General information about cookies

This cookie policy (“Cookie Policy”) governs the use of cookies and similar technologies as part of your use of our Website (the “Website”) and the associated services (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Services”). This processing is carried out by EQ-Investigations VOF as the data controller, with registered office at Viaductstraat 5, 8820 Torhout (‘we’, ‘us’), registered with the CBE under number BE 1018.138.625, in accordance with the applicable legislation on the protection of personal data.

Cookies are “mini files” which can be placed on a device connected to the internet. Cookies can be used to collect or store information about how you behave on a website and/or on your device. “Reading” these cookies then enables the websites that placed them to retrieve the information stored in them.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on the hard drive of a device and contain certain information, sometimes including personal data. When you use our Website and/or Services, we also collect and process personal information other than through cookies and similar technologies. If you would like to know more, please read our “Privacy Policy”.

Cookies usually have an expiry date and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. However, there are also cookies that remain on your computer for a longer period of time, sometimes even until you delete them manually.

By continuing to use our Website and/or Services or by clicking ‘Agree’ after being informed about the use of cookies and similar technologies, you acknowledge that you have carefully read this Cookie Policy and that you agree to it without reservation. You can change your cookie preferences at any time. To do so, click on “cookie settings” at the bottom of the footer.

We reserve the right to amend, supplement or replace this Cookie Policy from time to time. Such amendments, additions or replacements will be brought to your attention via our Website and/or Services. If you do not agree with these amendments, additions or replacements, please send an email to info@eq-investigations.be. If we have not received any notification within three (3) working days after the changes, additions or replacements have been communicated to you via our Website or Services, you will be deemed to have accepted all changes, additions or replacements.

Which cookies & why?

Cookies can be divided into two categories:

• Strictly necessary cookies (technical or functional): These cookies are essential for the functioning of the site and do not require the consent of users.
• Non-essential cookies: These cookies, which are not essential for the functioning of the site, require the consent of users.

Additional information:

• Essential cookies: these are necessary for purely technical reasons in order to visit the Website. Due to their technical necessity, only an information obligation applies to these cookies.
• Functional cookies: these cookies are necessary for our Services or Website. You cannot refuse these cookies if you visit the Website, but they are only placed after a choice has been made regarding the placement of these cookies. If you refuse these cookies, the Website may not be accessible.
• Analytical cookies: these cookies allow us to collect analytical data about our Services or Website. These cookies help us discover what works well and what we still need to improve. They are only placed after a choice has been made regarding the placement of cookies.
• Marketing cookies: these are used to track you when you visit different websites. The purpose of these cookies is to display advertisements that are tailored and relevant to the individual user.

When you visit and/or use our Website, we place cookies or use similar technologies to collect and process personal data about you.

You can prevent cookies from being placed or delete cookies that have already been placed by adjusting your settings in your browser. Help with adjusting these settings can be found on the website of the browser you use. Please note that not allowing cookies when visiting the Website may result in some or all of the Website’s features not working properly.

Some browsers:

• Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
• Microsoft Edge: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-10/edge-privacy-faq
• Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en
• Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
• Safari (Mac): https://support.apple.com/nl-nl/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac
• Safari (iPhone, iPad, iPad touch): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
• This cookie policy was last updated on 12 April 2025.

Who are we?

EQ-investigations VOF, hereinafter referred to as the Data Controller.

Licence numbers from the Ministry of the Interior: 14.1901.07 and 14.1974.03.

Address: Viaductstraat 5, 8820 Torhout (Belgium).

European VAT number: BE 1018.138.625.

Tel.: 0472/31.01.41.

Email: info@eq-investigations.be .

In accordance with Article 55 of the Act of 18 May 2024 regulating private investigation, we act as the Data Controller in the context of our private investigation activities.

• The Data Controller insures all private investigation assignments.
• The Data Controller employs two private investigators.
• The Data Controller provides services to both individuals and companies.
• The Data Controller also works closely with other companies for private investigation throughout Belgium.

Why this privacy charter?

This policy is aimed at clients, the persons who are the subject of the assignment (the data subjects) and salaried and/or self-employed private investigators.

We realise that you place your trust in us, and we therefore consider it our responsibility to protect your privacy. Our commitment is threefold:

• We only collect the data necessary for the performance of our assignment and we process that data carefully and efficiently in the context of your file;
• We take reasonable precautions to store and process your data securely;
• We protect your personal data by only providing it to authorised third parties.
  Below you will find our principles regarding confidentiality and compliance with your privacy and data, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, as well as the Belgian Act of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data.

Our sites may contain links to third-party sites. We have no control over how third-party sites and services handle your personal information. We do not monitor third-party sites and services, and we are not responsible for those third-party sites and services or their privacy practices. Please read the privacy statements of the third-party sites or services you access through our sites or services.

All information on the website, such as the information on the FAQ page, the blog page or the page with external links, is of a general nature. The information is not adapted to personal or specific circumstances and cannot therefore be considered as personal, professional or legal advice to the user.

EQ-investigations VOF makes every effort to ensure that the information provided is complete, correct, accurate and up to date. Despite these efforts, inaccuracies may occur in the information provided. If the information provided contains inaccuracies or if certain information on or via the site is unavailable, EQ-investigations VOF will make every effort to rectify this as quickly as possible. However, EQ-investigations VOF cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from the use of the information and hyperlinks on this site.

Visitors are free to use or not use the links to third-party websites. Any damage resulting from the use of the suggested links is therefore beyond the liability of EQ-Investigations. EQ-Investigations reserves the right to add new links or remove existing links at any time.

If you find any inaccuracies in the information provided on the site, you can contact the site administrator via the contact form or on 0472/31.01.41.

For which purposes and on which legal grounds do we process personal data?

Your data will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it. In order to enable EQ-investigations VOF to provide information to visitors to the website, website users may be asked to provide personal data such as their name, company name, telephone number, email address, subject (category of research question) and message (brief explanation of the question). By filling in their details on the contact form, users give this application permission to process this data in order to respond to their questions.

In the case of a private investigation, data processing takes place for the following purposes:

• when the client has given his/her prior consent to the processing of his/her personal data for one or more specific purposes;
• when the processing is necessary for the performance of a contract;
• when the processing is necessary for the pursuit of a legitimate interest.

What data is collected and from whom?

Please feel free to contact us at an early stage for more information about the data subjects (from whom we collect/process data) and the categories of personal data we collect/process from these respective data subjects. At your request, we will provide you with more information about the purposes of data processing, the legal grounds, the categories of data subjects, the types of data that are kept and the duration of data retention.

How long is personal data retained?

We are required to retain personal data from private investigations for up to three years after the investigation has been closed. This three-year period was established in the Act of 18 May 2024 regulating the law on private investigation.
 
Sharing personal data

Who can we share your personal data with? We do not share your personal data with third parties, except in the exceptional cases provided for by law.

However, we may share your personal data with the following recipients:

• The police or other competent authorities in the context of an investigation or dispute.
• To salaried and self-employed private investigators in order to provide them with the information they need to carry out private investigation assignments. In this context, we require independent private investigators to comply with data protection legislation and to provide sufficient guarantees that appropriate technical and organisational measures are taken to ensure that the processing complies with the requirements of the applicable data protection legislation and that your rights are protected.
• To internal company employees for the purpose of proper file management (internal department(s)).
• To clients in order to communicate the information obtained in the private investigation assignment.
• To the person who is the subject of the investigation (the data subject).

Is the disclosure of this personal data limited to the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)?

In the context of a cross-border dispute and the disclosure of actions abroad, we may disclose personal data to foreign authorities, but this will always be within the limits provided for by European legislation or international treaties to which Belgium is a party.

The processed personal data is stored by our subcontractor for backup purposes. This data is stored in a secure environment within the European Union.

Outside of these cases, no data is transferred to another country, either within or outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA).

What measures does the Data Controller take against misuse or unauthorised access?

The personal data processed is stored in a secure environment within the European Union. The persons involved in managing your file only have access to the personal data they need to perform their tasks. All private investigators and internal staff are legally or contractually obliged to guarantee the confidentiality of your personal data.

The following security measures have been put in place to prevent, among other things, unauthorised access, illegal use, loss or unauthorised modification of your data:

• Only authorised personnel have access to personal data;
  Only persons who process personal data have access to that data;
  Logistical and IT protection;
• Use of strong passwords and other active means to control access;
• Firewall;
• Appropriate technical and organisational security measures that comply with the GDPR.

You have rights regarding the processing of your personal data.

Essentially, under Articles 13 to 21 of the GDPR (and subject to these provisions not prejudicing the proper performance of private investigation assignments), you have the right to obtain:

• Information about whether or not your personal data is being processed, the purposes of such processing and the legal grounds for it;
• The list of data to which the processing relates;
• The list of recipients to whom the personal data may be transferred;
• The communication of data concerning you;
• Their rectification if they are inaccurate;
• The “erasure” of your personal data, provided that their retention is not required for any ongoing legal proceedings concerning you.

Who can you contact and how can you exercise your rights?

Please be specific so that we can process your request accurately and correctly. When you exercise a right, we may ask you to prove your identity to prevent someone else from exercising your rights in your place. We may therefore ask you to provide a copy of your identity card.

To exercise your rights, please contact the Data Controller:

• EQ-investigations VOF
  (Licence numbers from the Ministry of the Interior: 14.1901.07 and 14.1974.03)
• Viaductstraat 5
  8820 Torhout
  (Belgium)
• European VAT number: BE 1018.138.625
• Tel.: 0472/31.01.41
• Email: info@eq-investigations.be.

For more information or to exercise your rights regarding the protection of personal data processed by the Data Controller, you can also contact our Data Protection Officer:

GDPR Agency SRL
Chemin du Cyclotron 6
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel.: 010/87.11.70

Email: detective@dpo.team

Finally, you can also request information or lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority:

Data Protection Authority
Drukpersstraat 35
1000 Brussels
Telephone: +32 (0)2 274 48 00
Fax: +32 (0)2 274 48 35
Email: contact@apd-gba.be
Website: https://www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be/
Contact and access to forms: https://www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be/contact

Additional information about the Act of 18 May 2024 regulating private investigations:
https://www.besafe.be/nl/wetgeving-private-opsporing .

Changes to our privacy policy:
The Data Controller may change its Privacy and Personal Data Protection Policy at any time. The latest version of our privacy statement is dated 6 March 2025.