Cookie Policy

WORLDEF (World E-Commerce Forum) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and deliver personalized content. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and how you can control them.

By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy, in compliance with GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, and Turkish KVKK regulations.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other devices when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

Cookies contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive and allow the website to recognize your device and remember certain information about your preferences or past actions.

2. Why We Use Cookies

WORLDEF uses cookies for the following purposes:

• Essential Operations: To enable core website functionality such as ticket purchasing, user authentication, and secure checkout
• User Experience: To remember your preferences, language settings, and login status
• Performance: To understand how visitors interact with our website and identify areas for improvement
• Analytics: To analyze website traffic, visitor behavior, and event registration patterns
• Marketing: To deliver relevant event promotions, early bird offers, and personalized content
• Security: To protect against fraud, detect malicious activity, and ensure secure transactions
• Event Management: To facilitate event registration, networking features, and attendee services

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled. They enable core functionality such as:

• User authentication and session management
• Shopping cart functionality for ticket purchases
• Payment processing and transaction security
• Security features and fraud prevention
• Load balancing and website performance

Legal Basis: These cookies are necessary for contract performance and do not require explicit consent under GDPR and KVKK.

3.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously:

• Google Analytics: Tracks page views, session duration, bounce rates, and user journeys
• Heatmaps: Visualizes where users click, scroll, and navigate on pages
• Conversion Tracking: Measures ticket sales, registration completions, and goal achievements
• Error Monitoring: Identifies technical issues and website errors

Duration: Typically 1-2 years
Legal Basis: Requires consent under ePrivacy and KVKK

3.3 Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization:

• Language and currency preferences
• Event filters and search preferences
• Accessibility settings
• Chat widget functionality
• Video playback settings
• Social media integration (share buttons, embedded content)

Duration: Session to 1 year
Legal Basis: Requires consent

3.4 Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies track your online activity to deliver more relevant advertising:

• Facebook Pixel: Tracks conversions, retargeting, and ad performance on Facebook/Instagram
• Google Ads: Tracks ad clicks, conversions, and remarketing campaigns
• LinkedIn Insight Tag: Measures B2B ad performance and professional targeting
• Twitter Pixel: Tracks engagement and conversions from Twitter ads
• Email Marketing Pixels: Tracks email open rates and click-through rates

Duration: 30 days to 2 years
Legal Basis: Requires explicit consent

3.5 Targeting and Personalization Cookies

These cookies create a profile of your interests to show you relevant WORLDEF events and content:

• Event recommendations based on your browsing history
• Personalized ticket offers and discounts
• Dynamic content based on location and language
• Cross-device identification for seamless experience

Duration: 6 months to 2 years
Legal Basis: Requires consent

4. Third-Party Cookies

WORLDEF uses various third-party services that set cookies on your device. These include:

4.1 Analytics and Measurement

• Google Analytics: Web analytics service tracking website usage and visitor behavior
• Google Tag Manager: Tag management system for deploying tracking codes
• Meta Pixel (Facebook): Tracks conversions and user actions for event marketing

4.2 Payment and Transaction Processing

• Stripe: Secure payment processing with fraud detection cookies
• PayPal: Alternative payment method with session management
• Local Payment Providers: Regional payment gateways (Iyzico, PayU, etc.)

4.3 Social Media Platforms

• Facebook/Instagram: Social login, sharing features, and embedded content
• LinkedIn: Professional networking features and B2B targeting
• Twitter: Tweet embedding and social sharing
• YouTube: Video content embedding and playback

4.4 Customer Support and Communication

• Live Chat Services: Real-time customer support widgets
• Email Service Providers: Email delivery and tracking (Mailchimp, SendGrid)

These third parties have their own privacy policies and cookie policies. We recommend reviewing their policies to understand how they collect and use your data:

• Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
• Facebook Cookie Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies/
• Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy
• LinkedIn Cookie Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy

5. Cookie Duration

Cookies can be classified by their duration:

5.1 Session Cookies

These are temporary cookies that expire and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. They are essential for maintaining your session during ticket purchase and website navigation.

5.2 Persistent Cookies

These cookies remain on your device for a specified period (ranging from 30 days to 2 years) or until you manually delete them. They remember your preferences and enable faster login and checkout.

6. Managing and Controlling Cookies

You have the right to accept or reject cookies. Here's how you can manage cookies:

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner will appear. You can:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Customize your cookie preferences by category
• Change your preferences at any time via the cookie settings link in the footer

6.2 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View and delete cookies stored on your device
• Block third-party cookies
• Block cookies from specific websites
• Block all cookies (not recommended as it may break website functionality)
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser
• Be notified when a website tries to set a cookie

6.3 Browser-Specific Cookie Management

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → See all cookies and site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data
• Safari (Mac): Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data
• Safari (iOS): Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website Data
• Chrome (Android): Settings → Site settings → Cookies

6.4 Opting Out of Third-Party Advertising

You can opt out of targeted advertising from participating companies:

• Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com
• Facebook Ad Preferences: https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences
• Digital Advertising Alliance (US): http://optout.aboutads.info
• European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: http://www.youronlinechoices.eu
• Network Advertising Initiative: http://optout.networkadvertising.org

6.5 Mobile Device Settings

• iOS: Settings → Privacy → Advertising → Limit Ad Tracking
• Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization

Important Note: Blocking or deleting cookies may impact your user experience. Some features of our website, such as the ticket purchase process, may not function properly without essential cookies.

7. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want your online activity tracked. There is currently no industry standard for how to respond to DNT signals.

WORLDEF does not currently respond to DNT signals automatically. However, you can use the cookie management options described above to control tracking and advertising cookies.

8. Web Beacons and Tracking Pixels

In addition to cookies, we may use web beacons (also called tracking pixels or clear GIFs) in:

• Email campaigns to track open rates and click-through rates
• Website pages to measure visitor engagement
• Online advertisements to measure ad effectiveness
• Social media posts to track engagement metrics

Web beacons are small graphic images or code snippets that work in conjunction with cookies to track user behavior across different platforms and devices.

9. Legal Compliance

WORLDEF's cookie practices comply with:

• GDPR (EU): Requires informed consent for non-essential cookies
• ePrivacy Directive (EU): Governs electronic communications and cookies
• KVKK (Turkey): Turkish Personal Data Protection Law regarding cookies and tracking
• CCPA (California): Provides opt-out rights for sale of personal information

We obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. You can withdraw consent at any time through our cookie management interface.

10. Cookies and Children

WORLDEF events are designed for business professionals aged 18 and above. Our website is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect data from individuals under 18 through cookies or other tracking technologies.

11. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes in our cookie practices
• New cookies or tracking technologies
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• User feedback and industry best practices

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page
• Display a prominent notice on our website
• Request renewed consent if required by law

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding our use of cookies, please contact us:

WORLDEF Cookie Policy Inquiries
Email: privacy@worldef.com
General Contact: info@worldef.com
Website: https://worldef.com

For data protection and privacy matters, you can also contact:
KVKK Contact: kvkk@worldef.com

13. Additional Resources

For more information about cookies and online privacy, visit:

• All About Cookies: https://www.allaboutcookies.org
• EU Cookie Law: https://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics/legal/cookies/index_en.htm
• ICO Cookie Guidance (UK): https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/cookies-and-similar-technologies/
• Turkish KVKK: https://www.kvkk.gov.tr