Privacy

[Last Update: August 12th, 2024]

This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy” or “Policy”) describes how KPMG Somekh Chaikin (“KPMG”), a registered Israeli partnership, and a member firm in the KPMG International Limited  organization, collects, uses, and shares Personal Data of its website visitors. 
KPMG is dedicated to protecting the confidentiality and privacy of information entrusted to it. As part of this fundamental obligation, KPMG is committed to the appropriate protection and use of Personal Data (sometimes referred to as “personal information”, “personally identifiable information” or “PII”) that has been collected online. 
Please review this Privacy Statement (“Privacy Statement”) to learn more about how we collect, use, share and protect the Personal Data that we have obtained from you. 

1   Collection and use of Personal Data 
 1.1   What information we collect
We obtain Personal Data about you if you choose to provide it – for example, your contact information if used to contact mailboxes or to register for certain services. In some cases, you will have previously provided your Personal Data to KPMG (if, for example, you are a former employee). 
If you choose to register or login to a KPMG website using a third party single sign-in service that authenticates your identity and connects your social media login information (e.g. Google, LinkedIn or Facebook) with KPMG, we will collect any information or content needed for the registration or log-in that you have permitted the social media provider to share with us, such as your name and email address. Other information we collect will depend on the privacy settings you have set with your social media provider, so please review the privacy statement or policy of the applicable service.
We collect and process Personal Data in compliance with the Israeli Privacy Protection Law, 1981-1981 (“IPPL”) and all regulations and guidance bulletins promulgated under this law, and if applicable to you the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
This Privacy Policy is an integral part of our website Terms and Conditions (collectively the "Terms"). Definitions used however not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them under the Terms and Conditions. 

1.2  Automatic collection of Personal Data 
In some instances, KPMG and its service providers use cookies, web beacons and other technologies to automatically collect certain types of information when you visit us online, as well as through emails that we may exchange. The collection of this information allows us to customize your online experience, improve the performance, usability and effectiveness of KPMG’s online presence, and to measure the effectiveness of our marketing activities. If you wish to prevent cookies from tracking you as you navigate the KPMG Somekh Chaikin website, you can manage your cookie preferences from the Cookie Management Center. Note however, that some portions of our website may not work properly if you choose to refuse certain categories of cookies. 

1.2.2 Cookies
Cookies will typically be placed on your computer or internet-enabled device whenever you visit us online. This allows the site to remember your computer or device and serve a number of purposes. Please see our Cookie Management Center for more information about Cookies in general, and Cookies that KPMG uses which you can consent to and/or withdraw your consent from KPMG placing on your computer. 

1.2.3 Google Analytics 
KPMG uses Google Analytics. More information about how Google Analytics is used by KPMG can be found here: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/12159447?hl=en&ref_topic=14089939&sjid=2501674674291976146-EU
To provide website visitors with more choice on how their data is collected by Google Analytics, Google have developed the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. The add-on communicates with the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js) to indicate that information about the website visit should not be sent to Google Analytics. The Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on does not prevent information from being sent to the website itself or to other web analytics services.

1.2.4  Web beacons
A web beacon is a small image file on a web page that can be used to collect certain information from your computer, such as an IP address, the time the content was viewed, a browser type, and the existence of cookies previously set by the same server. KPMG only uses web beacons in accordance with applicable laws.

KPMG or its service providers will use web beacons to track the effectiveness of third-party websites that provide us with recruiting or marketing services or to gather aggregate visitor statistics and manage cookies.
You have the option to render some web beacons unusable by rejecting their associated cookies. The web beacon may still record an anonymous visit from your IP address, but cookie information will not be recorded.

In some of our newsletters and other communications, we will monitor recipient actions such as email open rates through embedded links within the messages. We collect this information to gauge user interest and to enhance future user experiences.

1.2.5  Location-based tools
KPMG will collect and use the geographical location of your computer or mobile device. This location data is collected for the purpose of providing you with information regarding services which we believe may be of interest to you based on your geographic location, and to improve our location-based products and services.

1.3  Social media widgets 
The KPMG website has links to the official KPMG Somekh Chaikin Social Media pages (including TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube). These social media applications hosting the page will collect and use information regarding your use of their website. Any Personal Data that you provide via such social media applications will often be collected and used by other members of that social media application and such interactions are governed by the privacy policies of the companies that provide the application. KPMG does not have control over, or responsibility for, those companies or their use of your information and encourage visitors to those sites to review the respective privacy policies of those websites and the applications offered on them.
KPMG and/or third parties including the aforementioned Social Media companies may embed videos, widgets, and other features hosted by those social media websites on this website and place cookies on the user’s computer. Please see the ‘Social Media’ category and consent mechanism in the Cookie Management Center on this website for more information about these cookies and how to configure your consent options for this category of cookies.   
In addition, KPMG websites may host blogs, forums, crowd-sourcing and other applications or services (collectively “social media features”). The purpose of social media features is to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and content. Any Personal Data that you provide on any KPMG social media feature will typically be shared with other users of that social media feature (unless otherwise stated at the point of collection), over whom we often have limited or no control.

1.4  Children 
KPMG understands the importance of protecting children’s privacy, especially in an online environment. Our websites are not intentionally designed for or directed at children under the age of 13. It is our policy never to knowingly collect or maintain information about anyone under the age of 13, except as part of an engagement to provide professional services.

2  How and for What Purpose(s) We Use Your Personal Data  
When you register or submit Personal Data to KPMG we will use this information only for the purposes for which it is collected and in the manner outlined in this Privacy Statement. Your Personal Data is not used for other purposes, unless we obtain your permission, or unless otherwise required or permitted by law or professional standards. For example, if you register to a KPMG website and provide information about your preferences we will use this information to personalize your user experience. Where you register or login using a third party single user sign-in we may also recognize you as the same user across any different devices you use and personalize your user experience across other KPMG websites you visit. If you send us a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to apply online for a position with KPMG, we will use the information that you provide to match you with available KPMG job opportunities. In some cases where you have registered for certain services we will store your email address temporarily until we receive confirmation of the information you provided via an email (i.e. where we send an email to the email address provided as part of your registration to confirm a subscription request).
Generally, our intent is to collect only the Personal Data that is provided voluntarily by online visitors so that we can offer information and/or services to those individuals about KPMG thought leadership, events that KPMG is hosting, employment opportunities, and for marketing purposes. We may also collect Personal Data as needed for the purpose of the necessary operation of our website (detailed in more depth in our Cookie Policy found in the Cookie Management Center).

3  The legal grounds we have to use your Personal Data  
You can find here information regarding the types of information we collect, as well as our lawful basis for processing (which is applicable where the GDPR applies to the Personal Data collected). 
When you access, use or interact with this website, we may collect the following types of data: 
"Non-Personal Data"
During your interaction with our website, we may collect aggregated, non-personal non-identifiable information which may be made available or gathered via your access to and use of the website. We are not aware of the identity of the user from which the Non-Personal Data is collected. The Non-Personal Data which is being collected may include your aggregated usage information (i.e. website behaviors through Google Analytics) and technical information transmitted by your device and for example, type of device, browser and operating system, default language, etc. 
"Personal Data"
We may also collect, during your access or interaction with the website, individually identifiable information, namely information that identifies an individual or may with reasonable effort be used to identify an individual. In addition, where applicable, the law in Europe (i.e., GDPR) allows us to process Personal Data, so long as we have a ground under the law to do so. It also requires us to tell you what those grounds, and the table below further details such information. 
It is important to note that under the IPPL, the legal bases for collection of your Personal Data are:
a)  Your informed, express, or implied consent (as detailed in Section 5, ‘Choices’ of this Privacy Policy); and 
b)  Cases when KPMG Somekh Chaikin must collect and process certain information which are mandatory because we have a legal, moral, social, or a professional obligation to do so. In the event of a legal obligation, we will inform you of the fact that your Personal Data is being collected on this basis.

 4  Sharing and transfer of Personal Data 

4.1  Transfer within the global organization of KPMG member firms
We share information about you with other member firms in the KPMG Global organization/network as part of international engagements, and with KPMG International Limited, including its related entities, where required or desirable to meet our legal and regulatory obligations around the world. Other parts of the KPMG International Limited are also used to provide services to KPMG Somekh Chaikin, and to you, for example hosting and supporting IT applications, provision of certain forms of insurance for member firms and their clients, performing client conflicts checks and Anti-Money Laundering checks, assisting with client engagement services and otherwise as required in order to continue to run KPMG’s business.

4.2  Transfer within the global organization of KPMG firms
We do not share Personal Data with third parties, except as necessary for our legitimate professional and business needs, to carry out your requests, and/or as required or permitted by law or professional standards. KPMG will transfer certain Personal Data to other member firms in the KPMG international network, or to outside companies working with us or on our behalf for the purposes described in this Privacy Statement. With regards to member firms, we typically send Personal Data to the following countries, but data may be processed anywhere in the world. If we do this, your Personal Data will continue to be protected by means of contracts we have in place with those organizations. All standard contracts deemed mandatory for certain transfers of Personal Data by data protection authorities, will be utilized to transfer your Personal Data when relevant and/or necessary by KPMG. 
KPMG will not transfer the Personal Data you provide to any third parties for their own direct marketing use.

 5  Choices
In general, you are not required to submit any Personal Data to KPMG, but we will require you to provide certain Personal Data in order for you to receive additional information about our services and events. KPMG generally only collects only the Personal Data necessary to fulfill your request. Where additional, optional information is sought, you will be notified about this at the point of collection. If you opt-in for particular services or communications, such as an e-newsletter, you will be able to unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions included in each communication. If you decide to unsubscribe from a service or communication, we will try to remove your information promptly, although we may require additional information before we can process your request. In the event that there is no ‘unsubscribe’ option for a particular type of Personal Data you provided, you may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting:  us-islprivacy@kpmg.com
As described in the section titled “Cookies” above, if you wish to prevent cookies from tracking you as you navigate our websites, you can utilize the Cookie Management Center. Note, however, that some portions of our websites may not work properly if you elect to refuse certain categories of cookies.
If you provide us with Personal Data, for example by way of contacting us, you are representing that the information you provide will be accurate and up to date. To the extent that you provide us with information about another individual (for example, as a proxy), you have all the necessary authorizations for the purpose of providing such information. 

6  Your Rights 
If KPMG processes Personal Data about you, you have the following rights:

Access and correction: you have the right to access to your Personal Data that we process and store. If we agree that we are obliged to provide Personal Data to you, we will provide it to you free of charge. Before providing Personal Data to you, we may ask for proof of identity and sufficient information about your interactions with us. If the Personal Data we process about you is incorrect, you are entitled to ask us to correct any inaccuracies in the Personal Data, and the right to amend it (by correcting, deleting or adding information).
Object to processing: you have the right to object to the processing of your Personal Data, to the extent applicable. 
Withdraw consent (opt-out): you have the right to withdraw your consent, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. 
Other Rights: in addition, you may have right to have your Personal Data deleted if we are excessing the retention period, or to have you Personal Data processing restricted in certain circumstances and to obtain copies of the Personal Data we process about you in electronic form. 
You can make a request to exercise these rights in relation to your Personal Data by contacting us at: us-islprivacy@kpmg.com. KPMG will make all reasonable and practical efforts to comply with your request, so long as it is consistent with applicable law and professional standards.

7  Data Security and Integrity
KPMG has reasonable security policies and procedures in place to protect Personal Data from unauthorized loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. Despite KPMG's best efforts, however, security cannot be absolutely guaranteed against all threats. To the best of our ability, access to your Personal Data is limited to those who have a need to know. Those individuals who have access to the data are required to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
We also make reasonable efforts to retain Personal Data only for so long i) as the information is necessary to comply with an individual’s request, ii) as necessary to comply with legal, regulatory, internal business or policy requirements, or iii) until that person asks that the information be deleted. The period for which data is retained will depend on the specific nature and circumstances under which the information was collected; however, subject to the requirements of i)–iii) above, Personal Data will not be retained for more than 7 years.

8  Links to other websites
Please be aware that KPMG websites will typically contain links to other websites, including websites maintained by other KPMG firms that are not governed by this Privacy Statement, but by other privacy statements that will often differ somewhat. We encourage users to review the privacy policy of each website visited before disclosing any Personal Data.
By registering on any KPMG website and then navigating to another KPMG website while still logged in, you agree to the use of your Personal Data in accordance with the privacy statement of the KPMG website you are visiting.

9  Privacy Statement revisions
When we modify this Privacy Statement we will post it here, with an updated effective date.

10  Policy questions and enforcement
KPMG is committed to protecting the online privacy of your Personal Data. If you have questions or comments about our administration of your Personal Data, please contact the Data Protection Officer of KPMG Somekh Chaikin by one of the communication mediums below:

Email:
us-islprivacy@kpmg.com.
 
Mail: 
KPMG Somekh Chaikin
Attn: Evgenia Kremer, Data Protection Officer
KPMG Millennium Tower - 17 Ha'arba'a Street
PO Box 609
Tel Aviv 64739
Israel

You may also use these contact details to communicate any concerns you may have regarding compliance with our Privacy Statement.
In any event, you always have the right to lodge a complaint with the Israeli regulator in charge of protecting Personal Data, the Israeli Privacy Protection Authority (PPA), by sending them an email to the following address: ppa@justice.gov.il. Alternatively, a webform can be found at: 
https://forms.gov.il/globalData/GetSequence/getHtmlForm.aspx?formType=Ashrai3%40justice.gov.il

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.