Use of information, data protection and internet privacy

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is concerned for the privacy of visitors to its websites; protection of privacy is extremely important to us. However, please remember that the security of information transmitted over the Internet cannot be assured.

Personally identifiable information

GSK or third party companies acting on behalf of GSK may collect health related data and personally identifiable information such as name, address, telephone number, e-mail address or other information only when it is asked for and voluntarily submitted to us on this site. We may use the information to respond to your requests, improve our level of service and the content of our website and for our own internal purposes. Where you indicate your consent to receive further information on GSK products and services, we may provide you with tips, helpful information, product news and updates; notify you of new GSK products and services; seek your views on our products and services.

Please note that by submitting health related data and personally identifiable information you are, unless you have otherwise indicated, consenting to such information being processed for the above listed purposes. Further, you agree that unless otherwise stated GSK shall have the unrestricted right to use and store on its internal systems, whether in or outside the EU, any such information provided by you. In this context please note that your information may cross national borders during processing.

This website and the database that will hold any information submitted by you are hosted by GSK’s selected third party supplier in the United States and/or other countries, in accordance with instructions issued by GSK from the UK and this Privacy Policy. Although the legal requirements in the United States applicable to protecting personal information are not the same as those under European privacy laws. GSK will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal information. By submitting personal information you are consenting to your personal information being processed in the United States and/or other countries. If you have queries regarding this, please contact GSK on the address given below.

Under relevant data protection legislation (the Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK) you are entitled to obtain from GSK (the Data Controller for the purposes of the data protection legislation) a printout of the data held concerning you and to have any inaccuracies in this data rectified.

Non-personally identifiable information

GSK also collects non-personally identifiable information in aggregate form to track data such as the total number of visits to our websites, the number of visitors to each page of our websites, and the domain names of our visitors' internet service providers. We use this information, which remains in aggregate form, to understand how our visitors use our websites so that we may improve them. We may also share this information with other GSK companies. NO PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROCESS.

Use of IP Addresses

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a set of numbers that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you log on to your internet service provider or through your organisation's local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Web servers automatically identify your computer by the IP address assigned to it during your session online.

GSK may collect IP addresses for the purposes of systems administration and to audit the use of our site. We do not ordinarily link a user's IP address to personally identifiable information of that user, which means each user's session will be logged, but the user remains anonymous to us. However, we may use IP addresses to identify users of our site when we feel it is necessary to enforce compliance with the site's terms of use, or to protect our service, site or other users.

Links to other websites

GSK websites provide links to other GSK and third party websites as a service to our users. The privacy policy described here does not apply to those sites. Please ensure you check the legal and privacy section of any site you link to.

Cookies

GSK may place a “cookie” in your computer’s browser. Cookies are small text files which provide us with information about how often someone visits our site, and what they do during those visits. Cookies do not themselves contain any personally identifiable information but if you provide such information to us, for example by registering with us, it may be linked to the data stored in the cookie.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies, or receive a warning before a cookie is stored, if you prefer. Please refer to your internet browser’s instructions or help screen to learn more about these functions. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of this site or any other websites that you visit.

If you wish to disable GSK’s ability to track your website interactions, you have the ability to opt-out of our third party tracking software. Visit http://www.omniture.com/privacy/optout.html and follow the Opt-Out Policy Instructions. The opt out process will require that you permit the placement of a cookie on your computer that indicates that you do not wish to be tracked by GSK. In the event that you remove your cookies from your computer, tracking will resume.

Security

GSK is committed to protecting the security of your personal information.

GSK operates secure data networks protected by industry standard firewall and password protection. GSK has security measures in place to attempt to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of your user data under our control.

Except as outlined below, only authorised employees have access to the information you provide us. Further, we impose strict rules on GSK employees who have access either to the databases that store user information or to the servers that host our services. Whilst we cannot guarantee that loss, misuse or alteration to data will not occur, we make every effort to prevent occurrences.

Sharing personally identifiable information with other parties

GSK will not sell or rent personally identifiable information to any third party for any purpose.

In certain special cases, we may disclose your personally identifiable information in the following circumstances:
(i) sometimes carefully selected third parties are used to provide GSK with support services in connection with its websites and such parties may, from time to time, have access to your information to enable them to provide those services to GSK. Please rest assured that all companies providing such support services are required by GSK to meet the same high standards of data protection;
(ii) when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to you, or otherwise injuring or interfering with GSK's rights, property or operations, other users of this site, or anyone else who could be harmed by such activities; or
(iii) when we believe the law requires it, or in response to any demand by law enforcement authorities in connection with a criminal investigation, or civil or administrative authorities in connection with a pending civil case or administrative investigation.

Binding Nature

By submitting personal and/or health related data you agree to be bound by our privacy policy and agree that GSK may, in its sole discretion, disclose information about you in the circumstances and to the extent set out in this policy.

Contact Us

You can request a copy of the information we hold concerning you or revoke your consent to our using your information for the above listed purposes at any time by contacting us at:

Consumer Affairs Manager
GlaxoSmithKline
Freepost
TK2018
Brentford
TW8 9GS

Changes

Any changes to this privacy policy will be communicated promptly on this page.