we deal with it as a growing church, especially because we all benefit from it.

As seetal chile, we have always been sensitive to the data we manage in any form. However, the way we communicate with each other and the (digital) means we use to do so are constantly changing and therefore we must also constantly check whether we are acting optimally in terms of data protection.

An updated data protection law is expected to come into force in Switzerland in a year's time, which will primarily define the handling of data within companies and other organisations. The focus will be on the protection of individual personal data.

As a church, we are particularly concerned to handle the data to which we have access responsibly. In contrast to a company with permanent employees, our situation is much more complex: currently, around 250 volunteers invest their resources in seetal chile. As I write this, I am amazed at how much heart and soul goes into our church! Through their ministry, staff members inevitably come into contact with personal data.

For example, we decided some time ago to start checking our organisation for compliance before the new data protection law came into force and to introduce important measures at an early stage. We provide information about the current processes in this blog post, and we will communicate further steps on an ongoing basis.

Space for more transparency

We have published a new version of our privacy policy. You can find the latest version at the following address: https://www.seetal-chile.ch/datenschutz/

The data protection declaration provides information on how we handle personal data and what purposes we pursue with it. It also defines the rights of data subjects.

Generally speaking, we want to protect your personal data as much as possible! The privacy policy clarifies the framework conditions for all parties involved.

Consent to data storage

In the process of our current work, it is necessary that we initially request consent for data storage from all persons in our database. This consent is for our security as well as yours.

As a first step, we will enable this consent in electronic form. Insofar as you have access to the seetal chile Portal you will be automatically prompted to verify/correct your personal data and then consent to data collection the next time you log in.

All those who do not have access will be informed separately (possibly by post) about the necessary measures.

Important: You retain the right at all times to obtain information about the data collected about you, to modify the data collected or to request deletion.

A word on safety

How secure is my data stored and who has access to it? A justified question! Electronic data processing poses its extensive challenges, but we constantly rise to them. We constantly check our systems professionally and carry out regular maintenance work to ensure that your personal data is in safe hands.

Electronic data storage takes place exclusively in data centres located in Switzerland and with the currently highest available security and management certifications (ISO 27001 and ISO 9001).

Questions about data protection?

As already mentioned, we want to carefully implement the necessary changes in relation to the new legal basis. There are still some tasks ahead of us, about which we will keep you informed.

If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to contact our data protection officer, Beat Zimmermann, by e-mail. You will find the contact at the beginning of our Privacy policy.