Cookie Policy

Version 2.0 | March 2026

This Cookie Policy forms part of the Privacy Policy above. It explains what cookies are used on auserieux.com, why they are used, and how you control them. It is drafted in accordance with the GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), the Belgian Electronic Communications Act of 13 June 2005, and the Belgian DPA Cookie Guidelines and Checklist of October 2023.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They allow a website or third-party service to recognise your device on subsequent visits, remember your preferences, and collect usage data. Similar technologies, including pixel tags, web beacons, and local storage, may function in a comparable way and are governed by this policy.

Under Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive (implemented in Belgian law via the Electronic Communications Act), storing or accessing information on a user's device requires prior informed consent, unless the cookie is strictly necessary.

2. Cookie Categories Used on auserieux.com

2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies (no consent required)

These cookies are essential for the basic functioning of auserieux.com. They cannot be disabled. No consent is required under Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive, as they are technically necessary.

• Squarespace session cookie: maintains your session state and security token during your visit.

• Cookie consent preference cookie: stores your consent choices for a maximum of 6 months. After 6 months, your preferences expire and you will be asked again. This limitation is required under the Belgian DPA Cookie Checklist (October 2023).

2.2 Analytics Cookies (consent required)

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with auserieux.com. All data is used in aggregate form. Activation requires your prior consent.

• Squarespace Analytics cookies: collect data on page visits, referral source, session duration, and device type. Processed by Squarespace Ireland Ltd. on our behalf under a Data Processing Agreement.

2.3 Marketing and Advertising Cookies (consent required)

These cookies are set by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. via the Meta Pixel integration. They are used to measure advertising performance and build custom audiences on Facebook and Instagram. Activation requires your explicit prior consent.

Meta Pixel does NOT fire on auserieux.com unless you actively accept the advertising/marketing cookie category. Refusing consent prevents any data from being transmitted to Meta.

• _fbp (Meta Pixel browser ID): set by Meta, maximum retention 90 days. Identifies your browser for advertising attribution across Meta platforms.

• _fbc (Meta Click ID): set when you arrive via a Meta advertisement, maximum retention 90 days. Links your visit to a specific ad click.

Legal basis for processing via Meta Pixel: consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). Transfer of data to Meta Platforms Inc. (USA) occurs under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (Commission Adequacy Decision C(2023) 4745) and Standard Contractual Clauses as a supplementary mechanism.

2.4 Third-Party Embedded Content Cookies (consent required)

When you interact with embedded content from YouTube, Vimeo, or Instagram, those platforms may set cookies on your device and collect data about your interaction. These are set by third parties and governed by their own privacy and cookie policies.

• YouTube (Google Ireland Ltd.): may set VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, YSC, and CONSENT cookies. We recommend using YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed mode (youtube-nocookie.com) where possible, which delays cookie placement until you press play. Google's cookie policy: policies.google.com/technologies/cookies

• Vimeo Inc.: may set the vuid cookie and player cookies. Vimeo Inc. (USA) transfers data under Standard Contractual Clauses. Vimeo's cookie policy: vimeo.com/cookie_policy

• Instagram / Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.: embedded posts may set cookies tied to your Meta session if you are logged in. Transfer mechanism: EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Meta's cookie policy: facebook.com/policies/cookies

3. Cookie Consent Banner and Your Choices

When you first visit auserieux.com, you are presented with a cookie consent banner operated via Squarespace's built-in cookie consent tool. This banner complies with the Belgian DPA requirements of October 2023:

The ‘Accept all’ and ‘Reject all’ options are presented with equal visual prominence in the same banner layer. Neither option is pre-selected. Closing the banner or continuing to browse does NOT constitute consent.

Your choices:

• Accept all cookies: activates analytics, advertising, and embedded content cookies.

• Reject non-essential cookies: only strictly necessary cookies are placed. Meta Pixel does not fire. Analytics cookies are not set.

• Manage preferences: select which categories you consent to individually. Each category requires a separate, specific consent action (granular consent as required by the Belgian DPA).

Your consent preferences are stored for a maximum of 6 months. After this period, the banner will reappear and you will be asked to confirm your choices again. This is in accordance with the Belgian DPA Cookie Checklist (October 2023), which prohibits storing consent preferences indefinitely.

You can withdraw or change your consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies or using the cookie preferences option in the website footer.

4. Cookie Retention Periods

Cookies are not stored on your device longer than necessary to fulfil the stated purpose. Specific retention periods for each cookie are listed in Section 2 above. Where a third-party platform sets cookies, its own retention policy applies and is accessible via the links provided in Section 2.

5. How to Manage or Delete Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings at any time, independently of our consent banner:

• Google Chrome: chrome://settings/cookies

• Mozilla Firefox: about:preferences#privacy

• Safari (macOS / iOS): Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Manage Website Data

• Microsoft Edge: edge://settings/privacy

Blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of auserieux.com and other websites you visit.

To opt out of Meta advertising specifically: facebook.com/adpreferences/ad_settings

To opt out of Google advertising: adssettings.google.com

6. Do Not Track

auserieux.com does not currently respond to Do Not Track (DNT) browser signals. There is no universal standard for interpreting DNT, and the Belgian DPA does not recognise browser settings as a valid substitute for informed, freely given consent. Your choices via our consent banner are the primary and legally valid mechanism for managing non-essential cookies.

7. Cookie Policy Versioning

In accordance with the Belgian DPA Cookie Checklist (October 2023), this Cookie Policy carries a version number and date. Previous versions are available on request by contacting hallo@auserieux.com. Any significant change to the cookies we use will result in a new version being published and the consent banner being re-displayed to all visitors.

Current version: 2.0 (March 2026)

8. Contact

For any questions about this Cookie Policy or to exercise your data rights:

Nick Van de Velde — Ausérieux

hallo@auserieux.com

Seraphin de Grootestraat 60, 2100 Deurne, Belgium

For complaints regarding cookie practices, you may contact the Belgian DPA:

Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit (GBA)