Website: https://dostoevsky.org
Last updated: 21 October 2026
1. Who We Are
The Dostoevsky Society operates this website to provide information about the Society, manage memberships, facilitate payments and subscriptions, and provide access to Society activities and events.
For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the organisation responsible for deciding how and why your personal data is processed is:
Organisation: International & North American Dostoevsky Society
Website: https://dostoevsky.org
Privacy contact: info@dostoevsky.org
In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to the organisation operating Dostoevsky.org.
2. Personal Data We Collect
We collect and process personal information that is necessary to operate the website and provide our services.
Depending on how you interact with the website, this may include:
Account and membership information
– Name and email address.
– Username and account credentials.
– Membership type, status, start date and renewal date.
– Account preferences and membership-related correspondence.
Payment and transaction information
– Purchase and subscription records.
– Membership fees, payment amounts, transaction dates and payment status.
– Billing information where required for payment processing or accounting.
– Records of refunds, cancellations and payment disputes.
Payments are processed through third-party payment providers. We do not intend to store full payment card numbers or card security codes on our WordPress website.
Event and purchase information
If you register for an event, symposium or other Society activity, we may process your registration details, purchase history, attendance information and information necessary to administer your participation.
Communications
If you contact us, we may retain your email address, message and any information you provide so that we can respond and maintain relevant records.
Technical and website information
When you visit the website, we may process technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information, access logs and cookie identifiers, depending on the website configuration and your consent choices.
3. Why We Use Your Personal Data
We use personal data for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Legal basis |
| Creating and managing membership accounts | Performance of a contract or steps taken at your request before entering a contract |
| Processing membership subscriptions, purchases and refunds | Performance of a contract |
| Managing events and registrations | Performance of a contract or legitimate interests, depending on the activity |
| Maintaining financial and tax records | Compliance with legal obligations |
| Responding to enquiries and providing member support | Contractual necessity or legitimate interests, as applicable |
| Maintaining website security and preventing fraud | Legitimate interests or legal obligations, as applicable |
| Sending essential membership and transaction communications | Contractual necessity or legitimate interests, as applicable |
| Sending optional newsletters and promotional communications | Consent where required by law |
| Analytics and non-essential cookies | Consent where required by applicable law |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, those interests may include operating the Society, maintaining secure services, administering memberships and protecting against fraudulent activity. We consider the rights and interests of individuals when relying on this legal basis.
Where consent is the legal basis for processing, you may withdraw it at any time. Withdrawal does not affect processing carried out lawfully before withdrawal.
4. Membership Accounts and WordPress
Our website uses WordPress to provide website functionality and manage user accounts.
If you register for a membership account, information associated with your account may be stored in our website database and used to provide access to member services.
We may process information about your membership status, purchases and account activity to administer your membership, provide support and maintain accurate records.
You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and notifying us if you believe your account has been accessed without authorisation.
5. Payments and Subscriptions
We use SureCart to manage online purchases, membership subscriptions and related checkout functionality. Payments are processed through third-party payment providers, including Stripe where configured.
These providers may process personal information such as your name, email address, billing details, transaction information and payment-related data to complete transactions, manage recurring payments, prevent fraud and comply with their legal obligations.
We receive information necessary to administer your membership and transactions, such as purchase details, payment status and subscription information.
Your payment information is also subject to the privacy policies of the relevant payment providers:
– SureCart: https://surecart.com/privacy-policy/
– Stripe: https://stripe.com/privacy
Please refer to those policies for further information about how the providers process personal data.
6. Who We Share Personal Data With
We do not sell your personal data.
We may share personal data with third parties where necessary to operate the website, provide services or comply with legal obligations. These may include:
– **Website hosting providers**, which store and serve the website and its database.
– **WordPress and website service providers**, where necessary to operate account and membership functionality.
– **SureCart**, for checkout, purchase and subscription management.
– **Stripe or other configured payment providers**, for payment processing and related financial services.
– **Email and communications providers**, where used to send membership notifications, respond to enquiries or distribute newsletters.
– **Professional advisers and accounting providers**, where necessary for financial administration and legal compliance.
– **Public authorities**, where disclosure is required by law.
We seek to ensure that third parties processing personal data on our behalf are subject to appropriate contractual and security obligations.
The exact recipients depend on the services and integrations enabled on the website.
7. International Transfers
Some of our service providers may process personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Where personal data is transferred internationally, we will ensure that an appropriate transfer mechanism is in place as required by applicable data protection law. This may include an adequacy decision, approved standard contractual clauses or another legally recognised safeguard.
You may contact us using the details in Section 1 to request further information about applicable safeguards.
8. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, subject to applicable legal obligations.
In general:
– **Membership accounts:** while your account or membership remains active and for a reasonable period afterwards where necessary to handle enquiries, disputes or legal claims.
– **Payment and accounting records:** for the period required by applicable tax and accounting laws.
– **Customer support correspondence:** for as long as necessary to resolve the enquiry and maintain relevant records.
– **Marketing subscriptions:** until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent, subject to any limited records needed to respect your preferences and demonstrate compliance.
– **Technical and security logs:** for the period reasonably necessary for security, troubleshooting and operational purposes.
– **Cookie consent records:** for the period necessary to demonstrate and manage your consent choices, subject to the applicable configuration and requirements.
When information is no longer needed, we will delete it or anonymise it where appropriate, unless we are legally required to retain it.
9. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functionality, maintain user sessions and, where applicable, provide analytics or other optional services.
Some cookies are necessary for the website to function, including features required for account access and checkout. Other cookies may be used for analytics, embedded content or marketing.
Where required by applicable law, non-essential cookies and similar technologies will only be used after you have given consent.
We use CookieYes to help manage cookie preferences and consent. The cookies actually used depend on the website configuration and the services enabled.
You can manage your cookie preferences through the cookie consent interface on the website. You can also adjust cookie settings in your browser, although blocking certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Please refer to our Cookie Policy for further information about the cookies used on the website.
10. Email Communications and Marketing
We may send emails relating to your account, membership, purchases, subscription renewals, security or other necessary administrative matters.
Where we send optional newsletters or promotional communications, we will obtain consent where required by applicable law or otherwise rely on an appropriate lawful basis.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe link provided in the message or by contacting us.
Unsubscribing from marketing communications does not prevent us from sending essential transactional or membership-related messages.
11. How We Protect Your Data
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.
These measures may include access controls, secure connections, software updates, restricted administrative access and appropriate security measures provided by our hosting and service providers.
No website or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We work to reduce risks and respond appropriately to security incidents.
12. Your Data Protection Rights
Under the GDPR, you may have the right to:
– **Access:** request a copy of your personal data.
– **Rectification:** request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
– **Erasure:** request deletion of your personal data where the legal conditions are met.
– **Restriction:** request that certain processing be restricted.
– **Portability:** receive certain personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
– **Object:** object to processing based on legitimate interests, including certain direct marketing activities.
– **Withdraw consent:** withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
These rights are subject to legal conditions and exceptions. For example, we may need to retain certain transaction records to comply with accounting or tax obligations even after a membership ends.
To exercise your rights, contact us using the details in Section 1. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority.
13. Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. Those websites operate under their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.
We recommend reviewing the relevant privacy policy before providing personal information to a third party.
14. Children’s Privacy
The website and membership services are not specifically directed at children unless expressly stated otherwise.
Where personal data relating to children is collected, we will comply with applicable data protection requirements and obtain parental or guardian authorisation where required by law.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website functionality, service providers or legal obligations.
The latest version will be published on this page with the updated revision date.
16. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy, our handling of personal data or your data protection rights, contact:
Organisation: International & North American Dostoevsky Society
Website: https://dostoevsky.org
Privacy contact: info@dostoevsky.org