Privacy Policy

Last updated: 3 March 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how The Mortality Atlas (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and protects information when you visit our website at www.mortalityatlas.ugent.be (the “Website”).

We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) and applicable data protection laws.

2. Who are we?

This website was created by the Ineqkill Research Project. 

Ineqkill is a scientific research project of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University, and Université Catholique de Louvain. The project is a collaboration between Interface Demography (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), the Quetelet Centre for Quantitative Historical Research (Ghent University), the Centre for Demographic Resarch (UCLouvain), and the Earth and Life Institute (UCLouvain). The project is an EOS Research Project. The EOS program wants to promote joint research between researchers in the Flemish and French-speaking communities.

The main objective of INEQKILL is to analyze social and spatial differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Belgium between 1800 and 2025 and communicate the results of this analysis with the general public.

3. Data Controller

Ineqkill is responsible for processing your personal data. If, after reading through our privacy statement, you have any questions about it or wish to contact us, you can do so using the contact details below:

INEQKILL Project
Prof. dr. Sylvie Gadeyne
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Pleinlaan 5 (Room 2.17)
1050 Brussels, Belgium

E-mail: Sylvie.Gadeyne@vub.be

4. What Data We Collect

Our Website does not collect personal data such as names, email addresses, or contact details.

We only collect anonymous statistical data through the WordPress plugin WP Statistics, which is designed to be GDPR compliant.

The statistical information collected may include:

  • Anonymized IP address (IP masking enabled)
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type
  • Operating system
  • Referring website
  • Pages visited
  • Date and time of visit
  • Country (based on anonymized IP data)

This data cannot be used to directly identify you.

5. Purpose of Data Processing

We process statistical data for the following purposes:

  • To analyze website traffic and usage
  • To improve website functionality and user experience
  • To ensure website security and performance

The legal basis for processing this data under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR is our legitimate interest in operating and improving our Website.

6. Embedded Content from Other Websites

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

7. Cookies

Our Website uses analytics functionality provided by WP Statistics.

WP Statistics is configured to operate in a GDPR-compliant manner and does not use tracking cookies for profiling or marketing purposes.

Some cookies are used for technical or statistical purposes, such as Google fonts to correctly display fonts. In this case they are: 

  • Limited in scope
  • Not used for advertising
  • Not shared with third parties

You can configure your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used.

8. Data Sharing

We do not:

  • Sell personal data
  • Share data with advertisers
  • Transfer data to third parties for marketing purposes

All statistical data is stored locally on our web server and is not transmitted to external analytics providers.

9. Data Retention

Statistical data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described above. We periodically review and delete outdated statistical data.

For users who register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information. 

10. Your rights Under GDPR

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:

  • Right of access (Article 15)
  • Right to rectification (Article 16)
  • Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) (Article 17)
  • Right to restriction of processing (Article 18)
  • Right to data portability (Article 20)
  • Right to object (Article 21)
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Since we do not collect directly identifiable personal data, these rights may be limited in practical application.

If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

11. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal or technical changes. The latest version will always be available on this page with the updated revision date.

12. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle data, please contact sarah.heynssens@ugent.be