The Business Diplomat

Cookie Policy

Effective date: September 2026

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how The Business Diplomat ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website (the "Site"). It should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which contains further information about how we process personal data.

We are committed to transparency about the technologies we use. This Policy has been prepared in accordance with: Privacy Policy, which contains further information about how we process personal data.

—The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – Regulation 2016/679);

—The EU ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC, as amended);

—The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP / nDSG) and applicable Swiss telecommunications legislation;

—Any other applicable national laws implementing the above.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide analytical information to website owners.

Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting ("first-party cookies") or by third-party services operating on that website ("third-party cookies"). Cookies may be stored for varying periods: session cookies are deleted when you close your browser, while persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire or you delete them manually.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the Site to function correctly. They enable core features such as page navigation, security, and access to protected areas. They do not collect personal information for marketing purposes and cannot be switched off in our systems. No consent is required for these cookies under applicable law.

Examples: session management, load balancing, security tokens.

3.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the Site to remember choices you make — such as your language preference or region — and to provide enhanced, more personalised features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. Without these cookies, some functionality may not be available.

Examples: language settings, user interface preferences.

3.3 Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information about how visitors use the Site — for example, which pages are visited most often, how users navigate between pages, and whether users encounter error messages. The data collected is aggregated and anonymised where possible and is used solely to improve the performance and usability of the Site.

Examples: web analytics platforms (such as Google Analytics or equivalent tools), heatmap tools.

These cookies require your prior consent under GDPR and nDSG.

3.4 Marketing and Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be used to deliver advertisements and content relevant to your interests, to limit the number of times you see an advertisement, and to measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. They are usually placed by third-party advertising networks with our permission.

Examples: social media tracking pixels, advertising network cookies.

These cookies require your prior consent under GDPR and nDSG.

4. Cookie Duration

You can view and manage the specific cookies active on your device at any time through your browser settings or our cookie preference tool (where available on the Site).

Category	Duration
Strictly Necessary	Session (deleted when browser is closed) or up to 12 months
Functional	Up to 12 months
Performance / Analytics	Up to 24 months (varies by provider)
Marketing / Targeting	Up to 24 months (varies by provider)

5. Legal Basis

Under the GDPR and Swiss nDSG, we rely on the following legal bases for the use of cookies:

—Strictly necessary cookies: No consent required — use is based on our legitimate interest and necessity to operate the Site.

—Functional, performance, analytics, and marketing cookies: Your consent, obtained through our cookie consent banner when you first visit the Site.

You may withdraw your consent at any time, as described in Section 6 below. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out prior to withdrawal.

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for managing cookies:

6.1 Via our cookie consent banner

When you first visit the Site, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept all cookies, decline non-essential cookies, or customise your preferences by category. You may revisit and change your preferences at any time via the cookie settings link on our Site.

6.2 Via your browser settings

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Please note that disabling or blocking certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Site, and some features may not work as intended.

You can typically: view which cookies are stored on your device; delete all or selected cookies; block cookies from specific websites or all websites; receive a warning before cookies are stored.

For guidance on managing cookies in common browsers, please visit:

—Google Chrome: support.google.com/chrome
—Mozilla Firefox: support.mozilla.org
—Safari: support.apple.com
—Microsoft Edge: support.microsoft.com

6.3 Opting out of analytics

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, you may install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

7. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on this Site are placed by third-party service providers. These third parties may independently collect information about you in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services whose cookies are active on our Site.

The Business Diplomat does not control the content of third-party cookies and accepts no responsibility for third-party privacy practices.

8. Do Not Track

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. There is currently no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. We will continue to monitor developments in this area and update our practices accordingly.

9. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We reserve the right to update this Cookie Policy at any time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our practices. The revised version will be published on this Site with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

10. Contact

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, please contact us at:

The Business Diplomat
[email protected]