Cookie Policy

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a text file containing small amounts of information that is downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit our sites and platforms. Cookies are sent back to the website on each subsequent visit, or to another site that recognizes the cookie. Cookies enable a site to recognize a user’s device.

Some of these cookies are necessary to ensure the proper operation of our sites and platforms.

Others may be used to improve our services, such as for analysis purposes (information on traffic and visits). Some cookies allow us to make the advertisements you see online more relevant to you and your interests.

Except where authentication is required, information received through cookies does not directly identify you.

The Sotheby's International Realty Canada website collects standard data through cookies, such as:

• IP address (anonymized prior to processing)
• Unique random identifier
• Start and end times of visit
• URL of the previously visited site
• URL of the pages visited on the sothebysrealty.ca website
• Type of browser
• Type of operating system
• Type of device (mobile or computer)
• Other types of information

Type of cookies

Necessary cookies

• Account, Navigation, Functionality, and safety: These cookies and other technologies are essential for the proper functioning and security of our website and mobile application. They allow Sotheby’s International Realty Canada and its partners to secure your customer data (your account), customize your interface (display language) and maintain your preferences in terms of data collection.

Other cookies

Other cookies that Sotheby's International Realty Canada analyzes and processes relate to advertising and personalized content, performance measurement, audience data, and product development:

• Actively scan device characteristics for identification: With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
• Store and/or access information on a device: Cookies, device identifiers or other information may be stored or accessed on your device for the purposes presented to you: a user’s past activity, areas of interest, sites visited or applications used, location or demographic data.
• Measure content performance: Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
• Create profiles for personalised advertising: Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
• Create profiles to personalise content: Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
• Develop and improve services: Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
• Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources: Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
• Measure advertising performance: Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
• Use limited data to select content: Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
• Use limited data to select advertising: Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
• Use profiles to select personalised advertising: Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
• Use profiles to select personalised content: Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
• Use precise geolocation data: With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.

Refusing or accepting cookies

When visiting our sites and platforms, you can configure your browser to accept or refuse all cookies from our sites and platforms.*

*Please note: it is not possible to refuse cookies that are necessary for the operation of our sites and platforms.

When you refuse cookies, certain personalized services may not be available and, as a result, you may not be able to take full advantage of the features of our sites and platforms.

Viewing or modifying your preferences

After initially configuring your browser, you will be able to view or modify your cookie preferences at any time by clicking on “Consent choices” at the bottom of any page on our websites.

You must configure your preferences annually (confirm or change your initial preferences); a request for cookie consent will appear for this purpose when you visit our sites and platforms.

You can also block cookies in your browser. Please note that in this case the blocking of cookies will be effective on all websites visited.

Protection of information collected through cookies

In order to protect your personal information, Sotheby's International Realty Canada has implemented physical, electronic, and operational safeguards in accordance with its policies on the management of personal information.

In addition, all personal information collected through cookies is encrypted.

Who has access to the information collected through cookies

Sotheby's International Realty Canada staff members whose functions require it may have access to information collected through cookies. These include, in particular, those responsible for Sotheby's International Realty Canada’s computer security and communications.

The Person in Charge of Personal Information and the company’s legal advisors, as well as any person whose services may be required, may have access to this information in the course of their functions.

Partners with whom Sotheby's International Realty Canada shares information collected through cookies

Sotheby's International Realty Canada shares cookie data with its partners. These partners are information technology companies and may store this data on servers located outside of your province of residence or outside of Canada. When browsing our sites and platforms, you can set your device’s parameters to allow or block the possibility of your information being collected by these partners. You then have an opportunity to learn more about the activities of these partners, the data they collect, and how they use it.

Last Updated: September 06, 2024