Cookie policy
Cookies are small files saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website. This page explains the cookies Forum Europe uses on forum-europe.com, our event websites, our booking pages, Forum Connect and our members' areas.
Summary
- we use some cookies because our websites cannot work without them
- we only use preferences, analytics and advertising cookies if you say yes
- you can change your choice at any time using the cookie settings link at the bottom of every page
Cookies we need
These cookies make our websites work. They keep you signed in, keep your booking safe and remember your cookie choice. We do not need your permission for these, and you cannot turn them off in our cookie settings.
| Name | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|
| mep_session, mep_refresh, venue_session, gss_session | keep you signed in | from 30 minutes to 30 days |
| mep_oidc, mep_op_state, mep_staff_check, mep_member_link, venue_oidc, gss_oidc | keep you safe while you sign in | a few minutes |
| mep_device | recognises your device, so we can warn you if someone signs in to your account from a new one | 400 days |
| mep_verified_email | remembers that you confirmed your email while booking | 30 days |
| mep_consent | remembers your cookie choice | 1 year |
Staff only
| Name | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|
| mep_onboarding, mep_preview, mep_preview_on | let our staff complete their joining forms or preview a page before it is published | 8 to 24 hours |
We also save a few things in your browser's storage, such as a booking you have not finished, so you can come back to it.
Preferences cookies (optional)
Cookies that remember choices you make, such as continuing in the browser instead of the app.
| Name | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|
| mep-theme | remembers whether you chose light or dark mode | 1 year |
| fe_web | remembers that we already showed you the link to our app | 1 year |
Analytics cookies (optional)
With your permission, we use analytics cookies to learn how people use our websites, so we can improve them. They do not tell us who you are.
| Name | Company | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics | counts visits and shows which pages people use | 2 years |
| _clck, _clsk | Microsoft Clarity | shows how people move around a page, with anything you type hidden | _clck after 1 year, _clsk after 1 day |
On most of our websites, Google Analytics runs through our own server, so Google only gets the data we choose to send. Some of our event websites use Google Tag Manager, which loads Google's tools directly from Google.
Advertising cookies (optional)
With your permission, we use advertising cookies from Google to show you adverts for our events on other websites, and to see whether our adverts work. If you say no, Google does not get advertising data from our websites.
We also use cookies from HubSpot, our customer records system. Once you fill in one of our forms, they link your visits to your record, so our team can see which pages you looked at. If you say no, HubSpot sets no cookies and we do not see your visits.
| Name | Company | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | records when you visit after clicking one of our adverts | 90 days |
| _gcl_aw, _gac_* | Google Ads | records which of our adverts you clicked | 90 days |
| IDE | shows you adverts for our events on other websites | 13 months | |
| hubspotutk, __hstc | HubSpot | recognises you when you come back, and links your visits to your record once you fill in one of our forms | 6 months |
| __hssc, __hssrc | HubSpot | counts your visits | 30 minutes, and when you close your browser |
Google uses this data under its own privacy policy. HubSpot uses it under its privacy policy.
Device checks
We use some checks linked to your device to keep our services secure. We need them, so we do not ask for your permission first.
They are:
- when you book an event, we make a code from your device's settings and keep only a scrambled version of it (a salted hash), to spot fraudulent or duplicate bookings and stop people we have banned from booking again – we delete it 12 months after the event you booked for ends
- the mep_device cookie, listed above, lets us warn you if someone signs in to your account from a new device
- members' areas save 2 cookies, listed below, to stop one membership being shared by many people – we keep only a scrambled version of the device code, and delete it 12 months after the device was last used, or straight away when you remove the device or we delete your account
- when you sign in to the Forum Connect app on iPhone, Apple's App Attest checks that it is our real app – we keep a code for the app's key, which holds no personal data
| Name | What it does | When it expires |
|---|---|---|
| gss_did | recognises the device a membership is used on | 400 days |
| gss_dfp | a code made from your device's settings, which checks the same device is still signed in | when you sign out |
Marketing emails
Our marketing emails use tracked links to record which links you click. This stops when you unsubscribe.
Forum Connect app
The Forum Connect app does not use cookies. It stores your sign-in safely on your phone, and keeps an encrypted copy of your event so it works offline. It also keeps a random code for the app on your phone, which it uses only for crash reports. We need these to keep the app working, so we do not ask first. If you tap Allow when the app asks "Help us improve Forum Connect", it also uses Microsoft Clarity to show us how people use the app, with your messages and details hidden. You can change this at any time with the Analytics switch, in Profile on iPhone or Account on Android.
Change your cookie settings
Use the cookie settings link at the bottom of any page to change your choice. You can also delete cookies or block them in your browser settings. If you block the cookies we need, you will not be able to sign in or book.
Find out more
Our Privacy notice explains how we use your data and your rights. If you have a question about cookies, email dpo@forum-europe.com.
Questions about your data?
Use our contact form, or email dpo@forum-europe.com.